Featured Video; July 2010

This month we’re recommending an excellent China Beach video, “Toy Soldiers”, made by Michele. We hope you enjoy the amazing work.

Title: Toy Soldiers (watch video)

Creator: Michele

Song: “Toy Soldiers” by Martika

Subject: China Beach

Time: 2005

Anne’s Review:

It’s a credit to this video that everytime I hear this song now, I ALWAYS have this video running through my head. The song is perfect for the wartime era of China Beach, and the angst in the song matches the angst from the show beautifully. It’s very much a team video — you get to see the cast of China Beach, not just Marg as KC, but of course there’s still plenty of Marg. :)

I’ve always loved the scene in China Beach that Michele has used at 0.33 of the entire crew playing baseball in the rain on Independence Day. It was a great piece of fun in what would have been unbelievably difficult circumstances.

If you’ve never seen China Beach, this is a great introduction to what the show is all about. 1.03 is amazing, with Dodger (Jeff Kober) walking through the cemetery and the line of boots from the soldiers that were killed at China Beach. And if the clip after that of KC letting her daughter Karen get away from Saigon doesn’t make your heart ache, nothing will. 2.29 with KC comforting Boonie is just…also heartbreakingly tender. And of course 3.15 when KC sees Karen for the first time since she sent her away from Saigon to Boonie is also heartbreaking.

That being said, any of the times Marg smiles in it are just…stunning.