GRAN TORINO (2008) MOVIE REACTION - THIS WAS TOUCHING! - FIRST TIME WATCHING - REVIEW
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ก.ย. 2024
- Welcome to our first-time watching as we react to Gran Torino (2008). Clint Eastwood gives a powerful performance in this gripping story of redemption, sacrifice, and unlikely friendship. This film has some heart-wrenching moments and unexpected twists that really showcase Walt and how he is such a complex character.
Directed by Clint Eastwood himself, "Gran Torino" (2008) follows the story of Walt Kowalski, a retired Korean War veteran who forms an unlikely bond with his immigrant Hmong neighbors after a series of events.
Clint Eastwood's portrayal as Walt is filled with nuance, subtle acting moments that let the audience in on what the character is truly going through and recontextualizes who he is by his actions and not his words. Gran Torino is a phenomenal slower film that allows us to slowly connect with a character that isn't all that likable at first.
We hope that you enjoy our reactions, commentary and review as we discuss the different elements that made this film so enjoyable. From the incredible acting, to the humorous, touching, and intriguing sequences there's a lot to enjoy here.
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I recommend you check out Clint’s directorial debut on Play Misty for Me from 1971.
Good eye spotting Clint’s son Scott.
@19:24 A perfect example of the way to a man’s heart being through his stomach.
React to Chopper with Eric bana
Dont forget that Walt was sick, he sacrificed himself knowing nothing could be done for his health. In the end, he did that for Tao. Amazing movie. The song at the end, it was Clint Eastwood who was singing. Bittersweet ending but still of the best movie out there.
He’s not evil, he’s old school. I knew a hundred grizzled Korean & Vietnam Vets that spoke & acted like Walt.
He’s by no means evil. His character is quite complex actually. His motivations, the way he speaks vs the way he acts. There’s a lot of things the film does to show there’s so much more than just the rough exterior.
He’s dead inside. He died in Korea. But his connection with the kid brings life back to him
He was from a different time where life was too hard to give a shit about what people said and where your actions meant everything. It's a little hard to understand when today people consider name calling violence against them and spending a few hours in your computer chair surfing the web is a lot of people's idea of work. Things sure have changed and the world he came from was vastly different than ours today.
@@maczack87things have gotten harder in many ways too though… You can’t finish high school and get a minimum wage job to easily afford a home and support a family of 4 anymore. You’re expected to know far more because of how much more readily available information is. Healthcare and education costs are insane. Credit scores didn’t exist.
@@OfficialMediaKnights react godzilla minus one!
In the beginning, it’s not even that she had a piercing. It’s that she was showing her midsection during a funeral. He grew up when Elvis was obscene. It’s like he’d moved to a different country, except he didn’t leave. Everything changed around him.
Probably wouldn't have minded as much if she was just dressed in a black tshirt and black pants, she just looks like she showed up in every day normal wear.
A lot of that going on these days. 🙁
A funeral is a place of respect of the person who lived. So wearing certain clothes or making a mockery of the prayer. Walt probably thought "if you've got nothing nice to say. Shut up or don't come at all."
His granddaughter and the rest of him family were just plain disrespectful. Yeah he's from another generation and he's rough around the edges but his family was straight disrespectful to him.
Agreed. People these days don't understand regardless of what year it is, showing respect with the way one dresses at church, a funeral, court, should always be with honor and respect with the way you carry yourself, and appropriate attire.
What I find hilarious and realistic is how they started winning him over with food. When an old man is willing to let you borrow his tools, it’s a huge deal.
A man's love is through his stomach, his wife very likely knew that as well, too bad she did not teach that to the priest. Lol.
Facts. I don't even let my friends borrow my tools for any extended period of time because you never get them back haha
Yup... Walt is from a generation that rewarded actions, not words. Nobody in Walt's generation got 'likes' for virtue signaling. There were no participation trophies. You earned respect and you earned your wages... both with lots of hard work. People poked fun at each other for being short, tall, black, white, freckled, bald, skinny, fat, etc etc. And nobody had time to wring their hands, have a panic attack, or go running to HR over what amounted to a good-natured ribbing. Half the time, that kind of banter was how you made friends. Nobody got 'triggered' over it.
I had a grandfather who wouldnt let me touch anything, but then one of my first jobs was in a workshop for this OG Armenian man who lived through wars most his life. Let me borrow things but very strick return policy. lol
@@willvr4 ✋
When the pastor begins speaking at Walt's funeral and says what Walt thought of him you can see the barber Martin in the audience laughing and trying to be quiet about it. It's a small detail that always cracks me up
One of my favorite scenes
I never noticed that! Awesome
Thanks, I missed that
I never noticed!! Amazing 😂
I love how when he spits, and the old lady spits back nastier, his cringe was almost respectful, like "Oh, okay, I see you". This movie is heartbreaking, a proper old school movie in modern cinema
to me, it's always felt like a classic Clint Eastwood western, while still being modern and relatable to so many people.
@@synthwolfe8906 Hello, it had the " Josey Wales " imprint upon it.
I love the instant connection Walt felt with Sue in the truck, when he saw she takes his bullsh*t and gives it right back. It instantly earned his respect, and sets the tone for the whole movie.
Exactly. He pushes because he wants you to push back. If you don't, won't or can't, you are not worth his time.
@@kimghanson - I'm somewhat old, and I find I'm a bit like Walt in many respects. I have no time or patience for the easily offended snowflakes who waft through life in an imaginary digital world, waiting for participation trophies. If you put your back into your work, and EARN respect by having a spine and dishing back what you're given, then you get respect. If you try to demand respect from others that you haven't earned... sorry... I'm fresh out of respect. Or worse, if you demand that everyone speak and act a certain way around you, then you've earned my contempt.
