majormadmax OK, many have criticized this little flick for not being the traditional ugly, violent Vietnam war flick that we have all come to except; but keep in mind that this is a DISNEY production BASED on a real operation, not a documentary of what happened.I do like this film for several reasons. First, it positively reflects the actions of the US military in Vietnam, whereas most movies on the subject don't portray our forces in the most positive manner. Secondly, it more accurately shows the mission of the Special Forces in working with indigenous peoples to counter an adversary, not the snake-eating, kill-everything-insight stereotype compounded by the Rambo series. Thirdly, I find the acting, dialogue and interactivity between the characters to be well done. This movie wasn't "dumbed down" to be family-friendly, it maintained a standard that showed Disney was serious about making a quality film.So it may not be historically perfect, and it may not fit into many's preconceptions as to what a Vietnam war film should address; but accepting it for what it was intended to be--a Disney film addressing positive subject matter--and criticizing it under those objectives makes the outcome a success in my book. If you want to see soldiers killing natives and burning villages there are plenty of other films that depict such acts, but if you want to watch a movie based on an actual operation by USSF to positively impact a Vietnamese village during the war that Operation Dumbo Drop is the best choice. It may not compare to Apocalypse Now or Full Metal Jacket, but it is not intended to be like those film; but judged on its own it succeeds in meeting its objectives!

Michael_Elliott Operation Dumbo Drop (1995) ** (out of 4)Set during the Vietnam War, this Disney film tells the story of a U.S. platoon trying to deliver a live elephant to a small village who need it for a ceremony.I think even the biggest of Disney fans would admit that this live action picture delivered one thing and that was a major thud as it hit theaters to some rather bad reviews and over the past twenty-plus years it really hasn't gained any sort of following. It's really too bad because the story is a mildly interesting one and you've also got a great cast who are wasted.The biggest problem with OPERATION DUMBO DROP is that it's trying to be way too cute for its own good. Yes, it's set during an ugly period in history and while no one should expect some bloodbath or overly political movie, the film just seems too clean-cut for its own good and it also seems too cute for a Disney movie!Another big problem is that the majority of the laughs simply don't work and you're left there watching a film that makes it rather hard to get into. Danny Glover, Dennis Leary and Ray Liotta are all great actors but even they can't do anything with this thing.

Wuchak Released in 1995, "Operation Dumbo Drop" is a Disney flick inspired by the real story of the US Army supplying an elephant for a village during the Vietnam War. Danny Glover and Ray Liotta star as the two officers in charge of the mission assisted by Denis Leary, Doug E. Doug and Corin Nemec. Dinh Thien Le appears as the boy, Linh, companion of the elephant Bo Tat.An NCO indirectly linked to the real operation said the movie was much more interesting and fun than the actual event as the mission was pulled off without a hitch with little entertainment value. Being a Disney flick, the combat situations are "Yeah, right" and no one gets hurt, but that's to be expected. Other than this, it's a straight forward dramedy/adventure.While I'm generally not into Disney flicks, it's nice to see a more positive side of the war after watching movies like "We Were Soldiers," "Platoon" and "A Rumor of War." Believe it or not, there WERE fun, comedic and altruistic occasions over there, every day. Many good Americans perished directly attempting to prevent harm to Vietnamese people. Many risked their lives not in combat, but in aiding civilian villagers in tasks they could not accomplish themselves. Many worked tirelessly to improve the lives of the Vietnamese, providing food, cooking utensils, clothing and other necessities to those displaced by the conflict. Yes, I realize you could argue that they wouldn't be in such a predicament if there was no war, but don't forget that, generally speaking, the South Vietnamese didn't want communistic rule and the conquest-minded NVA were no angels. Look no further than the incredible killing fields of Cambodia.I love elephants, so I also appreciate this element. What's most enjoyable, besides the great cast, are the exceptional Thailand locations. Although there are a few eye-rolling parts, like all Disney movies, a lot was put into making this film. It's a fun adventure reminiscent of "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom." Unfortunately, there are no key female parts and the "Yeah, right" moments are too painful to give a higher rating.The movie runs 107 minutes.GRADE: C+ or B- (5.5/10)

hot carl All objects fall at a constant rate of acceleration (9.8 m/s^2), no matter what the mass is for either of them. If you drop a penny and a 50 pound weight at the same time,from the same height, they will both hit the ground at the same time. Air resistance is what could slow down the acceleration (ie. a piece of paper, or a feather, or the parachutes they used in the movie). So, even thought the elephant is heavier than the guy, they will both accelerate to their terminal velocities at the same rate. What they did in the movie was physically accurate. But either way, the movie was good. I think Denis Leary is hilarious. His new show Rescue Me is pretty good.