Good concept, horrible execution.

Rating: 3/10 (27 May 2001)

When I first heard about this movie, and then heard the positive reviews, I was eager to see it. I thought it would be a movie that showed the hypocrisy between politicians (civilians) ordering something being done by the military, and then persecuting the military personnel for following those same orders when the political heat is going to fall upon them for giving those orders. Instead, this movie turned into a parody of itself. The Marines taking fire from the snipers without returning it even though they had lost 3 men. The CH-46s magically turning into CH-47s (army helicopters) somewhere between the LHA and the embassy. VC having multiple radios in units as small as the one shown in the Vietnam scenes. I could go on, but the most important problem of all was the Marine commander telling his men to fire into the crowd while completely ignoring the snipers across the street who were the ones actually taking down his Marines. As a Marine, I applaud Hollywood's attempt to show us in a positive light in military courtrooms after the "Few Good Men" debacle, but this movie should have received a thorough rewrite before filming began.