Not a good film

Rating: Null/10 (27 August 2002)

This is the first attempt at a review I have ever made, but I was so surprised to read all the positive reviews I felt compelled to add my own views.
I have seen a lot of war films and wouldn't consider this film to be included in the genre,
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The acting seemed a little too sentimental to be believable, why the lead character played by Colin Farrell should be so concerned about saving all and sundry from going to Vietnam after hearing there hart aching sob stories, whilst not doing anything about getting himself out isn't really explained even though throughout the film he seems to have no problems slipping in and out of the camp at will, in order to meat girls get drunk etc.
He disobeys every order and causes trouble whenever a chance presents itself and is rewarded by the hard training officers with a few slight ticking off's and then respect as they can see his true talents just below the surface, where as the platoon leader nearly has his nuts fried off just for being unable to control him.
Then there's all the conflict building up between the platoons other characters, although why they all hate each other so much when there going to be depending on each other with there lives is just an obvious plot filler rather than a believable situation.
Or how about the mock operation in tigerland where one group pretends to be the US army the other pretends to be the Viet Kong and so when found by the US side are actually beaten up and gun butted aplenty by there own men, and they don't overly mind this!!!!
How about the chap who's going mad and try's to shoot the lead character only for his gun to jam as he pulls the trigger, all under the eyes of the senior officers only to face no disciplinary procedure what so ever, for him to then get another chance to kill Bozz as they put him in charge of the opposing side, didn't they see this coming with all there army experience?
The thing was I was transfixed by how daft it was that I had to watch it to the end, A very poor film far to sentimental, without any real action or even a believable storyline to follow, watch toy solders instead for a more believable war film!