The General's Daughter (1999)

Good movie

Additional features of DVD(I bought the movie primarly because of them) are hard to use...
They are very important to understand the social value and meaning of the movie.
Probably Travolta's best role; he isn't much of an actor. November 30, 2008

Poor thriller

This film drags and the plot isn't very good. There are some good moments, but for the large part I thought this was very average. October 13, 2008

A Father's Love

This picture shows to what length a daughter will go to have her father's love. August 28, 2008

Overtly sordid but worthwhile and potent (for some)

1999's "The General's Daughter" takes place at and around a coastal Georgia military base. John Travolta plays an Army investigater who teams up with Madeleine Stowe, a woman he once had an affair with (yeah right), to solve the ugly murder of the daughter of the commanding officer, herself a captain.

Whether you like Travolta or not, there's no denying his star power. He easily carries this film as the protagonist from beginning to end. The real cast highlight for me, however, is the stunningly gorgeous Madeleine Stowe (remember her from 1992's excellent "Last of the Mohicans"?). Throughout most of the film Madeleine wears a white sleeveless shirt and tight tan-ish dress slacks. Needless to say, her curvaceous beauty is thoroughly spellbinding (if you're a red-blooded male, that is).

The film is rated R and for good reason. There are numerous scenes of a naked woman staked out spread-eagled, both alive and dead. Besides murder, the picture features overt elements of S & M and gang rape. This may understandably turn some potential viewers away, but the film is worth sticking with if you can brace yourself for such sordid aspects.

Why? Because "The General's Daughter" powerfully shows that sexual abuse must be addressed and not shoved under the rug. Inner wounds must be properly bound and healed, not dismissed with a casual shrug.

My wife and I recently saw a fascinating documentary on prostitutes. I never could understand how a woman could have sexual relations (especially oral sex) with some dirty, smelly sleazebag for money. It's gag-inducing to me. With one exception every prostitute interviewed confessed to being sexually abused while growing up. The abuse was never properly addressed and, consequently, no real inner-healing could take place. The abuse literally damned the women to a sordid life of self-loathing and self-destruction. My heart goes out to them!

The sleazy sexual elements are so in-your-face in "The General's Daughter" that it's hard to look past it to the meat of the story. The unaddressed sexual abuse of the General's daughter leads to an ultra-promiscuous and deviant sexual lifestyle, resulting -- of course -- in misery and (ultimately) destruction.

Travolta's character briefly knew the general's daughter before her murder. What compels him to solve the murder and enact justice & vengeance on the direct and indirect perpetrators (aside from the fact that it's his job) is that he clearly saw a genuine gleam of beauty and life in her. Amazon reviewer Steven Quan understandably objects that, if she was as horribly abused as depicted in the story, she wouldn't be so vibrant and perky. But, nevertheless, this vibancy and inner beauty is authentic. Travolta knows it because he experienced it. It's a glimpse of who she really was or could be, a glimmer of her potential as a woman and a human being. True, most of it may merely be a public veneer, an act she hides behind, but the flimsy root is REAL. Unfortunately it's overshadowed by her raw torment within, inner pain so great that it compels her to ridiculously radical actions (e.g. being staked out nude to make a point, etc.).

When Travolta finally figures out what and who destroyed the inner beauty and potential of this young woman his righteous anger is potent and palpable.

I heard the story was loosely based on real-life events, but can't verify it.

The picture was filmed on location in coastal Georgia, around Savannah. There's also a breathtaking shot of West Point, NY, where a small portion of the story takes place.

CONCLUSION: "The General's Daughter" is more than just a meaningless detective mystery/thriller. It's thought-provoking and delivers a powerful message. Some won't get it. Some are unable to get it. Others can't get past the sleazy elements. For the rest of us it's a worthwhile, heavy and potent piece of filmmaking.

(I'm not sure, but I'll likely raise my rating in future viewings). March 30, 2008

Loved the book

Well, if the movie is a good as the book then I am sure I will enjoy it. Many people complain that movies rarely live up to the books that give them birth. Well a novel's story can be developed over several hundred pages, and offer the many twists and turns needed to bring a story to life. A movie doesn't have that option so many judicious (hopefully) cuts have to be made. Certainly that does harm the story somewhat. My wife saw the movie and then read the novel and frankly she thoroughly enjoyed both. February 23, 2008

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