# Military folks: what are the best hilariously inaccurate military movies / scenes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 16, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-folks-what-are-the-best-hilariously-inaccurate-military-movies-scenes/655860 "2013-04-16T19:28:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-folks-what-are-the-best-hilariously-inaccurate-military-movies-scenes/655860/1 "2013-04-16T19:28:58Z")
Inspired by [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=687746) thread, where I was surprised to find out that subs can’t dive in two minutes like in the movies… So military / ex-military folks, can you name some movies and / or scenes that you find hilariously inaccurate about the military, and possibly explain what about them is so hilariously bad based on what would actually happen? I’m thinking more along the lines of things that are just stupid and wrong. Not necessarily historically inaccurate, like **U-571** or **Pearl Harbor** , but more like “There’s no way Matthew McConaughey and his crew could climb into an empty German sub and get it started and diving with ten guys and only two that spoke German,” or “there’s no way that guy could say that quip to his CO without instantly getting the shit kicked out of him.” ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-folks-what-are-the-best-hilariously-inaccurate-military-movies-scenes/655860/2 "2013-04-16T19:48:39Z")
_Stripes?_ 😉 Ok. How about _Top Gun?_ ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-folks-what-are-the-best-hilariously-inaccurate-military-movies-scenes/655860/3 "2013-04-16T20:46:01Z")
Well, action movies used to constantly get wrong what various special forces like the Rangers or SF or the SEALs actually did. And uniforms are almost always wrong. I think the biggest violator I can think of for both of these was the movie Basic with John Travolta. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-folks-what-are-the-best-hilariously-inaccurate-military-movies-scenes/655860/4 "2013-04-16T21:18:49Z")
All of them. > [@Gatopescado](#): > > _Stripes?_ 😉 I went to Basic Training at Fort Knox. They filmed Stripes there so it looked pretty real to me. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-folks-what-are-the-best-hilariously-inaccurate-military-movies-scenes/655860/5 "2013-04-16T21:21:41Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > I think the biggest violator I can think of for both of these was the movie Basic with John Travolta. You mean where Samuel Jackson is a 60 year old Ranger/Drill Sergeant wearing Specialist rank? ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-folks-what-are-the-best-hilariously-inaccurate-military-movies-scenes/655860/6 "2013-04-16T21:23:07Z")
How about pretty much everything in _[Crimson Tide](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112740/)_? To name a few: [ul] [li]Officers don’t order sailors on submarines to drop and do push-ups like drill instructors do in basic training.[/li][li]Submarine dolphins aren’t worn on white dress shirts (part of the service dress blue uniform), but on the SDB jacket.[/li][li]Sonar displays do not look like radar scopes.[/li][li]The gist of the plot is contrived and unrealistic.[/li][/ul] _[The Hunt for Red October](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099810/?ref_=sr_1)_ wasn’t nearly as bad, though it had quite a few whoppers of its own. A trivial one is that the submarines seemed to have quite a bit more chrome and neon lights than I remember. Real submarines are much more drab and utilitarian. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-folks-what-are-the-best-hilariously-inaccurate-military-movies-scenes/655860/7 "2013-04-16T21:24:03Z")
Crimson Tide was good for a few WTF moments ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-folks-what-are-the-best-hilariously-inaccurate-military-movies-scenes/655860/8 "2013-04-16T21:31:14Z")
Any time anyone says “Over and out.” ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-folks-what-are-the-best-hilariously-inaccurate-military-movies-scenes/655860/9 "2013-04-16T21:32:32Z")
> [@Poysyn](#): > > Crimson Tide was good for a few WTF moments I assume you’re not referring to seeing Tony Soprano aboard. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-folks-what-are-the-best-hilariously-inaccurate-military-movies-scenes/655860/10 "2013-04-16T21:36:57Z")
