Friday, June 6, 2008

Army Daze

http://www.freewebs.com/kayla_ixora69/armydaze.html

Army Daze is a Singapore film and a comedy based on NS (National Service) experience by group of enlistees in the SAF. National Service is an integral part of every Singaporean male’s journey towards manhood. Through ARMY DAZE, we salute Singaporean boys as they don uniforms and begin their march into maturity whilst celebrating how the sons of diverse circumstances come under one camp and become brothers; where the boundaries of race, age and social status become blurred into friendship, laughter and love. Watch how this five men bond, tortured by instructors who spout meaningless classical-Hokkien proverbs and how these five friends learn how to camouflage themselves, shoot M16s, and throw grenades with, sometimes disastrous, sometimes moving, but always hilarious results.

I still vividly remember when I had watched this movie. I was still in primary school!! And I thought it was quite a nice comedy that illustrated the Characteristics of a group (interaction, interdependence, shared behavioural standards and collective identity) and the maintenance roles. It also showed very briefly on Bruce Tuckman’s Five-stage model (Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, Adjourning)

Having gone through national service in the defence force, I feel that army is unlike what all the army movies I have watched. All the movies portrayed army as a collectivist society. I agree that teamwork and interpersonal sensitivity is the key to all missions. However, at the end of the day, who doesn’t look forward to social recognition, promotions and pay increments? I feel that I can hardly rely on anyone in the army with exception of a couple of my close friends. Everyone creates the perception of being kind and helpful on the outside but the sad truth is he was concerned only for his own welfare. Well guys, what are your views and experiences?

1 comment:

jane- said...

i have never watched the film, nor been through army, so i can hardly relate. haha. but i do think that some people create perceptions that they are really nice and kind, just so that people would treat them that way as well, and ultimately they are still thinking about themselves. but think of it this way, if they DO treat other people in a nice and kind way from the bottom of their hearts and not think about what advantages they'll get, people will still be nice to them. and they will have less to think about (i.e.plot their next move) isn't it? haha. so be nice to everyone! lol. :P