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Annapolis (film): A reasonably entertaining film with typical story progression

Review by @gooddream · 2837d · of Annapolis

I don't just mean typical, it flat out steals exact elements from other movies but you know what? That's fine, it is still entertaining enough and worth seeing save a few eye-rolling moments.

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Jake Huard (James Franco) is an amateur boxer who works a job building Navy ships and basically doesn't feel much satisfaction with how his life is going. One day on a long shot he is accepted into a prestigeous officer program in the Naval Academy that just happens to have a boxing tournament called the Brigades. Of course Jake ends up being a star in the tournament (because we wouldn't have much of a film if he was eliminated in the first round of qualifying) and of course the person he eventually has to be against in the final is an officer that he has butted heads with since day one.

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The other elements that are stolen from other films is the meeting of a girl at a bar and unsuccessfully flirting with her only to find out that she is an officer in the very Naval program that Jake joins the following day (Top Gun anyone?)

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One of Jake's fellow classmates and also roomate is a pudgy fella who has trouble finishing the physical aspects of the program and Jake helps him to not give up. While this was borrowed / stolen from many military oriented films, Full Metal Jacket is the first one to spring to mind.

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While this movie is certainly not going to win any awards it does have some interesting aspect to in that the Navy did not approve this movie and had a real problem with how inaccurately it depicts the Naval programs. Even more fun than that is the fact that James Franco and Tyrese Gibson got along so poorly on set that there were many actual fights between the two of them while filming the movie. Both of them have said they refuse to work with the other on any future projects.

I can't say that this movie is a must see but someone recently responded to a post of mine that said something along the lines of "if there is absolutely nothing else on, this is ok." This is pretty much how i feel about this movie. It is corny, predictable, and even dumb in parts. At least Mark Wahlberg's brother got some work out of the deal. The film lost 10 million dollars at the box office (doh!)

5 / 10

Comments · 4

  • @praditya(67)· 2837d

    A film with a predictable story always turn out to be boring!

  • @iamevilradio(62)· 2837d

    I think the most interesting thing about this is the Navy not supporting it, which after viewing is pretty apparent why. I joined the Navy a few years before this came out and when watching it, I've got to say it came across as more of a comedy than a hard edged look at the toughness of military academies. Seriously, it was laughable how out of sync it was with the military culture that I was familiar with. You spoke about borrowing from other films and I think one that should be mentioned is 1983's The Lords Of Discipline which seems to have a lot in common with the hazing practices in here. Overall, it settles into this weird space of inadvertent comedies because of how out of line with reality it is.

  • @as-abir(45)· 2837d

    Even thou he was in several things before Annapolis, I consider this to be James Franco's breakthrough role. Just the training and studying alone, must have been as intense as the film itself. Franco plays Jake Huard, a first year student at the Naval academy. The story takes you inside one the hardest and most secretive schools in America, showing you just what it takes to even make it past your first year. The story itself is very inspirational and the acting is top notch. This isn't just a good film, it's one that you know took a lot out of everyone involved. I was entertained, excited, and inspired by an underdog who just wouldn't give up. This is a tremendous film that fell under the radar, because of a then, unknown cast, but it really is a must see for fans of inspirational, military and sports dramas. James Franco is just lovely. It has a good storyline too.

  • @elizahfhaye(68)· 2837d

    I will watch this movie, wheres my popcorn?