Everybody firing on full auto in almost every military movie. Fire discipline is taught in basic training. Misplaced rating patches on uniforms, especially Navy. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-folks-what-are-the-best-hilariously-inaccurate-military-movies-scenes/655860/11 "2013-04-16T21:43:05Z")
Any knowledgeable person is going to see something annoyingly inaccurate about their field in pretty much any movie that features it. For instance, I am constantly grumbling about concert scenes in movies that feature people singing into microphones that didn’t exist at the time. Even more annoying is where they are singing into a microphone entirely wrong! In a [Google search of “singer microphone”](https://www.google.com/search?q=singer+microphone&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=VdZ&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=PcRtUe3RGMeDyAGFloG4AQ&ved=0CDEQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=988) you will see the classic [Shure model 55 microphone](http://www.guitarcenter.com/Shure-55SH-Series-II-Mic-100818954-i1126527.gc) (aka the “Potato masher” or [Elvis microphone](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://uv201.com/Microphone_Pages/Microphones_Images/elvis_mike.jpg&imgrefurl=http://uv201.com/Microphone_Pages/shure_55s.htm&h=227&w=292&sz=13&tbnid=tWgdfUhY3EQ9CM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=116&zoom=1&usg=__j_ut1A6uUPtS66EVJdR3_PzuM04=&docid=J_sUI8SfZs2QiM&sa=X&ei=fcZtUcTxHoq3yQGRkYGYBw&ved=0CEoQ9QEwBQ&dur=413)). And MORE THAN HALF of the images they are being sung into wrong. This is like seeing a camera, and the model is looking into the lens rather than the viewfinder, or showing a submarine that can fly. Note: You sing into the grill, [where the logo is](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wvNUX2eiCMM/TbxA4qdhLLI/AAAAAAAAAQA/7_zqHwfv9XY/s1600/BSWPA_MICROPHONE.jpg), NOT the solid metal top. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-folks-what-are-the-best-hilariously-inaccurate-military-movies-scenes/655860/12 "2013-04-16T21:46:38Z")
Yeah a lot of movies get the uniform wrong you have battle hardened four star Generals that have no deployment or unit patches that are leading a huge military campaign which I have seen Sergeant Majors and high ranking officers that had been in like thirty years and had never deployed but it would be rare for someone in charge of a big campaign having never deployed and a lot of the high ranking that I’ve seen that had never deployed were MOS’s like medical or something, I know I’ve seen a lot of other errors I just can’t think of any at the top of my head right now. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-folks-what-are-the-best-hilariously-inaccurate-military-movies-scenes/655860/13 "2013-04-16T21:46:57Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Any knowledgeable person is going to see something annoyingly inaccurate about their field in pretty much any movie that features it. For instance, I am constantly grumbling about concert scenes in movies that feature people singing into microphones that didn’t exist at the time. Even more annoying is where they are singing into a microphone entirely wrong! In a [Google search of “singer microphone”](https://www.google.com/search?q=singer+microphone&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=VdZ&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=PcRtUe3RGMeDyAGFloG4AQ&ved=0CDEQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=988) you will see the classic [Shure model 55 microphone](http://www.guitarcenter.com/Shure-55SH-Series-II-Mic-100818954-i1126527.gc) (aka the “Potato masher” or [Elvis microphone](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://uv201.com/Microphone_Pages/Microphones_Images/elvis_mike.jpg&imgrefurl=http://uv201.com/Microphone_Pages/shure_55s.htm&h=227&w=292&sz=13&tbnid=tWgdfUhY3EQ9CM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=116&zoom=1&usg=__j_ut1A6uUPtS66EVJdR3_PzuM04=&docid=J_sUI8SfZs2QiM&sa=X&ei=fcZtUcTxHoq3yQGRkYGYBw&ved=0CEoQ9QEwBQ&dur=413)). And MORE THAN HALF of the images they are being sung into wrong. This is like seeing a camera, and the model is looking into the lens rather than the viewfinder, or showing a submarine that can fly. > > Note: You sing into the grill, [where the logo is](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wvNUX2eiCMM/TbxA4qdhLLI/AAAAAAAAAQA/7_zqHwfv9XY/s1600/BSWPA_MICROPHONE.jpg), NOT the solid metal top. I don’t see any images of people singing into a solid metal top. