Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

For having a relatively low budget, the film's style and overall art direction are immensely impressive.

Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

I've read all of the reviews for this movie, and I'm not convinced that any of them address its major theme: the triumph of individuality over conformity (although the Storyline alludes to this.)Entering into the Marines, everyone is reduced to the status of "maggots." Everyone's hair is shorn. Everyone is reminded that they do not have their mothers' apron strings to clutch. Everyone is questioned as to the propriety of their sexual orientation, whether they are really men or something less than men. Everyone is reduced to their naked bodies standing in the showers, with their bars of soap, toothbrushes and towels. Everyone has the same buzz cut, the same cots, the same clothes, and their behavior scrutinized and reinforced from morning until evening, and again the following day. All of this is done to ensure conformity, obedience and willingness to fight in the name of country.In the midst of this overt dehumanization, Adrian stands out, not as a rebellious spirit, but as a sensitive and intelligent thinking man. In one scene, Adrian asks his DI, "Sir, do we dig ditches in order to build up our morale and sense of pride?" To which the drill sergeant replies, "You do not need to know why I ask you to do anything. Simply the fact that I ask it should be sufficient for you to comply." That type of reply, it should be noted, is not persuasive to the sensitive man who can think for himself, as it appeals only to a spirit of authority, not reason.Notwithstanding, Adrian excels in all of his activities as a Marine. He can run faster, fight better, endure more pain and suffering than anyone else in his outfit, and moreover he demonstrates a peace and strength that comes from his own spiritual convictions. He also helps those who are weaker than he is and he shows himself wiser than the men who are trying to instruct him.And yet, despite the fact that he outwardly shows himself more than capable of everything the Marines throw at him, the senior drill instructor notices that Adrian's serene and peaceable spirit remains unbroken and undiminished. This observation becomes a sadistic blood-lust to the senior instructor, to break the man down and to destroy Adrian's sense of individuality at all costs, even to the point of having him repeat basic training all over again until he conforms to the Marine ideal of the "unthinking obedient killing machine."At the end of the movie, Adrian has to decide to which "tribe" he will give his ultimate allegiance. His immediate drill instructor tries to give him his best advice, but of course, he has to do so while remaining loyal to the Corp himself. In the end, who is more loyal to his ideals, Adrian or his instructor?I found this movie to be a favorite of mine, embodying the "hero" (or "antihero") theme of retaining one's essential identity in the midst of outside demoralizing and dehumanizing influences. In my opinion, the movie is as instructive and inspiring as it is entertaining!

I was eight years old, when this film was released. I didn't see it then in 1970, however I saw in on a cable channel in 1990. Jan MIchael Vincient and Darrin McGavin were from two different worlds. Darrin a man of war, who killed men. Jan a man of peace and love, the hippie way of life. I didn't see very many hippies, during my childhood. Jimmy Carter allowed the hippies, who fled to Canada, to avoid the draft, to come back to the United States. How dare they! They didn't want to fight for their country. I had to register with the selective service prior after graduating high school, in the event of war. I liked this movie. If you saw The DI with Jack Webb aka Sgt. Joe Friday, he is lot like Darrin McGavin a tough Marine Drill Sergeant. He had a nonconformist played by Don Dubbins. He wanted out of the marines the same as Jan. Don even slapped a sand flea, which caused the whole platoon to suffer a punishment. Darrin said when Jan was dreaming about making love to his girl friend. If Shirley daydreams we will all take the wrap. While holding those weights, during drill, he was in another world. The other recruits wondered how he did it. The Sgt. got angry when his men were chanting and following Jan's way of life. Well that sums it up.

"Tribes" tells the story of a 1960s American hippy flower child who fails to adjust to the grimness of military life after being drafted into the U.S. Marine Corps. A very young Jan Michael-Vincent stars as Adrian, the flower child. Darren McGavin plays the role of Gunnery Sergeant Drake, the hard-as-nails veteran platoon drill instructor.Adrian proves himself to be a superior recruit, dealing with the stresses of military training by resorting to his inner self. He eventually teaches the rest of his platoon (clandestinely, of course, to avoid the ever-watchful and disapproving eye of the DI) meditative techniques such as yoga. In one hilarious scene, Sgt. Drake walks into the barracks to find Adrian meditating while leaning against the wall, standing on his head -- naked. In an instant, Adrian is locked at attention, explaining to the drill instructor that he was naked because, "I like the freedom, sir!" Drake's head nearly explodes as he nears to within an inch of the boot's face and screams, "THERE WILL BE NO FREEDOM IN MY PLATOON!"Even though the finest boot in the group, Adrian eventually desserts before completing boot camp. Drake, frustrated at his platoon's finest member, nevertheless doesn't give up and tracks Adrian down. Adrian tells Drake he'll never use a weapon against another human being; Drake replies that he's had to do just that for the mere privilege of being able to sit and talk to Adrian. Can Drake convince Adrian to return?But that's not the end of the story."Tribes" (in spite of its anachronisms, readily identifiable by those who've been there) is one of the most faithful efforts of depicting the U.S. Marine Corps -- especially boot camp -- in a movie. It is invariably compared to Kubrick's much more profane, and ultimately more realistic, "Full Metal Jacket". But its message (and audience) is completely different. One should keep in mind that at the time the film was produced, every U.S. draftee was virtually guaranteed to be sent to the still raging war in Vietnam. "Tribes" is an astonishing achievement for a made-for-TV movie.

I was a mere 12 years old when I first viewed this film back in 1970 and I loved it. It now reminds me of a future "Full Metal Jacket" without the profanity and violence that that film carried some 17 years later. All the performers, Vincent, McGavin and Holliman were simply all superb. Being a retired military man now, I can highly appreciate military films and "Tribes" will always be amongst those that stand out. This was one truly superb film and I highly recommend it. Although Vincent went on to become a big star in major motion pictures and the TV series "Airwolf", it was shameful that his career was cut short due to his addiction to drugs and alcohol. Nevertheless, this film will always be a memorable one for me indeed. It would be interesting to have this film come out on DVD with comments from all three leading actors and the director.