I agree, but...

Rating: Null/10 (20 November 2004)

The Deer Hunter is a classic film, I agree. It deserves a better reputation but it does have flaws. If the film can be divided into three acts, (1. Before Vietnam - 2. Vietnam - 3. After Vietnam) acts one and three are perfect, as good story, acting, photography, editing as you'll see,the hunting scenes in the mountains are a personal favourite. Act 2 however suffers from a vagueness, a lack of concentration and a marked drop in standards from the rest of the film. The use of (un-needed) library footage is terrible. Barely disguised, it doesn't add any authenticity at all, in fact it takes some away.It kills the atmosphere and this mixed with clumsy editing at the beginning of the sequence is amateurish (you make sense of the scene where Nick and Steve meet Michael at the Vietnam village - cut - oops they've been captured)*. Having said that it's testament to how good the rest of the film is that you can forgive these flaws and enjoy what is an honest, powerful and, on the whole, well written and well made film.
*I'm aware that the explosions in the background went off early by accident causing general chaos but even that could have been used better.