Going Upriver (2004) User Reviews

I wish I could make this country see this film...

[teytelman · 9/10 · 28 October 2004]

It is 2:30 in the morning, and I have several hours of work ahead of me. The last thing I was expecting to do today was watch a movie. I did, and I do not regret it - worth the loss of sleep.

I have made up my mind to vote against Bush a while back. My line has been, "I know that Kerry is just another politician. I know that he is a demagogue who promises everything. But, he is not evil, and Cheney and Rumsfeld aside, I can't see who would be worse than Bush."

Now that I have watched the film, I realize how little I knew about Kerry. I've suddenly realized that not only will he be better than Bush, but he is one of the very few people in this country that are perfect for leading the US out of the Iraq quagmire.

Highly Recommended Viewing

[ackthpt · 9/10 · 4 October 2004]

As a child I vaguely knew of the war from the disappearance from the neighborhood of friends of my older brothers and the body count scores on morning news while I ate my cereal. Some young men didn't return, some did and words 'disturbed' and 'troubled' were spoken, but little else. As years have passed I've met many who served and read and viewed bits of history on this dark chapter of American foreign policy. To view the film and pay attention is to learn why a Yale graduate would enlist and find himself on a small ship going into harms way on orders contradiction Kennedy's ideal. It was a gift to the nation that this intelligent man returned to serve his fellow veterans in the VVAW and represent them before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. We could use a few more like him. It's also appalling to see how John O'Neill came into the picture, in opposition to the VVAW. John would resurface in 2004 with Swiftboat Veterans for Truth and continue to tarnish the reputations of those who served. While I can't say how objective the film is, there are undeniable facts and John Kerry learned first-hand the consequences of war and is certainly a very fitting individual to place the care of the armed forces in the hands of. An interesting film which I prefer would be on television far more than Mr. Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11.

Great for young voters

[juliapersonal · 9/10 · 2 October 2004]

I cried. I was shocked. I was proud. I was stunned and awakened. Any young voter that is not aware of what went on around the time of the Viet Nam war should see this movie. It is well made, and allows you to see for yourself what John Kerry experienced, and what he did. He doesn't speak in the movie but is 'shown speaking' through archival footage.

The situations were overwhelming and desperate. The costs; the ultimate one could pay. Quiet moments of real emotion play poignantly when for example, John Kerry after dropping his ribbons over a newly constructed fence the government put up to keep veterans off the mall at the capital, sits down with his wife, head buried in his arms, and is apparently weeping.

The desperation of these young men both volunteers and drafted, by the reception they were given when they returned, and the horror they saw in war is clearly evident in the massive movement that was the Veterans march in April of 1971 in Washington DC.

John Kerry was obviously caught by surprise at the reaction and the reception that met him when asked to comment to the Senate Armed Forces committee. Going Upriver is an honest portrait of conflict between loyalty, patriotism, duty, ethics morality and conviction. A must see.

What I Didn't Learn in History Class

[openteach · 9 October 2004]

By the time we got to the Vietnam war in school it was always three days before summer vacation. My knowledge about the war is spotty at best, despite that my father's generation either fought in this war or figured out ways to avoid fighting in it. I am a Kerry supporter, but after seeing this film my opinion has changed from viewing him as merely an alternative to Bush to believing that this is a man with an intimate knowledge of the military and the convictions and experience to lead the country. I did not love Fahrenheit 9/11 (although "Bowling for Columbine" is great) because I felt that the vitriol was so obvious the film became ultimately unbelievable---so partisan I did not believe it could be entirely accurate. But when I was watching "Going Upriver" I continually found myself wondering what George Bush was doing during the time when John Kerry was fighting and then protesting. These questions have prompted me to find out more about George Bush. This film is not an "angry" film like F9/11. But I was shocked to see that while John Kerry was taken very seriously as a war hero in the 1970s by both the government and the media, it has been so easy for the Republicans to denigrate that image today. Not only is that wrong, but it seems sad that the American people care so little about truth and accept information so blindly.