"Damn this kid can take a jab and stand her ground... I like her"
One overlooked point, Walt is dying. It isn't said, but Walt is an old man who has been a heavy smoker since he was young and in the military. He has lung cancer and he sacrifices his life at the end of the movie because he always lived being useful and he wanted his death to be meaningful as well.
This 💯
Walt is also sacraficing himself as a way to ease is conscience for the kid he killed in Korea. I think that is also overlooked.
If you like Clint Eastwood as an actor and as a director, then it's only fair you guys watch 2 classics he both made and starred in: Unforgiven (1992) and Million Dollar Baby (2004). The man rightfully earned the title of "cinema legend."
Both of those are on the horizon! Can't wait to check them out 😄
Million dollar baby will wreck you
@@OfficialMediaKnights Million dollar baby is TRULY a masterpiece, it will impact you greatly.
Unforgiven is one of my favorite movies. So damn good.
I have a weird take, Clint Eastwood’s best directorial outing is actually Mystic River (2003). Absolutely stacked cast and heartbreaking all the way through.
"You're letting Clik Clak, Ding Dong and Charlie Chan walk off with MissWhatsername" OMFG that line cracks me up every time I hear it. Its so absurd it flips around to being comedy. I can totally see some old Korean Vet saying that at some point.
Miss Yumyum....
I know a 20 year old white conservative dude that speaks like that. I won’t lie, he’s hilarious as hell. He has his beliefs (anti-immigration, anti-feminist etc) but he roasts everyone AND defends everyone when they’re right or innocent. People don’t like him because he’s “rough” and blunt but he’s insanely intelligent and charismatic like Clint’s character.
*He taught me a valuable lesson* and that was “if I talk to a group of people bluntly, some will laugh, others are indifferent and some are outraged. Life’s short. Don’t waste time conversing with the outraged people. They don’t think and are easily manipulated by their own emotions.”
He debates and showed me how he can get people to agree with him by changing the way he talks from blunt to sounding sincere etc. He convinced a transgender person to not support trans athletes in woman’s sports just by changing his tone and how he said things.
He speaks bluntly to see who he can actually have an intellectual discussion with and not waste time with those who are emotionally unstable (outraged). Once he understands who is who he then defends his same beliefs but changes the tone and it’s incredible to see people actually agree with him
He told me that “If society was smart they would care about what is said not how you say it. But Unfortunately people are dumb. So it’s not what you say it’s how you say it.” And showed me many political agendas that are just manipulating people’s emotions to support agendas that are actually terrible for their own well-being.
some may say "it ain't right" but he ain't wrong, either".
It's not about what you say, it's about your intentions and soul. Walt was a good man, forced to do wrong things, and he dealt with it in the only way he knew how. This is a FANTASTIC movie and story. My favorite clint eastwood film, even if not my favorite clint eastwood role. I'll always have soft spot for Two Mules for Sister Sara.
@@_FirstLast_ Hello, that Locomotive death still gets to me. Did you know that transporting ammunition into Mexico is a serious crime with a heavy sentence?
''No greater love hath a man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends...''
I thought the Gran Torino symbolizes Walt's soul or inner sanctum. From the grand-daughter feeling entitled to it without having to earn it, or even have any reverence for it. To the construction guy painting it as some trivial thing that he could just give to any random acquaintance. As the shaman said, people didn't respect Walt. But then, Tao worked really hard to redeem himself after disrespecting it. Then, as their relationship grew, Tao was washing the Gran Torino, like he was washing Walt's soul (in the double meaning of redeeming it and making it shine). And Tao eventually earned the privilege of carrying Walt's memory.
That’s such a lovely way of seeing it.
The interesting part is that Clint Eastwood probably didn't even think of that -- but should have.
Not just his memory. Walt spent the movie passing parts of himself on to Tao.
My uncle (father's brother), was a Korean War vet. He acted a lot like Walt, and had an alcohol addiction. I don't blame him now that I'm older. He was on "Hill 303", one of the few survivors. This movie shows the disconnect, and disrespect, between generations. The younger ones just don't understand, and never try. Walt befriending "Toad" and his family shows a huge amount of learning and understanding between the two. In my opinion, one of the best films ever made! ❤ Love the reaction Guys! Great job! ❤❤
Gran Torino is a masterpiece. The key point in the movie is when he pulls the lighter and gets shot. It's not just any lighter, it's from his unit. He carries the survivor's guilt from his time in the war, and has been living a meaningless life until he has a chance to sacrifice himself in the service of these unlikely new found loved ones. This is punctuated by not giving the car to his family. The pulling of the lighter is the greatest moment of his life, his moment of redemption.
Clint Eastwood is a national treasure! Piece of info: it was him singing at the end. When he leaves us one day, it's gonna be a very very sad day :(
He’s not the best actor, but he’s a genius director though.
Yes, when he passes away it’s gonna be devastating. Him and Sean Connery should’ve done a movie together.
@@nsasupporter7557 - The best actors know how to pick the roles that best suit them. I don't think Eastwood was ever looking to star in a rom-com, or anything else outside his wheelhouse.
Look at guys like Jack Nicholson or Jeff Goldblum... who always play... Jack Nicholson or Jeff Goldblum. Or perhaps Sam Jackson. He's one of the most successful actors in Hollywood today. But you don't hire him to act in roles far outside his wheelhouse, you cast him to play Sam Jackson because people love that character.
Clint Eastwood is like a Charles Bronson or Danny Trejo. Whether they play a good guy or a bad guy, it's always just them with roughly the same demeanor and expressions. And they make great careers out of it.
man, that's gonna be rough.