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-folks-what-are-the-best-hilariously-inaccurate-military-movies-scenes/655860/14 "2013-04-16T21:58:44Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > I don’t see any images of people singing into a solid metal top. [I](http://static7.depositphotos.com/1011061/772/i/950/depositphotos_7720649-Funky-female-pop-singer-with-an-old-microphone.jpg) [do.](http://www.visualphotos.com/photo/2x3793105/female_singer_with_microphone_elegant_black_dress_portrait_ddl_7mu_5297.jpg) [All](http://static3.depositphotos.com/1008070/240/i/450/dep_2401093-Vintage-Microphone-Singer.jpg) [over](http://i.istockimg.com/file_thumbview_approve/11086763/2/stock-photo-11086763-sexy-female-singer-holding-retro-microphone.jpg) [the place](http://static7.depositphotos.com/1011061/772/i/950/depositphotos_7720649-Funky-female-pop-singer-with-an-old-microphone.jpg). It varies, but the microphone has a hinge, to tilt it up so the singer can aim it at his or her mouth. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-folks-what-are-the-best-hilariously-inaccurate-military-movies-scenes/655860/15 "2013-04-16T22:05:57Z")
“The Green Berets” was hilarious. From the beginning with a SF COL as old as Wayne to the movie ending with the sun setting in the East, it was a laugh fest. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-folks-what-are-the-best-hilariously-inaccurate-military-movies-scenes/655860/16 "2013-04-16T22:08:35Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > [I](http://static7.depositphotos.com/1011061/772/i/950/depositphotos_7720649-Funky-female-pop-singer-with-an-old-microphone.jpg) [do.](http://www.visualphotos.com/photo/2x3793105/female_singer_with_microphone_elegant_black_dress_portrait_ddl_7mu_5297.jpg) [All](http://static3.depositphotos.com/1008070/240/i/450/dep_2401093-Vintage-Microphone-Singer.jpg) [over](http://i.istockimg.com/file_thumbview_approve/11086763/2/stock-photo-11086763-sexy-female-singer-holding-retro-microphone.jpg) [the place](http://static7.depositphotos.com/1011061/772/i/950/depositphotos_7720649-Funky-female-pop-singer-with-an-old-microphone.jpg). > > It varies, but the microphone has a hinge, to tilt it up so the singer can aim it at his or her mouth. I didn’t scroll down far enough to see most of those. When you said “MORE THAN HALF” I thought I would have been able to see it in the first 15 or so. ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-folks-what-are-the-best-hilariously-inaccurate-military-movies-scenes/655860/17 "2013-04-16T22:09:25Z")
I remember reading somewhere that \*\*all \*\*military uniforms on TV or in movies were wrong on purpose. But I am not sure why. Something about it making it easier for other people to copy and impersonate personnel? ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-folks-what-are-the-best-hilariously-inaccurate-military-movies-scenes/655860/18 "2013-04-16T22:48:50Z")
Iron Eagle ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-folks-what-are-the-best-hilariously-inaccurate-military-movies-scenes/655860/19 "2013-04-16T23:00:21Z")
> [@pool](#): > > Yeah a lot of movies get the uniform wrong you have battle hardened four star Generals that have no deployment or unit patches that are leading a huge military campaign which I have seen Sergeant Majors and high ranking officers that had been in like thirty years and had never deployed but it would be rare for someone in charge of a big campaign having never deployed and a lot of the high ranking that I’ve seen that had never deployed were MOS’s like medical or something, I know I’ve seen a lot of other errors I just can’t think of any at the top of my head right now. This is _corrected_ for grammar? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-folks-what-are-the-best-hilariously-inaccurate-military-movies-scenes/655860/20 "2013-04-16T23:51:53Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > “The Green Berets” was hilarious. From the beginning with a SF COL as old as Wayne to the movie ending with the sun setting in the East, it was a laugh fest. Not to mention smashing a comrade’s rifle against a tree…made easier by the fact it was a [Mattel toy gun.](http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Green_Berets,_The#Mattel_M-16_Marauder_Toy_Gun) 😃 (That site linked, [imfdb.org](http://imfdb.org), is also a detailed, engrossing, and often hilarious listing of firearms in in film—and their mistakes, anachronisms, and occasional substituting of non-guns. 😃 ) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-folks-what-are-the-best-hilariously-inaccurate-military-movies-scenes/655860.md?page=2)