Terrific documentary

[Merrick · 10/10 · 13 October 2004]

Politics aside, this is a very well-made film, dramatic, and enhanced with a perfect score by Philip Glass. You learn not only a great deal about John Kerry, but about the Vietnam War and its aftermath, especially in terms of the anti-war movement. The film uses a great deal of stock footage to carry the story along and has all the appropriate talking heads. The present John Kerry is excluded from the interviews, which is appropriate. There is honor attached to Mr. Kerry in this film, but it can be viewed by anyone without feeling as if it were a piece of propaganda. George Ball has made a great motion picture that can be considered of Oscar-caliber. Since Michael Moore gave others room in the Documentary field, this should be considered as one of the year's best in that category.

Important film

[William-33 · 10/10 · 24 October 2004]

I didn't know what this was about. A friend just said - "go see this movie - it's important". ANd now I'm saying the same thing. Check this out and understand that what you hear in popular media is not always the truth.

I just saw this film - very impressive and important that people see this. I don't know if website links are allowed on IMDb - if so, the movie is available as a free download at thekerrymovie.com.

If not, Google for "Going Upriver Kerry" and you'll find the place to download and view it for free. Well worth the time!!

Thanks for reading.

A young man with high morals... But what is he about today?

[joakimlinden · 10/10 · 29 October 2004]

Very good documentary about not only Kerry but also the Vietnam tensions going on at the time. A lot of wonderful footage/stills - even of the young Kerry. It's clear that he is indeed a very courageous man as well as a man of high morals. Too bad that he now, in the 2004 election, keeps talking about killing as if that was the only choice... I liked the young Kerry better. We get to hear and watch people who served with Kerry. Stories of everyday "life" for the troops in the river delta. Stories of bad judgment from the top command. Stories of atrocities. All this is shown with carefully selected archive footage to build up a sense of what the feelings must have been for the soldiers, as well as what the views were at home.

Man of Integrity

[francislyo · 10/10 · 17 October 2004]

Viewing this awesome movie, you get a sense of the incredible courage of John Kerry and the Vietnam Vets Against the War. The movie conveys the idealism and patriotism of the time (expressed by John Kennedy, "Ask not what your country can do for you... ask what you can do for your country!"). It follows the soldiers as they go to war to defend freedom. They pay a very high price, many losing their lives (~60,000) and many more losing limbs or suffering wounds. We see their shock – they had come as heroes to give people freedom but instead are confronted with the great suffering and devastation we were inflicting on the Vietnamese people. They tell their stories, how they wished they could have come home with their medals for valor and told everyone they got those medals bringing freedom to the Vietnamese. But then they would have watched more young men be drafted to go gives their lives, their limbs and their innocence to go kill Vietnamese villagers. They couldn't just let the suffering on both sides go on and on. So they spoke up. It took immense courage to say 'We as a nation made a mistake'. They said it graphically, in ways that were painful to them, but the pain awakened the conscience of America. This movie shows us how their courage to speak an unpopular truth turned the tide so we could bring the troops home.

Inspirational & Moving

[rdierker · 10/10 · 3 October 2004]

This film is powerful and moving. It squeezes emotion out that can not be matched by fictional films. The film depicts a lot of Vietnam era footage, and reveals the injustice fought by Kerry after he returned home from the war. If you are someone who is unsure whether or not Kerry is fit to lead this country, watch this movie and decide for yourself. Kerry's astounding patriotism and his courage to stand up and fight for his convictions are made obvious by this film. There is no partisan bashing of any kind, just images and interviews. Everyone who plans on voting this election should watch this documentary before casting their vote. Kerry, the strong compassionate leader comes into his own as a reserved activist who is in touch with the best ways to handle controversy.

See it!