I came to the States in 1972 with my mom and Clint Eastwood movies are a thread that runs through my lifetime.
It's wild but Clint has always been there.....think about the movies from 1972 until 2024......wow
@@nsasupporter7557 It's wrong to say he's not the best actor. It all depends on your definition of "best actor". It's like music, different people have different tastes and different opinions.
@@CB-xr1eg dude…. Zip it!
The way he was talking and acting , this is how they used to deal with ptsd back in the day , he came from a time when men didn't cry or show emotions, when men where more action than talk , he was a genuinely good man but then again that's how being a man was like back in the day
I love the underlying theme of actions speak louder than words. Walt's family says all the right words but their actions reveal their true nature. Walt of course is brash and cancelled by today's standards, yet his actions are admirable, helpful to the point of life saving. I love how the script overflows with racial slurs and bigoted jokes really driving home the fact that none of that means anything compared to all the positivity that came from the friendship that developed between Walt and the family next door. There was a time before cancel culture where it was pretty common knowledge that actions carried the weight not words.
Thank you. So many people just don't seem to get that anymore. It's like we live in some kind of Spanish Inquisition where you are crucified as a heretic for the slightest verbal slip while the same seem to be fine with committing violence at whim. We've got things so twisted backwards these days.
Yeah culture today has become toxic because of “ political correctness “
Clint Eastwood is a national film treasure. A legend from cowboy movies. ❤
Haven't seen too much of his filmography but we've enjoyed the things we've seen him in. Can't wait to go back and watch his classics!
International treasure. From an Englishman in Thailand
One of the last remaining true legends!
Dirty Harry movies are great aswell
Unforgiven. Is a must. Dirty Harry. Outlaw Joey's Wales ( fist full of dollars), Cry Macho. Million Dollar Baby. Are all great films.
My dad died in 2014 at 87 years old. He retired from General Motors, working the car plants in Detroit and Flint. His family were from Highland Park, right around where this was filmed, the houses even look right. My old man joined the Navy at 17, served in WWII and Korea, and was a hard old bastard. Clint's character in this movie is like looking at him again. Except unlike Walt having one wife, my dad had four.
HP baby.
Highland Park huh? I true city Michigander! My man!
I don't think 'hatred' is the term. He certainly is abrasive and unlikable but I believe his combativeness is a defense mechanism to protect his sanity.
I agree. Words are nothing more than words, it's the intent behind them that matters. Often, what someone says is not what they truly feel. Ignorance is not racism, it's just not understanding.
@@nightfall902 Exactly. Walt may use so called racist terminology but as soon as the sister shows up she sees straight through him because she has a high degree of empathy and knows he is not a bad man. Walt warms to her instantly because she doesn't judge him and gives back anything he throws at her.........banter. Racism is hatred and there isn't any in Walt. People need to listen more and judge less, if they did, free speech would still exist in the UK and of course context is so important.
In many respects, that was Clint Eastwood's retirement - retirement from action, and entering self reflection. Unjustifiably ignored by the Oscars
i always start crying at his speech to Tao, before he drops off his dog.. which guts me. Clint is a master story teller.
Have I told you two I love y’all recently? Every time I watch it really is like watching a movie with friends.
This warms our hearts! You guys are the best ❤️ Thank you for watching these with us!
All the "racist" stuff Walt says in this movie, once upon a time, was normal conversation. When I was growing up, all of my friends, including ones from different ethnicities, called each other racial slurs all the time cause it was funny. We've actually gone backwards in terms of humor and race relations. This movie served, in a small way, to do the same thing that All in the Family and Sanford and Son did decades ago. This is one of the best movies to come out in a long time.
Still a normal thing depending on where you live. I can go down my street and any pussy gen z person would literally have a stroke just hearing the conversations you pick up. But it's all fun n games. No hatred. Just stupid words that bring laughter. People who care too much about imagery are the ones who get offended. People with high self esteems just shrug off any "insult" and continue with life, as you should. Survival of the fittest, as they say. The weak ones are the first to cry.
💯
As the Alan Alda character says in “Horace and Pete”, “racism is not what you say, it’s what you do!”
Thank you glad someone understands.
You know you won’t see this kind of talk in a white collar environment, but a blue collar environment…holy crap you will. Even the younger generation takes jabs like this it’s like passed down from the older generations.
I’ve been working an industrial job for the same company over 5 years now. I’m a mixed race but I come from Dominican heritage, my co workers come from all walks of life, some are in their 60’s and some are just a little older than I am.
One worker I’ve been friends with since I started working there, he’s a full Italian guy, a welder we throw constant jabs at each other like mad. He’s the token wop, I’m the token Sp!c
"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."
Clint Eastwood has been directing movies since 1971.
What a legend! Directing and acting simultaneously takes an immense amount of work. Good for him!
Actually, the first film he directed was play misty for me in 1971!!!
@@kennethganpot3011 my bad. I had the year wrong.
@@OfficialMediaKnights saw a ‘making of’ type doco showing him workshopping the scenes with the actors and getting their input on the scene; truly genius film making!
I love the scene where he speaks to Thao through the screen door. It mimics the confessional, and he gives him his true confession.
Which is exactly what we were told by The Media Knights. Some of us actually listen...
@@CB-xr1eg yeah I was commenting as I watched the video. They hadn't said it yet.
@@christophercattie How tf can you comment, as you watch the video? Some people...🙄 Watch the video and then comment, it's not difficult.
Clint Eastwood understands how to tell good stories. We need more Clint Eastwoods making films
*AMEN!*
This is a eulogy to a great generation, one that grew up in a world that none of us alive today can even imagine, a generation much maligned today for being "bigoted" and "intolerant" witout understanding this context. The hard exterior, the slurs can't hide the unmistakable humanity behind it, and the desire to connect with others in the only way they know how.
