SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

Exoticalot People are voting emotionally.

Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Cassandra Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

furbishlousewort I saw this when I was 14 in 1970 and it had a big impact on me. Everything about it was excellent. Special kudos to Vincent for insisting they shave his actual hair for realism. (I read about that in one of the teen magazines of the time, lol)Anyone interested in the late 60s early 70s "hippie" movement should watch this, and anyone who wonders about the military's methods of transforming ordinary citizens into military personnel. As other reviewers have noted, this film doesn't take sides, but presents a sympathetic view to both the DI and the drafted hippie, and protrays them both as willing and able to see other points of view. A good film for parents to watch with teens; it will lead to interesting discussions.

Theo Robertson Obviously you have to watch this 1970 TVM in the context of the medium and period of when it was produced . An American network certainly wouldn't allow foul , profane language to be broadcast so a made for television film like TRIBES which has a similar idea to TIGERLAND or FULL METAL JACKET can be criticised as being tame in comparison to its peers . That said it is somewhat refreshing that this type of premise doesn't involve strong language and makes a nice change The problem with TRIBES is that the story never really takes off . Hippy Adrian gets drafted in to the United States Marine Corps and instantly gets on the wrong side of Drill Instructor Drake . Being a free spirited individual he also gets on the wrong side of one of the other recruits . In many ways he's a sort of composite character who inspired Pvt Pyle in FULL METAL JACKET and Pvt Bozz in TIGERLAND . Almost because he quickly inspires the rest of his platoon and wins the begrudging unspoken respect of Drake . And this happens to quickly to remain credible . It also means there's a distinct lack of dramaWhat is also guilt of is not taking sides . In 1970 it was clear to the American electorate that the best they could hope for in Vietnam was " peace with honor " . The draft where unwilling youths would be conscripted in to the military still continued and looking at this in 2013 seems like madness . A military works best when it's composed of people who genuinely want to be soldiers . The character of Drake despite being well played by Darren Mcgavin never comes across as someone who realises this . Jan Michael Vincent as Adrian is again well cast and makes a convincing hippy but his character is very poorly written and never convinces as someone who has been drafted in to the USMC . The film suffers from being too even handed and would have been much better if it had to choose whose side it's really on . In other words it's a confused military psycho-drama that is unconvincing

Skragg I gave it a 10, not because it's perfect, but I'm pretty prejudiced about it. "Tribes" is really part of a long tradition in the movies (the misfit becomes a model soldier because of the tough but decent sergeant), but of course it plays around with all the rules - in the first place, you're practically certain that the misfit WON'T be influenced all that much (or that he SHOULD BE), and in the second place, HE begins to influence the SERGEANT! Against his will, of course ("It's not my drawing!"). In spite of being made in 1970, it's far from being strictly a Vietnam-oriented movie. And it's even more than a "hippie vs. the Establishment" movie (though those are fine with me), but a lot more general (I've heard that it was endorsed by the Marine Corps, I guess because it they considered it pretty "balanced".) I don't know much about meditation, but one of the best scenes in this film has Private Adrian describing it to the other recruits, while they listen with "rapt attention", including Scrunch Gordon, the "jock" who hated him at first. Which is another thing - it does without genuine stereotypes, except for Earl Holliman's DePayster, who's nice enough in other scenes, but becomes an over-the-top redneck at the sight of Adrian. (And Holliman is completely entertaining doing those scenes.) Of course, it does have "stock characters", ones that work - like John Gruber as the tragic character, Danny Goldman as the completely comical one. (According to this listing, Bud Cort was in it, though I've never recognized him.) As far as the completely funny scenes, Darrin McGavin is really great in them, giving almost an Oliver Hardy kind of look sometimes (a little like his wonderful character in "A Christmas Story"). And he's never less than great in the other scenes (he and Vincent seemed to work perfectly together). And Jan-Michael Vincent is completely believable as Adrian (because of that, I've always "typecast" him as that kind of character, even though I've hardly ever SEEN him play a similar one).

dtucker86 I have had a total of fifteen years of military experience in the Guard and in the regular Army. I usually have a big laugh watching movies that depict military basic training because they are often inaccurate to the point of being ridiculous! Tribes was more accurate then a lot of films I've seen. It depicts boot camp very realistically. Darren McGavin is funny as the tough DI who finds this strange hippie in his platoon. Earl Holliman steals the show as an even tougher DI who has it in for the hippie. Full Metal Jacket is still my favorite military film though. I suppose at the time Tribes came out, its peace message was very popular. These days,however, most people wouldn't have a lot of sympathy for Vincents character.