[david-wright16 · 10/10 · 12 October 2004]

This film should quiet those who doubt John Kerry as a leader. His testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 1971 make this film well worth the price of admission! Kerry's appearance on The Dick Cavett Show that same year is inspiring. John O'Neill makes an "amusing" cameo. It is no exaggeration that the upcoming election (November 2004) is the most important presidential election in the last 144 years. This film offers background information on one of the candidates. For those sitting on the fence, go see this film now! What are you waiting for? Also of interest is the soundtrack - a hodgepodge of popular music from the past and present. NOTE: Best if viewed from a dentist's chair.

Can anyone swallow this?

[ericolsen1953 · 1/10 · 14 December 2006]

Another puff-piece for the liberals, full of half-truths and quarter-truths. I can just hear Kerry dictating the script, in his ultra- serious intonations "I'm a MAN of INTEGRITY" "Stop the War" "I stopped the WAR" "I AM JFK" and on and on. Given Kerry's convenient lapses in historical timing, his over-the-top moralizing and his fondness for wealthier and wealthier wives, it's simply amazing he made it to the top of the Democratic ticket. But, I'm certain there's enough panderees out there that will believe the premise of this film because they come prepared to believe. But I probably don't know my place, and should be ashamed to be dissing one of the upper-crust of society, whose intellect and excellence far outshine mine, and who deserves to rule over me.

A real opportunity

[jerayne1021 · 10 October 2004]

Like many others, I was impressed by the quality of this film. The focus on the facts, interviews and archival footage brought a sense of truth and an immediacy that won't be easily forgotten. I was especially moved by the intimate photos of Kerry with family and friends that conclude the film, that are shown during the closing credits. He is obviously both a deep thinker with a subtle mind and a man of strong passions. My lasting impression is that we have a unique opportunity to elect a man who understands the workings and even (at times) the necessity of war, yet is reluctant to send people to fight unless it's absolutely necessary, due to his own unforgettable experiences. His maturity and feeling for others have my vote! I feel he will be best equipped to get us out of the "quagmire" of Iraq, as well as to bring his statesmanship to bear on any future situation in this increasingly complex world.

Deeply Moving

[alexm-8 · 10/10 · 3 October 2004]

Before my review of this film, let me begin by saying that I'm 33 years old and have never been very politically active. I've never felt a strong allegiance to either of the major political parties. Both parties have their strengths and weaknesses. Because this year's election holds so much at stake, I felt it necessary to digest as much information as I could, from both major campaigns and for the first time, vote.

Going Upriver is a truly moving documentary. It reminds us of how pointless war destroys both human life and spirit. The film helped me to develop o new appreciation for our veterans and the price they paid to serve our country.

Going Upriver gives real insight into John Kerry's character and helped me to understand the backbone of his political convictions. Through archival footage, it shows how a young, active college student and natural leader loved his country, believed it's government enough to join the armed services and fought for what he'd been led by them to believe it was the right thing to do. John demonstrates his honor in battle, but also sees the ugly side of injustice. After realizing that he'd been mislead by his government to fight in a war which achieved so little at the cost of the lives of so many, the film shows how John Kerry stood up for the good of his fellow veterans and for those who were still stuck in the hell of a pointless war.

To me, the most compelling part of the film was the archival footage of our troops in battle and veterans back at home. It was gut-wrenching to watch the veterans dedicate the tossing away of their war medals in tears and anguish during an emotional ceremony at the nation's capital. It was at the same time very beautiful to see them completely reject the lies told by their commander-in-chief to the degree of throwing away what was for many, all they had to show for their years of service.

After viewing Going Upriver, I feel that I have a MUCH greater understanding of John Kerry's political and strategical tactics. I know that he has exactly what it takes to lead a country in a time or war. He's been through hell and spent a much longer period of time than his political opponent working for the good of the country and his fellow man. He knows what it feels like to be under fire in combat behind enemy lines. After viewing the film and seeing what he's been through, John Kerry words have taken on a deeper meaning to me. I've never trusted politicians much, as they make great promises only to break them after getting elected. But John Kerry has lived the same convictions that he talks about today for over 30 years. He can back up what he says with his past actions.