Yes, the silent generation. When I was growing up the old guys were WWII vets, and they acted a lot like Walt. They were trained to believe that people from other countries were the enemy. But there was a real decency in those old guys.
At first I was annoyed by the priest, until I saw how brave he really was. He was not just some recently graduated priest, he was only aware of what he was taught and when Walt taught him something new, he learned.
Clint Eastwood has produced and directed many great emotional movies. If you haven’t already, watch Million Dollar Baby. Incredible cast and direction.
One of the few movies that made me cry.
OMG...great movie, but I was traumatized! Haha! I still cry like a bitch every time I watch "MDB"!
I am still not all right from Million dollar baby
The Mule is another great performance by Mr. Eastwood
That movie messed me up for days. So great, but I'm not sure I could go thru it a second viewing.
I love how at his funeral the neighborhood showed up and were his real family
I lost my Dad in 2008, and this movie brought humor and it brought sadness because of the pain I felt for my Dad, and this was supposed to be Clint Eastwoods last movie as a actor. This movie always brings me back to 2008 and the loss of my Dad. Thank You for reaction cancer sucks.
You guys have to watch Sully! It's directed by Clint Eastwood and stars Tom Hanks,it's based on the real event when an Airline Pilot had to emergency land on the Hudson River.
Adding it to our list! Thank you for the suggestion ❤
+1 for Sully! Gotta love just about everything Tom Hanks stars in! :D
@@OfficialMediaKnightsthird vote. Do it!
And don't forget to check out the companion film, "Sully Sullenberger: Airport Pilot", written, acted, and directed by Norm Macdonald.
Sully was so unbelievably boring. They took a real life exciting event and made it so dull.
I love the fact that he ended up doing something so selfless in such a way (ie no gun himself) so the gang killed in cold blood in front of witnesses so they will get the maximum sentence and at the same time give the kids the best chance to live their life. He knew he was dying and he chose to go out on his terms helping his ‘true’ family. Also it shows the cultural difference in how we treat our old people. For his American family he was an inconvenience and a nuisance but for his Chinese family he was someone with life experience, someone you could learn from and had wisdom. Excellent film with an excellent cast. ❤
His Hmong family.
The way Walt chose to handle the situation was also out of respect to his late wife. It would have broken her poor, Catholic heart if he'd chosen violence and burdened his soul even more.
Walt wasn't a racist per se, he was more of a bigot imo. Similar to the "Dirty Harry" character at times. Being a 24 year military vet, i can relate to Walt in some ways. My brothers in my unit didn't hold back with our derogatory slurs, we used them frequently in our verbal sparring...however, it wasn't out of being ugly, just the way we jabbed each other. Guarantee we'd offend 95% of the kids today lol. We weren't offended at every single thing. Hope y'all do some more of his films
Other than his love for his wife,
he had great distain for every one else.
I' m older but maybe a little younger than you. I'd probably only offend 80%.
Yeah, it was just an outlet and from a different time and terrible circumstances. And hell imagine the stewing anger from how the neighborhood around him changed and his general closed off "misanthropy" (more just annoyance with people) led to that "grumpy old racist guy" archetype Clint built for Walt. Also agree with the other commenter. There was really only his wife in his world that was his rock and i bet Soo probably reminded him of her. A straight shooter that saw thru his own bullshit and was his tether to the world and a greater community where Walt can "grumpily" talk with people and be open with them and belong.
Agreed with others. I'm the youngest of 4 kids at 41yrs old. I feel every now and then somthing I've said with no intentions offended one or more younger folks. However there is a difference between a mistake on one side & looking to be offended on the other side. Especially online.
Really good distinction. There’s a world of difference between bigotry and racism.
So many characters have great arcs in this movie, but I think my favorite is the priest. He tries so hard to do things by the book, but with Walt, it just doesnt work. He has to grow in understanding and dealing with a person that doesn't just agree with everything he says. By the end, he sees things in a more humanly relatable way and is a better person because of it. All because he met a grizzled old man.
I like the reveal of Walt not actually feeling proud for the killings he committed in the war. Doesn't matter if he had racial prejudice, there is no pride in taking away someone's life.
I think he had low.tolerance for people in general...was he prejudiced.. in a way but he didn't like certain white groups either...calling the young white guy hanging w the blk guys a "mick" while accusing the white guy of trying to be a "super spade" which is another slur...he just didn't like anyone. If u didn't behave in a respectful way he didn't have time.for that. He kept his house looking nice and hated that the immigrants didn't...but had no empathy as to why they couldn't keep up their houses. He had Tao work on the neighbor houses to help the neighborhood
I'm glad to know it doesn't matter to you if he had racial prejudice -- because he didn't.
The racial factor is just time drive in his case. Old timers are more racist in general, but i found old people racist in this way, not "i wanna se you dead" way, but just rough, not polite. This movie is really a gem in this matter
@@altairtodescatto Nah, he wasn't racist.
I love how, towards the end, they reverse the dynamic when Sue calls Walt the white devil and he just sort of smiles and says, "Yeah. Yeah, I'm the white devil."
I grew up in a town where I was the only non white kid in school in the mid/late 70’s, I caught the tail end of open racism-
I had a couple friends, one who’s dad wouldn’t allow me in the their house the other his grampa wouldn’t allow me on his property… fast forward a couple years and I was not only allowed in their homes but I was spending the night, going on camping trips, invited to family party’s-
We still hang out 40+ years later, we shared weddings, birthdays, anniversaries… 2 years ago I attended my friends dads funeral, the same man who at first wouldn’t allow me in his house I got to thankfully know & understand, a good man-
I wish people were more like Sue, bringing us together instead of adding to the division
Next up is " Unforgiven "
Also starring Clint and Directing. Academy award winning movie
Also a perfect deconstruction of westerns and the gunslinger archetype.
