An important movie that brings the horror of war to the unfamiliar public.

Rating: 10/10 (15 October 1998)

As a surgeon that treats wounded soldiers, I was shocked to see the concealed parts of my professional life totally exposed to the unsuspecting individual. This movie is indeed a landmark that exposes the true side of the "romantic" wars that have been part of our cultural upbringing for decades, shattering the notion that war is an exciting adventure. It is not ! Soldiers are usually 18-20 year old boys, that get ripped apart by metal objects that kill, maim and cause terrible pain and anguish to their families. Even though this movie had it's Hollywood side, it succeeded in conveying the true nature of warfare - killing in every conceivable way. The ghastly scenes of spilled guts, and blown off limbs are accurate to a point that brings back vivid memories to those that treat wounded soldiers. I sincerely hope that this very explicit movie will cause people to understand the true horrors of war. As Marlon Brando uttered in Apocalypse now: "The horror, the horror".