Even if you're not politically active, see this film! It delivers a powerful message with regard to what our veterans have gone through for this country.

On a final note, although not completely identical, the similarities between the government's portrayal of, and actions regarding the war in Vietnam and the current war in Iraq are frightening...

Going, Going - Gone

[helenlew · 10/10 · 23 August 2005]

After seeing the movie "Going up River, the Long War Of John Kerry", I realize how little I knew about the Vietnam War. My husband and I were avid anti-war folks but what did we know – what we read in the paper, magazines, heard on the radio, saw on television. What did we know? Very little. After watching this movie – a real life documentary, I become conscious of how little we really knew.

I sat in the theater breathless, my heart pounding watching the Swift Boats patrolling the Mekong river up thousands of miles of a narrow waterway surrounded by small villages and forests; a boat with engines loud enough to alert the people in Hanoi. I had never heard the term Swift Boats during those many years of the war. Young servicemen were ordered to shoot to kill anything that moved anything and everything was the enemy.

And then, and then, those that survived the horror of the war came home to be ignored, dismissed as less than human, men who had earned their Silver Stars, Purple Hearts and ribbons after being schooled as predators.

John Kerry went to Washing to present their views to Washington, D.C. and became involved in an anti-war demonstration in our nation's capitol. He spoke eloquently before the Congress, truly an outstanding human being.

I am still overcome by the scenes of the "Swift Boats" moving gracefully one after another on the river of blood. I am left speechless that my country, the country I love has again embarked on another unjust war.

Moving, Must See

[susan-225 · 10/10 · 3 October 2004]

As one who attended a number of anti-war rallies from 1969-71, this exceptional and beautifully articulate film brought back many memories. It also gave me a much greater appreciation and compassion for the plight of those who served in Vietnam, particularly those, like Kerry, who came to question this immoral war after having done the ultimate -- to put their own lives on the line. Any doubts I may have had about the strength of Kerry's convictions were erased after seeing this film. It is clear that he is a man of high integrity with the courage and leadership and compassion to steer this nation away from the dangerous course of extremism and intolerance that now threatens our liberties every bit as much as do the threats of terrorism. I only wish that this film would be televised and I hope that millions have a chance to see it. Run, don't walk, to see this film before it leaves town! I would especially recommend it to young people to give them a deeper insight into the impact of the Vietnam war on the boomer generation.

A Puff Piece for John Kerry?

[freyw · 9/10 · 2 June 2007]

Sure, it is. But it's also a frank and insightful look into the Vietnam experience through the life of John Kerry in that period. The first part of the film focuses on Kerry's time in Vietnam, including the actions that earned him the Silver and Bronze Stars. Kerry himself was not interviewed for the film; the story is told by his fellow soldiers.

The second part (which is longer) looks at Kerry's post-service activities in the anti-war movement. This section makes excellent use of archival footage, letting a young John Kerry and his fellow activists tell their own story. The response of Nixon and his attempts to smear Kerry are also portrayed, and very eye-opening. This movie provides an excellent view of a time in which the country was split in half, a split that continues to divide American society to this day.

I had forgotten (SPOILERS).

[charlied1778 · 8/10 · 2 October 2004]

The film does a great service to the good old USA. It is non-fiction, non-wishful thinking. George Butler has found a way of reminding us of the reality of Vietnam as part of the context for the Vietnam Veterans Against the War march on Washington.

If you are wondering, yes, there are some dead bodies (real ones). No, there are no closeups of people getting shot, but some film footage of firefights and burning of villages, and plenty of descriptions of death. There is one gruesome scene where US vets calmly discuss dumping Viet Cong captives out of airplanes. It's not obvious that that's what they are saying, indeed, I'm not exactly sure that's what they said, so children might not catch on, but this is a worry for family viewing.

The other important thing the film shows is how engaged the media was in those days. The Dick Cavett clips are wonderful, even though the recording quality is awful. The White House tape excerpts showing the president secretly admiring but working against Kerry were revealing, and well done with still photos of Colson, Nixon, Kissinger. I had forgotten.