Walt wasn't a racist, as you pointed out he didn't like anyone. You have to EARN his respect, and the girl started doing that in the truck ride when he said several "mean" or "off-color" things and she didn't get upset by them and even fired her own shots at him. "Toad" started to earn his respect by his strong work ethic and by wanting to NOT get into the gang. As long as you could take his verbal jabs and fire some back he will respect you. He will still say those things but it's not in hatred or anger, just firing jabs, like he and the barber do.
Ahney Her (Sue) absolutely killed it in this movie. It's a damn shame she hasn't done much since.
And it was her FIRST acting role!
Walt was neither evil nor complicated. You failed to truly understand him or where he was coming from. You look at him from a modern lens and judge him by that standard rather than the one he lived his life through. I would argue that by the standard he came from, he's not even racist at all. Notice how he had no problem throwing slurs toward the barber for being Italian nor the kid on the street and the contractor for being Irish. In his generation and in the eastern US (and most of the world), you only lived next to people who were like yourself. The world was segregated during his time. The Polish lived in their neighborhood, Italian in theirs, Jewish in theirs, blacks in theirs, etc. In his time, you had to EARN respect. It wasn't just given. Also, taking offense at a slur or being thin-skinned was equivalent to being unworthy of respect for being so weak and pathetic. Sue EARNED his respect by brushing it off and was a bridge from Walt to his new neighbors and a world he never thought or imagined he would be living in (where all the White people moved out). Tao (Toad) EARNED his respect. Walt definitely willingly sacrificed himself in order to EARN or win peace for Sue and Tao. Walt and his generation would've definitely been very familiar with John 15:13... Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. That love was what Walt was made of... EVEN BEFORE meeting his neighbors. They were just worthy, unlike his family, who failed to demonstrate proper respect for Walt and their mother/grandmother by wearing an exposed midriff in church, wearing a football jersey to a funeral, and mocking church and religion and the attendants with that profane faux Latin prayer "spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch". It wasn't Walt being grouchy, it was his family failing to even be respectful.
I was doing fine, but then the shot of Thao driving the Torino with Daisy at the end killed me 😭
He was "Driving Miss Daisy".
Loved that you picked up on the true confession was down in the basement.
I didn't even notice it till it was pointed out, but the way the door looked just like the screen in a confessional booth was an awesome touch.
I don't know the specifics but it's pretty wild that Clint Eastwood knew the last of the most famous cowboys still around. I've hardly seen any of his movies but even from a very young age I knew he was a living legend. Every time I heard him spoken of it was in reverence and respect. This one I have seen though, and it's pretty good.
The usual insightful commentary's one thing, but the genuine emotionality and openness on top of it? Dammit, I love these two.
Couldn’t click on this reaction fast enough. One of my favorite movies, my favorite reactors, and you guys did not disappoint . Your editing, analysis, commentary, admiration for great filmmaking were all spot on. Clint is a film god. An absolute legend. 👍👍
The kids next door were replacements for his kids that he never knew but wanted to, its like how grandparents for me grandpa treats grandkids and even other young men different than their own sons
One of my Dads friends was a ww2,Korea and Vietnam veteran and I can remember him in the mid 1970’s and he was just like Walt he was a great man from my memory ,he carried scars from his time in the army a career military man.
*UNFORGIVEN* (1992) guys. Nough said. Clint in front of & behind the camera as well, & hes brilliant. The whole supporting cast slays, but Gene Hackman is superb
"You just shot an unarmed man" "Well, he should have armed himself if he's gonna decorate his saloon with my friend."
Walt really reminds me of my Dad. He served in Korea and Vietnam. And equally as much of a hard ass. RIP Marvin E. Hunt.
I never knew any of my grandads, they both died before I was born, but my step grandad John was a lot like Walt. He was a POW of the Japanese in WW2 and from what I heard they were a lot worse to be caught by than the nazis (as long as you weren’t Jewish or stolen any trophy weapons etc).
Unfortunately he died hating the Japanese and tbh from what he told me (I’ve never forgot to this day) aswell as other similar stories I can see why. You just can’t blame them for what they went through.
I on the other hand respect them for all the amazing things they’ve made from games and anime, to their history, culture and weapons, they’ve certainly made life a lot more interesting for me and yet I’ve never even been there.
I can honestly say that this is easily the most thoughtful and insightful reaction to this movie that I have ever had the pleasure of watching and for that reason, I am more than happy to subscribe to your channel! Keep up the great work!
This is such a huge and kind compliment, thank you so so much!! It really brightened our day to read this, and we're so glad to have you with us!
Walt lived his whole life the way he wanted, maybe not the one he wished for but his way. He was also the kind of man that wanted to die on his terms, not slowly dying in a hospital bed from cancer listening to the false sympathy from his family. Walt was given a chance to die with meaning, to doe doing good so he saw it as a way to make up for what he did during the war & helping the 'Family' he cared for at the same time.
Everyone needs a man like Walt in their life ❤
Walt Kowalsky was the bonified hero of this amazing movie.
Both my grandpa’s were like this and I absolutely loved them. Probably because I wasn’t a lazy spoiled brat as a kid.
Damn, you can see this one really got to Denise... it's a beautiful story about how despite our differences in life we're all human and far more alike than we are different.
