We've Never Been Licked (1943)

As Good As It Gets

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

There was a time when everyone in the United States was truly "united" following the attack on Pearl Harbor, there was no doubt about what had to be done, and the military might of the U.S. was there to do the job. In the wake of 9-11, there was another groundswell of patriotic feeling, but over time we have forgotten how priceless are our freedoms and how they have been protected over the years. This film reminds the history student (or anyone who has listened to their ancestors) of how real a threat can be. Cadet Craig, for reasons of nobility and integrity, sacrificed himself and his reputation for his country, his family and his alma mater. Who would do such a thing today? Maybe the first responders on 9-11; the threat in 1942 was real, the threat in the 21st century is real. This film reminds us of heroes, and duty, and country. It is well worth your time. Not the best acting, or the best story or the best filmography, but you are free to choose.

I worked for years with Aggie Cinema and we used to show this movie to the incoming freshman at our outdoor theater, the Grove. Aggie Cinema is defunct, along with the Grove so I'm not sure if the freshman get to see this gem any more.The interesting bit of trivia was that we were constantly trying to get decent copies of this film to show in the days long before movie restoration. We kept coming up empty handed. We later found out that Robert Mitchum had bought up most of the copies and burned them because he hated his performance. It was not a bad performance. This could have been a lost piece of film lore! Also, note the "mountains" in the scenes of College Station's countryside, which is rolling coastal plain.

Typical WWII tear jerker. If you are part of the generation that came of age around that era you'll still get some goosebumps when you see it even though it is really quite corny. I just wished I knew when it was ever going to be on TV again so I could tape it.

I thought it was horrible and Robert Mitchum fans should avoid it like the plague in order to hold any long-term respect for the man's talent. He was wasted in this movie, but then again, he didn't exactly do anything with his part either.That being said, it's funny if you're an Aggie. I'd give it a 5 as an Aggie, but i gave it a 1 as a movie afficiana... aficcinad... afficcinna... er... movie buff. ;)