The soundtrack was not as effective as, say, Apocalypse Now. The lyric interludes showing napalming of villages weren't as well shot either, and tended to be choppy in their editing. Indeed, for viewers who didn't live through that war, they might not even know what was being dropped on the people, as no burning flesh was shown.

This is really only the middle part of the film, but it had me shaking in my seat. Even though I wasn't there, now I remember.

the film Bushies should fear

[chemeia · 10/10 · 2 October 2004]

I grew up in the '60's and remember well these times. So many people look back and condemn the ideas, actions, and turmoil hoping to consign them to a bad time which should at best be forgotten. So it now that the old adage about those forgetting history are condemned to repeat it. We were once again lead into to a quagmire by a president who hyped and selectively released information to stir fear and militarism. The characters have changed from LBJ to W but John Kerry is the constant on the other side. John Kerry is a strong and courageous leader. The film also puts to rest the slime being pedaled the Swiftboat veterans on the Republican side. The film was a poignant and honest look at a time when our country was being pulled apart by another war of CHOICE rushed into with arrogance. This should be required viewing by all voters.

The parallels are amazing

[ritsn · 30 October 2004]

This film was somewhat pedestrian at first, but as it got into the heart and passion of the Vietnam era it really caught fire.

During that time I was a naive teenager/college kid, with these events going around on the periphery. This movie helped to crystallize the past, as well as to connect it to the present. The statement John Kerry made, about asking someone, or someone's son (now include "daughter") to die for a lie holds so true today. Although Kerry has mellowed a lot in 34 years, if even a fraction the spark, the integrity and the bravery it took to volunteer for battle and then to see the truth and to fight for a just cause are still in him, I can be proud of my vote on Nov. 2nd.

It would be oh so illuminating to contrast the current president's past life and times during those same years with that of this impressively articulate and thoughtful man.

Great biographical profile.

[okieman1200 · 10/10 · 25 June 2005]

George Butler's film on John Kerry did not gain enough press to influence the election or swing a large number of votes, but even now after the election this movie is worth watching. This movie is a profile of Kerry, but it is also much more. It tells the stories of the men who served with him and what they really think of this man's courage.

Sadly, If John Kerry had spoke in 2004 like he spoke in 1974, then today he would be our President. Kerry's words, as this movie shows, were clear and unsaddled by politics. The man profiled in this film is merely a 30 year old soldier activist, something he should find a little more of in his person today. This film is a moving look at not just John Kerry, but all Vietnam veterans. It sets the record straight on who Kerry was fighting for in front of the Foreign Relations committee and in the march he championed. Watch this movie and you will see the passion that Kerry had and still does have today. The whole story is cut together nicely with great music too.

A MUST SEE FILM

[vivian_anderson · 10/10 · 2 October 2004]

I went to see this documentary yesterday because I wanted my 22 year old daughter to have a grasp of the history of Vietnam war protests. I was not disappointed!

This film is, without a doubt, the best documentary I've ever seen. It contains a lot of archival combat footage, news footage, interviews with Vietnam vets. John Kerry is only in this film in archival footage. The film is really well put together-Butler may win an award for direction.

It covers the Winter Soldier project and shows you film footage of the vets who participated.

If you are 45+, like myself, this film is a very moving trip down memory lane. If you are 45-, it is very instructive about the history of the late 60's-early 70's. Whether or not you are a John Kerry supporter, see this film. You won't be sorry!

