...could be a sequel to FULL METAL JACKET

Rating: Null/10 (25 April 2001)

I had anticipated seeing this movie since I first heard about it last year, but it wasn't playing at any theaters near me. So I had to patiently wait for it to grace the local video store. I am honestly surprised that a film this good didn't get a wider theatrical release. Director Joel Schumacher has given us a gripping, raw war movie about a group of army soldiers and their experiences on their last stop before being shipped over to Vietnam.
These soldiers, some draftees and some volunteers, are the exact kind of youths that shouldn't even be there. But one of them, a non-conformist in every sense of the word, takes it upon himself to help those who need him. The film really could be a sequel to FULL METAL JACKET, but with a more character driven story, much like COOL HAND LUKE. The truth is you really don't see too many films like this any more. The kind of film that slaps you in the face with its raw intensity. I don't know how realistic this film is because I obviously wasn't there, but there are some damn talented actors here and the writing is top-notch.
Some War film buffs may be turned off by its anti-war undertones, but for those who enjoy the challenge and endurance of the human spirit, it's definitley one to check out.