It is interesting how the passage of time can create a more subjective view of current events, and allows us to see things with more clarity.

I was thinking last night while I was trying to get to sleep how every 'major' hollywood director has done a film about Vietnam, and in Oliver Stone's case- two: "Born on the 4th of July" and "Platoon". Kubrick did "Full Metal Jacket" and Copolola directed "Apocolypse Now". When you compare these films to other war films dealing with WWII, you notice a striking difference- all of the films dealing with Vietnam portray it as absolute chaos. Moral ambiguity is a constant theme in all of the films, while those dealing with WWII are more about acts of heroism and patriotism. In a lot of ways Hollywood realy does hold a mirror up to society- the rationale and objectives of WWII were clear and resolute, while the reasoning and motivation behind Vietnam were anything but.

Years from now, I wonder how we are going to look back at what we are doing in Iraq. What kind of films are going to be made about this particular conflict, once the present has drifted into the past, and we are able to look at the events unfolding with objectivity that only time can bring? Of course, no one knows for sure, but I wouldn't be surprised to see "Full Metal Jacket- part 2" in theatres on down the road.....

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