leaves you wanting more...and maybe a little frustrated

Rating: 8/10 (13 March 2017)

As a period piece, I loved the nostalgic Vietnam War setting and the panoramic nights scenes of Saigon that they managed to weave into the film. The plot was pretty formula and characters predictable down to the frustrated Army Lt with nothing to return home to longing for one more battle. The one thing I wasn't expecting was a colder, more emotionally uninvolved "Fay Rae" who neither falls in love with the big ape or seems too concerned overt what happens to him one way or the other. And then finally, when he saves her life for the last time, we watch the lonely beast slowly lumber away back to his isolated oblivion while our beautiful little ingrate turns and hugs her boyfriend. Sorry but that last scene was begging to be re-shot. All in all, it's still a good flick.