Weird weird weird

Rating: 9/10 (17 February 2002)

Sometimes in a good way, and sometimes in a bad way, this movie is WERID! But then again, so wasn't the Vietnam war. I think this movie has one of the best stories when it comes to stories, but not when it comes to Vietnam movies. Director Francis Coppola is quoted saying that this movie isn't about Vietnam, this movie IS Vietnam. Well, I think I must disagree with the great Francis Coppola (I know this is a big risk for me to do, and if you never hear from me again, well, don't bother looking for the story in the papers, because more than likely Mr. Corleone is going to deny it). I must say that this movie at the beginning IS Vietnam, but at the end, begins to lose perspective of being about Vietnam. And yes, I know that it is supposed to take place in Cambodia, but if that's the case, then you can't claim the film to be about Vietnam.
This film begins to go down hill as soon as they start to go up the river to Cambodia in the boat. The whole scene where they stop at the supply depot where they have all the lights set up and where the Playboy bunnies show up in the helicopter. I didn't like that all too much. It just didn't seem right. It seemed too odd and too not true t be in a Vietnam movie. But then again, I wasn't there, and so I can't say whether or not that kind of thing really happened.
But aside from being a non-Vietnam film, this is a very good story film. It has a great beginning, and great middle and a great end. Unfortunately it just lacks factuality. This movie is a lot like what Platoon was soon to be... A fun, but fake movie.
In the end, I gave this movie a 7. It just didn't live up in my mind, to the hype everybody gave it. There really hasn't been one truly outstanding Vietnam movie. Platoon was a piece of crap, Full Metal Jacket was good, but it wasn't true. Another film Hamburger Hill was pretty good, but the acting was atrocious. This movie just adds to the list of OK attempts at a Vietnam movies. That's my opinion, and if you don't like it, eh. What are you going to do?
-Scott-