I’m Mexican and honestly I’ve know people like Walt and they’re honestly some of the coolest people to be around with and also I love that type of humor
In the typical revenge story Walt would've pulled out a gun and killed everyone before dying himself
Which would've been fine but not really memorable
This movie with how Walt going out simply grabbing a lighter, to have witnesses of the gang killing someone, is so much more powerful
My Dad was a Vietnam vet and his time there was so bad that he rarely talked about it. He'd tell a couple funny stories about non-combat stuff but other than that all I know is that 3 times snipers picked off the officers in his unit until he was in charge and he was just the highest ranking grunt. I also remember the weeks of him waking the whole house up screaming in his sleep after making the mistake of watching The Deer Hunter and that his family saud there was an incident with firecrackers not long after he came home that had him diving to the ground and trying to dig a foxhole.
Walt knew he was dying and he knew the gang would never leave Tao and Sue alone so he figured out how to get rid of all of the gang permanently. He atoned for the wrongs he felt he'd done during the war and protected 2 kids he'd grown to love like grandchildren so he made his death count for something.
Lets go 🔥 this is definitely one of my fav Clint Eastwood films. I'd recommend Unforgiven if you want another good one from him, its a pretty unique western.
Unrelated but y'all gotta watch Blood Diamond 🤭👍 excellent performaces from pretty much everyone in that film.
Clint Eastwood gave such a layered performance in this. What a great watch! Adding "Unforgiven" and "Blood Diamond" to our list 😄
2nd to both of those
agreed, Blood Diamond and Unforgiven are both amazing
HEARING CLINT SING while Tao's driving with Daisy 🐶 at the end of the film... ugh..it killed me! 😭😭😭 Knew you'd both love this as much as I first did! LOVED THE PART where Clint chastises his son's character! 😂 Also, props to Clint for bringing in and supporting so many fresh and new unknown actors! ❤😊
The very race of people that Walt hated his whole life because of being the enemy in a war that basically dictated his life became closer to him than his real family.
Clint is and always has been the MAN. This film and Million Doller Baby are two of my favourite Eastwood movies. He has a true gift as an actor and a director.
Was he a racist, though? Did he actually do any "vile" things? Or is it that he just speaks in a non-PC way? It wasn't just the Hmong - note that he used ethnic slurs on his Italian barber and the Irish construction manager as well. Did he actually *do* anything racist against any of the Hmong? When he saved Su from the black guys (and, in a different way, his "pussy" son), it isn't because she had done anything for him, nor was it some performative virtue-signaling. Walt did it because it was the right thing to do. He didn't see the Hmong as "the other," Su was his neighbor - she was part of his "community," so to speak. Su certainly did help open Walt up, but it was Walt who made the first move.
I love Eastwood's character, he's exactly the kind of person I grew up around. The younger generation says they're 'racists' but I just saw them as 'blunt' ... they spoke the way they spoke. They weren't bad people, they were just a lot more 'direct.'
He also did it because he didn't want to die of lung cancer
Heyyy, you're smart, nobody else figured that out🤣
This is one of my favorite movies ever. Clint Eastwood did a phenomenal job
Walt's character development was amazing. And the actress who played the girl was great. Walt was an equal opportunity discriminator, he hated everyone equally.
I really love that Thao and Sue were played by inexperienced actors. You might say they were a little wooden, but I actually think how they deliver their dialogue is more natural to how people really talk--a bit stilted, not like they've studied the flow of what they're going to say beforehand.
Hey guys, love y'all reactions. A little FYI on Clint's generation. My dad was the same age, they weren't hateful as much as a product of their time. These people grew up hard with the great depression and then WW2. It hardened them, the snowflakes today wouldn't ever survive. My dad and i had a wonderful relationship but he wasn't able to show emotion. We never said we love each other but just knew it, he wasnt one to hug. But he worked his ass off to give us a great life. Thankfully i was there when he passed and was able to tell him I loved him right before he passed. Just try not to judge people of that generation with todays ideals.
Guy friends love insulting each other but not on first meeting. Walt and Martin's friendship has been for years, Tao can't assume that kind of banter will be appreciated upon meeting someone the first time. And I don't think Walt was a racist. He was a product of another time when those terms were normal. He hated and didn't understand the changes around him and just wanted to be left alone. But his actions in dealing with Sue and Tao prove he wasn't racist, Sue was strong enough to stand up for herself which Walt appreciated and Tao was a hard worker which Walt was as well. While Walt didn't understand other cultures he recognized qualities in Sue and Tao that he liked and so liked them as well.
At the beginning of the movie, it wasn't the piercing that Walt was looking at. He was looking at the fact that she wasn't wearing a full-length shirt at a funeral.
I'm surprised no one brought up the fact that Clint Eastwood is the one singing in the end when Tao drives away with Daisy
I spent 6 years in Vietnam in the 60's. I can tell you firsthand the Mong are great people. The first time we encountered them was in 1968, We broke out of the bush into a large clearing in Southern Laos. The were frightened at first but when we told them through our interpreter we meant them no harm, they welcomed us like long lot relatives. They told us how the communist North Vietnamese prayed on them and beat them, shot them took all their supplies, raped their women. so, we trained them up and diverted a bunch of M-1 carbine and ammo too them. We learned a lot from them about picking local plants and camouflaging ourselves and disappearing into the bush. In a few months NVA activity dropped to nothing in the sector. Funny thing was in 1990, A new guy hired on at work and his name was South, a young man I had met in Nam in the Mong Village. He recognized me before I did him. He was the same great kid he was in Nam. South lives about 20mile from me and he is always inviting my wife and I over for cook outs and his family comes here. South i actually my closest friend.
Growing up, we all teased each other, told racist jokes, ethnic jokes... it made us all closer. You knew that it was seeded in love and celebrating our differences, because it's those differences that make us all special. It taught you how to give and take, how to not take things so personally, and how only you are the one who decide how you'll let something affect you.
