An Officer and a Gentleman : Beginning scene of young Zack getting beat up

Beginning scene of young Zack getting beat up

I know this must have been discussed so many times, but here goes.

I always felt sad about the young Zack Mayo at the movie's beginning, where the boy desperately wants friends and friendship. He appears to have found both with a group of young Filipino boys oddly led by a older boy. Running down an alleyway, the young Filipino boys turn on Zack and beat him up.

This scene was supposed to explain Zack's cynical character:

1) That he could trust no one.
2) That he could only depend upon himself and no one else.
3) Even if he would not hurt others, he would do so indirectly by being
insensitive and hard-bitten and rejecting teamwork, a crucial element
in the military.
4) That Zack would be highly reticent to reveal his emotions and affections.

More,
that opening scene must have reflected poorly on Filipino males in the Philippines. It depicted Filipino boys as basically, worthless dark-skinned scumbags from a third-world country who of course must be savages in order to survive. It's a miracle they didn't eat young Zack. Of course this is all stereotypical but if you were a Filipino person watching this movie back in the day, you must have winced and groaned at what people the world over would think of Filipinos after that scene.

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Re: Beginning scene of young Zack getting beat up


I agree 100%. That scene always breaks my heart. That poor kid is ALL alone, in a strange place no less. Its amazing Zach grew up as well as he did.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084434/board/thread/210234924



"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
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Re: Beginning scene of young Zack getting beat up


... but if you were a Filipino person watching this movie back in the day, you must have winced and groaned at what people the world over would think of Filipinos after that scene.
I agree with the earlier part of your post, but not this.

It just demonstrates there are bullies every where including around the Subic Bay area. It could have been another naval setting in a different country and the same sort of scene would have worked.

Re: Beginning scene of young Zack getting beat up

It establishes that there are predators around every military base, no matter where you are.

Re: Beginning scene of young Zack getting beat up

Sorry, but a single scene in a movie doesn't reflect poorly on an entire population of people.

Re: Beginning scene of young Zack getting beat up

Just the thought that God doesn't punish bad people like that and lets them get away, just makes me f-cking sick! I hope those Philippine thugs bastards burn in hell when they die!

Re: Beginning scene of young Zack getting beat up

I don't think everyone watching this scene is going to think ALL people in that country are like that. Also, if anyone is offended by this scene bc it's sterotyping them...then, they are retarded. It's realistic scene and if people are too politically correct to handle reality... than, they shouldn't watch a lot of movies !

Re: Beginning scene of young Zack getting beat up

I always took that scene as an indication of how Zack eventually learned martial arts. It must have been pretty standard training there and used regularly. Nothing beats street experience, and showed later how well he was trained in it.
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