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Why is it that 'Taps' seems such a weak film?

posted 19 years ago by burt_hamil
28 replies | jump to latest

Just watched Taps last night after many years. I expected to rediscover it and enjoy it, but instead, I still realized what a weak and boring film it was. Without really pointing a finger at just one thing, I think rather it's the many elements put together that just makes the film lifeless. First off the performances of all involved are quite dull. Hutton's character is just looks too vunerable and mixed up to pull off believing he's capable of leading anything. I think Hutton was totally wrong in the role, but I know at the time was THE hot actor(Falcon & Snowman is great). Sean Penn is pointless and exudes none of the genius that would dominate his roles in the future. The rest of the students just come across as uninteresting and driveless. The bottom line is you just start feeling as though you don't care what happens to the school or the students. Everyone in the film, including all the bit players, look out of place and unbelieveable. What stands out in the film though(forget the anti cruise petitions)is Tom Cruise's manic performance. It's he who steals the show and your totally drawn in. Perhaps he should have taken the Hutton role.

Technically the film just doesn't look or feel good. I really can't explain it, but I think it looks terrible. ( it it the sets?, photography?, editing??)

[–] jgroub 10 years ago

I know I'm 9 years late to this post, but yeah, I have to agree. I was the age of these kids when I saw it 30-odd years ago, and I liked it for that reason. I think I also saw it after Tom Cruise had exploded, in Risky Business and All the Right Moves and such, and he actually does a helluva job here.

But revisiting it 30 years later, you're right, there's not a lot going on here. Sean Penn is wasted. I didn't care too much about the school or the characters. The filming did seem off. I also don't think it would have been handled in real life the way it was in the movie.

I want the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

[–] chas437 9 years ago

It was a laughable film back in 1981, it just wasn't as obvious back then.

[–] sms-14 9 years ago

Perhaps you are seeing a 1981 film through 2006 eyes...

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

I think there are too many characters competing for screen time. So we don't get to know any of them in the end. The story is a little far fetched as well, they are defending their school but they have also thrown away any chance of being in the military. Even as teens what did they really expect?

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

I had the same reaction as this OP when I rewatched Taps recently. In fact, the film was so weak that I forgot how it ended. I didn’t really have any emotional response to it either. It is an interesting premise, a military school becoming like a cult and backfiring on it’s own mission and principles. It’s just the execution was off. Dull acting, dull cinematography. At times it has a campiness to it (ie, the townies confrontations which are key plot turning points), a holdover from ‘70’s films and tv shows.

[–] Bloodworth79 (5739) 4 years ago

Needed a faster pace...good idea, good cast...just missing something.

They needed a summer camp nightmare element

[–] Ranb (11364) 9 months ago

The film is very weak as the premise is a bunch of kids stealing weapons then squatting on private property. They were supposed to be military cadets in some shape or form, but did not understand the basic "civilian control of the military" that everyone else understands.

They were entitled brats in uniform who thought they were allowed to dictate what the property owner can do with their land.