This is a movie released in 2000. The first thing you see is the title of the movie. The film is called "The Diver of the Furious Sea", and the English title is "Men of honor", which literally translates to "man's honor". I don't understand English, and I don't understand translation. But I know that Mr. Yan Fu once proposed that the standard of translation is "intellectual and elegant". So just looking at the title of this movie, does it meet this standard? I think it kind of makes sense. The name "Man's Honor" is the central theme of the film. The character Carl in the play said in court: "The Navy is not a career, it is an honor." This line echoes the title of the film. Of course, from the perspective of commercial films, it is understandable to choose an eye-catching title to lure more audiences into the theater, thereby making more profits for the film. This is also a habit for decades since Western films were introduced to China. It's just that when the translator's head is hot at his fingertips, don't forget the standard of "intelligence and elegance". "The Diver in the Furious Sea", where does "anger" come from? Where is "will"? What's more, everyone is now in line with international standards, and the audience's cognitive level and acceptance of foreign cultures are also improving. Isn't it better to show people in the true colors of the film?
After saying a few things that don't matter, it's time to get to the point.
De Niro plays a Navy Chief Master Chief Billy, and Cooper Gooding Jr. plays a diver Carl. Carl is a black man who has had enough hardships from his childhood. With the encouragement of his father, he joined the navy. He has firm belief and strong perseverance. Determined to stand out on your own. However, in the United States in the 1950s, although the situation of black people was slightly loosened, in the eyes of most white people, they were still an inferior race. In the military, too, all kinds of discrimination are ubiquitous. It is still very difficult for a black man to succeed even if he has put in several times more effort than ordinary people. For example, the headmaster of the diving school, Papi, who "has a screw in his head not tightened", is a good hand in war, but when he encounters black people, he is full of prejudice. Trying to keep Carl from graduating, even resorting to rogue tactics. But Karl didn't believe in this evil. He faced all kinds of embarrassing humiliations and withstood all kinds of harsh tests with amazing courage. His comrades, including Sergeant Major Billy, who directly led his training, were all impressed by his spirit from the beginning of discrimination to the end. Instead, they help Carl to fight for his rights.
There is such a scene. Colonel Hank of the Naval Personnel Office makes everything difficult for Carl's reinstatement. During the hearing, a 290-pound wetsuit was pulled out for Carl, who had an amputee on his left leg, to put it on and take twelve steps to prove he could do the job of a normal person. At this time, Billy personally put on his diving suit and checked it carefully. Then, Billy stood at the commander's position and ordered Karl: "Navy diver, stand up!" At this time, Karl struggled to stand up, after all, this is 290 pounds of equipment. Billy encouraged him: "Get your gear and head to the water!" Billy couldn't say anything more, couldn't move forward instead of Carl, he could only count for Carl aloud: "One, two, three, ... The implied meaning in the firm commanding voice was: "Man, for the sake of honor, you must finish." But when he reached the eighth step, Carl was overwhelmed and was about to fall. Colonel Hank, who was on the side, suppressed the joy in his heart and shouted: "Everyone, his legs are dead!" and ordered Carl: "Stay where you are and don't move." At this time, unexpectedly, Billy shouted: "Ignore the divers, listen to my orders! Damn, buddy, take your steps, you owe me twelve steps!" Billy then spoke aloud of the precepts he had given to the students many times on the diving school training ground, There is no shortage of foul language. It seemed that Karl was brought back to the training ground more than ten years ago. Those moments of humiliation, those cruel training scenes, Karl's self-improvement spirit was revived again. He gritted his teeth and finally walked twelve steps. Billy gave the order: "Take a break!" Then turned back and stared at Hank coldly. Hank stood up helplessly and embarrassedly and announced: "The glorious announcement of the U.S. Navy: Second-class dive master Karl Brachet resumed his original duties." Carl finally won.
I am repeating this scene, not to make up the word count of the article, let alone spoilers. Just want to say: people always have a little spirit. Human beings naturally have their physiological limits, and under normal circumstances, no one can break through this limit. Colonel Hank saw this and deliberately came up with this bad move. And decided that it was impossible for Carl to take these twelve steps. However, what he did not expect was that the biggest difference between humans and animals is that humans have thoughts and spirits. Once a person's belief, determination, and sense of honor are brought into full play, coupled with physical conditions, it is possible to break through that physiological limit. Carl's story proves this. This is what the director of the film wanted to tell us.
Carl in that era, became the only one in the army. In such a country, in such an era, it is very difficult to do these things. We should be moved by his deeds, and we should admire his courage and perseverance. However, he is "the only" also because most people can't. I remember the inscription written by Duke Deng to Lei Feng in 1963: "Whoever wants to be a real communist should learn from Comrade Lei Feng's character and style." That is to say, Lei Feng's deeds are beyond the reach of most people. Yes, not everyone is required to do it. It is impossible for everyone to become a hero, and it is impossible for everyone to become Lei Feng or Karl. Society should be tolerant of people's behavior. However, people should always have beliefs, goals, and spirit.
The film also touches on the issue of racial discrimination in the United States. I've talked about it many times in some hindsight. Not much to say here. What needs to be added is that for every black individual, equality does not come by waiting, and respect does not come by begging. It depends on your self-esteem and self-improvement. Like Carl in the movie.
The film also features a Colonel Hank. While Billy was withdrawn from a chief sergeant major to a junior sergeant major, Hank rose through the ranks from lieutenant to colonel. Most of these key positions are stolen by these shameless villains, both in the film and in reality. This reminds me of a poem in "Li Sao": "Being able to work and do things, how can you be so talented?" Now there are so many people like Hank, who are ignorant and ignorant, and their lifelong goal is to flatter Bragging on horses to maximize personal interests. Maybe they will reach their personal goals, but are they really living happily? There are also some people who are unhappy and willing to be mediocre all their lives, without any purpose in life. In the film, Karl's wife Joe said to Karl: "I'm after something small, I just want to work hard and keep myself safe..." Karl immediately told her: "You will have a boring life." This may be this sentence to Qu Yuan The best interpretation of poetry, right?
The structure of the film is very smooth and the shooting is beautiful, especially the part where Billy instructs Carl to recover his physical fitness. Far from the seaside, a fiery red sun rises. Carl runs across the coastline and across the green lawn, which is very beautiful. Billy played by De Niro is amazing. Grumpy but witty. Like many sergeant majors in the U.S. military, he also unscrupulously cursed and sarcastic people during training, but in such abuse, he showed majesty, not simply scaring. The characters' personalities are also well controlled, with almost imperceptible changes in expressions and movements, showing different emotions.
My rating: 7.5.
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