A Candidate's Formative Years

[dglink · 10/10 · 3 October 2004]

Once again, one can thank Michael Moore for bringing back the documentary. Without Moore's popular films, whatever your opinion of them, documentaries such as "Supersize Me," "The Fog of War," and this excellent work would not show up at the local multi-plex alongside the latest special-effects laden sequels. Although this film focuses on Senator John Kerry's early years, specifically his time in Vietnam and afterwards when he was a leader of the anti-war movement, it also broadly depicts what was happening in the U.S. during the late 1960s and early 1970s. While parallels with the current political situation and the war in Iraq were likely intended, the film makes no mention of these similarities and leaves it to the viewer to draw them on their own. The film works as an historical document of an era, a political piece that enhances the reputation of John Kerry and explains why he is where he is today, and an entertaining film in its own right with a catchy score of songs from the period. Kerry appears only in film clips from the period, while some of those who served with him on the gunboat, an historian/biographer, and his siblings are interviewed on screen. All of them speak to great effect with commentaries and memories that are often insightful and moving. The early footage is most revealing of how articulate and mature the young John Kerry was in expressing his feelings and position on the war in Vietnam. Unfortunately, as with most documentaries, the audience will probably be filled with those who already agree with the filmmaker's point of view. Sad, because it would make a great double bill with "Fahrenheit 911" for undecided voters this year.

One of the most moving films I've seen in a while.

[nsiegler-2 · 10/10 · 2 October 2004]

This movie is one of the most moving films I've seen in a while. It's as much about America as it is about Kerry. The documentary does an exquisite job in subtly showing with old footage the parallels between what was occurring in this country in the 60's and today - the disillusioned soldiers both on the front and those returned, the resentment of the veterans, the protest marches, the stubborn and out-of-touch Administration ashamed to admit it made a mistake and obsessed about not losing face. In the process we see from which this man seeking the Presidency comes from.

The rare footage makes this documentary very real and you'll never look at John Kerry the same way again. The movie's climax is when he, a man in his late 20's, speaks in front of a packed and smoke-filled Senate hearing. We had already been witness to what he and the compatriots he represented had been through to get there - the inspiration to serve, the sudden horrors of a war impossible to win, and a government misleading and misled. In the black and white footage, it was as if he were speaking today, to us. Have we not learned from the past? You could hear a pin drop in our theater. Many of the senators would not look up while the young man spoke. Somehow Kerry's words eloquently and honorably rose above the madness and permeated anger and managed to convey a message of distress from the front. He spoke of a reality that the war in which he had served and lost friends was being fought for all the wrong reasons and was sadly a mistake. I had never heard a man so humbly yet so clearly place an emotionally charged dilemma in perspective as well as he did that day.

the Vietnam War

[lee_eisenberg · 10/10 · 25 July 2005]

Not since "Hearts and Minds" has a documentary dealt so effectively with the Vietnam War. In this case, obviously, the main focus is on John Kerry's tour of duty there, and how it led him to join Vietnam Veterans Against the War. The interviews with his family members, wartime compatriots, and fellow protesters, really give you a feel for the era, and how it relates to the Iraq War.

If absolutely nothing else, "Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry" has infinitely more credibility than Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, or "Stolen Honor" (that pseudo-documentary that Sinclair Broadcasting tried to air). Of course, more than anything, this documentary not only highlights the wanton brutality of the Vietnam War, but also brings to mind the fact that George W. Bush never served in Vietnam, and thus has no moral authority to conduct the Iraq War in the manner that he has.

Truly a masterpiece of a documentary, comparable to "Fahrenheit 9/11".

Must-see -- hurry, before it's gone!

[janettate · 14 October 2004]

Before I went to the theater to see this movie, I felt that there really wasn't much difference between Bush and Kerry. Two hours later, as the lights went up and I found myself wiping tears off my face, I felt ashamed to have ever thought there was any similarity between the two. As a Baby Boomer I remember the Vietnam era all too well; this film brought it back home in the sharpest possible way. Those who are too young to remember that war would benefit immensely from seeing this documentary -- before the current "conflict" in Iraq drags on for years, the draft is reinstated, and thousands more young Americans are sent to their deaths to do the bidding of egotistical chickenhawks. Kerry's courage and compassion put the lie to the unspeakable "Swift Boat" ads. What is most disturbing, and most urgent, is how "Going Upriver" forces us to the stark, unavoidable realization that here we are again, mired in senseless devastation and waste of life, this time in Iraq. When will we ever learn?