I miss that world.
It made stronger people who didn't run, crying for a "safe-space" or claiming they've been victimized. It taught you to stand up for yourself when someone truly *was* being hateful.
I don't think Walt changed at all, it's just the viewer whose perception of him changes as we learn more about him and his past.
Yes he is grumpy, but he hates everyone equally whatever their colour. I've heard that combat veterans don't like getting close to people because they hate seeing them get killed.
I don't believe Walt was racist, if he was he wouldn't be bothered about killing an enemy with an entrenching tool. Get past his shell and earn his respect you'll find the real person. Great reaction though, real;y enjoyed watching your journey.
The Mule is another great Eastwood film, I hope you guys might watch it one day. but imo any Eastwood movie is well worth watching.
My dad saw action in the 50s in the UK armed services in the far east,and outwardly sounded like a complete racist. Then i remember him being kind to an old West Indian man who could do nothing for him because he considered him a decent man.
Then when he was towards the end and not the full ticket he was in hospital and was delirious and was convinced the hospital staff were abusing a 12 year old Jamaican kid and sounde violent towards the innocent staff.
He was also convinced there was a small horse walking about in the ward.😊
People judge our ancestors without understanding the world they grew up in!
This is such a powerful film. Walt (and Clint himself, to be fair) comes from a time when men were tough and stood up for what they thought was right, regardless of what anyone else thought. He was a combat veteran in a war where oftentimes the killing was up close and dirty, and an absolute hatred of the enemy was a requirement for survival. You put this man in an environment where his wife has died, his sons and their families don't make sense to him and often offend his sensibilities, and the neighbors look like the people he fought against in Korea (even though they obviously aren't), and this is what you get.
He's a good man with a dangerous past, and he doesn't tolerate or understand the snowflake society that's seemingly sprung up all around him. Tao starts off as a snowflake, but the longer Walt hammers at him and molds him, he begins to stand taller and stand up for himself. He's shown the value of hard work and what it means to be responsible. Walt knew he was dying, and was smart enough to realize the best possible solution to the situation with the gang was to sacrifice himself, publicly, in front of tons of witnesses. It was a win/win for him. He got to go out standing on his feet, the gang was taken down, and the community Walt had come to love was safe.
There was no evil in Walt. He just had no time or tolerance for for bull$hit or punks.
Clint Eastwood is easily one of the best directors, if not THE best, of all time. Everything about his films is always perfection. From writing & plot, to pinpoint character development, lighting, dialogue and a good old emotional roller coaster ride every time. I saw a documentary on what a bohemoth of a job creating the theme song for "the good, bad, and the ugly" was incredible. Hundreds of people, full pit orchestra... He's def a perfectionist. Thanks for sharing your gifts, Mr Eastwood
"You don't wanna mess with an angry racist dude."
What movie are you watching??? I'm watching one about an old guy who doesn't take crap off anybody, and shouldn't have to.
The thing ive noticed from talking to vets is that a lot of say racist things like Walt does but they dont hate the people they talk about. The slurs Walt and other real vets call people are the words they used to dehumanize so that they could cope with the tragedies of war. But you can often find out that they have no hate for people, and are just used to using that language.
I saw this movie on sheer accident (Zero clue what it was about, or that it was even going to be our 'Movie Night' show). LOVE Clint Eastwood however, so gave it a respectful viewing.
*WOW!*
'Culture Clash' to the Nth Degree, and seeing Mr. Eastwood's character arc? *OUTSTANDING!*
I was going to leave my reply (Above) at that, but continuing to watch your Reaction and the comments made, thought I'd add a bit more.
Humanity has a 'Generational Gap' problem. Elders grow up and live through/experience things younger people (ie the 'Next Generation(s)') don't, and the newer folks often don't understand, and cannot appreciate or respect it.
People have to adapt, but that takes time and the willingness to do so. Take 'Racism' for instance. I'm sixty years old. I remember seeing MLK, I've walked with Chavez in the Migrant Workers rallies for better living conditions/wages, and I've moved around and lived with practically every 'Culture' in America (Blacks, Whites, Hispanic, Asian).
Each Culture has it's own style, traditions, and yes, 'Perspective' that doesn't always mesh well with others.
Each Culture also has its share of 'Crime/Gang' members. Never doubt that, and never believe for a second it isn't a very real, very dangerous fact for any outsider/someone 'Different.' That's a sure fired way to make yourself a victim, or a 'Statistic.'
This movie absolutely crushes all of this in a very brass, very unflinching manner that I truly appreciate.
It doesn't hold any punches, because these things are important, and if ignored/denied, will never improve.
Long reply got too long. Apologies.
Suffice it to say, as an 'Elder,' a USMC Veteran with two Tours under my Cover, I've seen these differences/challenges first hand, and I myself have had to take measure and adjust.
I hold this movie to be one of (If not THE) 'Best' movies Mr. Eastwood has acted/Directed, and that means something after his long life in movies/TV.
It's here, in our own neighborhoods, and really what America is/should be all about- Freedom and Liberty, Prosperity for every American willing to abide by our Constitution/Bill of Rights, and have mutual respect towards others who are doing the same thing.
Thank you both. You're truly a fascinating pair of people, and your observations about how movies are made, the techniques used, really made me appreciate things more.
:-)
Wonderful and emotional movie. Clint Eastwood is a legend. Great acting by all round, especially Priest, Tao and his sister.
He's no vile horrible person" he's born of a different time he wasn't born of the hurt feelings generation he doesn't even realise he's saying anything wrong lol, great film from Eastwood, Million dollar baby is another good one.
Clint is the definition of a movie star- he’s done the classics, directed, acted, produced, and stunted in some cases. You can look at his work and it’s instantly obvious if Clint’s involved it’s probably a good movie.
