Vietnam War film

Rating: 10/10 (5 December 2005)

In response to question number 2.
Before the three men went to Vietnam, both Nick and Steve had something very valuable to them, they both had a woman that they loved and whom loved them in return. However, Mike did not have anyone, or really anything to return to. The one relationship that was truly mutual and meant something to him was following him to Vietnam, his friendship with Nick. This is why Mike was able to deal with war and being face to face with death so well. He is able to be a complete individual and put all other situations from home and other places aside, look at the situation, and realize "this is it". He was so used to being an individual and almost cold that it was much easier for him to focus and think clearly in Vietnam. Nick and Steve both fell apart and were only held together at all by Mikes support. At home Nick seemed to be a follower of Mike, almost weak. When in Vietnam, the adrenaline of Russian Roulette pulled him in and he was not strong enough to overcome the pull that it presented him with. Steve showed a different sort of weakness, he seemed passive and naive. He married a woman who was having a baby even though he knew it was not his. This showed a mental weakness and is consistent with the state that he was in when in Vietnam and upon he return home. I don't believe that this could have turned out differently. Each situation that the men ended up in were accurate to their personalities. Though the directors were at first going to have Mike stay in Vietnam, it fits Nick's character much more and it would not have been consistent with Mikes strength in character.