I avoided this film for a few years because like you, i just thought after seeing thumbnail or a cover, some movies were meh, and not worth my time. I finally watched it, ONCE, about 10 years ago. And from just that one watch, i have never forgotten it. Clints acting and the whole tone of the movie is perfect. Its just a captivating story full of drama and action and i did not expect the end, but it seemed very fitting and perfect for this movie. I dont think that anything else would of felt as emotional, and the movie would not have been complete.
These story driven movies are what makes cinema great. Some people like Bay and his explosions, some people like Tarantino and his twists, and some people like Nolan and his Epicness... I like ALL of them, but a simple story like this, straight genre, small action, AMAZING performances and perfect writing, is just truly masterful. Its not overdone, its not over the top CGI or action, its quiet and simple, and perfect.
I already mentioned this movie before:
"A quiet Place" is one of my favourite movies, because of how its a simple story,(maybe anything but simple) but the acting and sound design, damn.......perfection from John.
Walt is the good guy. I like ALL of his reaction and mood in this movie. He has the right attitude in every scene even in the beginning.
A few other replies have said ‘million dollar baby’ and I wholeheartedly agree. You’ll love it. And we’ll love your reactions.
I'm so glad you got the "real" confession right. You are the only reactors to talk about it, it's such great writing/directing
Please react to Collateral starring Jamie Foxx and Tom cruise 😢
That's a great recommendation, thank you!! Adding it to our list!
@OfficialMediaKnights hard agree with this one. Great movie and killer soundtrack
Walt's statement to the old woman next door. "Yeah, I love you too (as he gives her his dog)." He actually means it.
The world does not revolve around you. People will have different ways of doing things and interacting with others. Taking offense is a choice. If you choose to be offended by everything that doesn't go the way that you think it should, you will have a very grim life. Sue chooses not to be offended. Out of that comes a beautiful friendship.
Most younger reactors choose to be offended and they label Walt a racist. I have never heard any of them criticize how the Hmongs talk about him, or the way the black trio interact with "pussy' and Sue, or the "racisim" displayed between the two ethnic gangs. Not a word. Do minorities get a pass? Well, Walt is the minority in this neighborhood.
Nobody gets a pass disrespecting others period. I think respect is something that is taught from home and implemented on a day to day basis. I’d hope that goes across generations. The fact that Sue doesn’t choose to get offended is her choice, doesn’t mean that the remarks being said are right either. If people choose to get offended they are in their right to do so because racist remarks are not a sign of respect. We don’t go around calling people names for no reason or disrespecting for no reason. The gangs and how they treat Sue and each other are also wrong. We’re not exactly applauding them here.
@@OfficialMediaKnights "The gangs and how they treat Sue and each other are also wrong. We’re not exactly applauding them here." You didn't say a word.
@@OfficialMediaKnights You didn't say a word of criticism about Grandma's slur or the Shaman"s. You only critisized and condemned Walt.
This is starting to sound a lot like the reverse racism argument - in particular when you mention the grandmother's attitude toward Walt.
Whilst Walt may be the minority in the neighborhood, let's not pretend that anybody of color isn't treated like a minority in the rest of the city/state they're in. If you do not grasp the difference between a Hmong woman reacting negatively toward a man being in her home, who has been muttering nasty words about them under his breath every time he sees them, and Walt being visibly repulsed by his neighbors from the get go, you have not paid attention to the film. Nobody is saying it's alright to use derogatory terms toward anyone - but you chose to completely bypass the context of the Grandmother's behavior, versus Walt just acting in a prejudiced manner toward them for NO justifiable reason from the beginning.
You have also blatantly proven that you haven't paid attention to our video even in the slightest, because you can clearly see our discomfort with the people harassing Sue and her boyfriend. You chose to ignore that to fit your argument.
You claim our generation gets oh so 'offended' yet here you are, offended just the same at a perceived slight. According to your logic then, that makes us the same. Food for thought.
@@OfficialMediaKnights Well, you're thoroughly woke which, ironically, leaves you with no sense of equity as it applies between the races. Farwell.
He was on the way out and it's better to have a hero's death that saves young lives than to slowly die in a nursing home or an empty home. Clint Eastwood is the very best this was a great reaction please do more Eastwood and Tarantino too
Gosh you guys are bringing in movies from my favourites list, never imagined you will watch this, thank you
A movie that never fails to have my tear ducts getting a work out every time.
Oh and that insight of the parallel between the confession in church and the 'confession' through the locked screen door was right on the money - I have never made that parallel before and you are spot on.
When I was kid, there was a news story about a guy who hated his new 1975 Gran Torino so much he decided to put it in a time-capsule for 50 years. He wanted people to see how far we've come.
I made it to 2025, and remember the news story, but I'll never see the result because Google has too much crap. 😅
Never viewed Walt as racist, he treats all people the same and offends people equally.
His racial slurs, imo, aren't intended to be derogatory, just a way to refer to a certain groups.
Black or hispanic or asian or mexican, or other more colorful descriptions that some might consider offensive even though that's not his intent in his usage.
Please react to the movie starring Clint Eastwood ( also directed/ produced by him ) and Meryl Streep opposite him in The Bridges of Madison County. Its such a beautiful movie and shows u a different side of clint Eastwood as always plays tough guys. Its one of my favourites. U will love it.
I completely agree. Many people overlook that one
@edithlandzaat7983 its such a beautiful story. Definitely one of my favourite movies and like I said u get to see clinty in a completely different role to what I grew up watching of him it was so perfect. They worked really well together him and meryl with of course his fantastic directing and production too.
That movie absolutely kills me whenever I watch it!