excellent movie

Rating: 9/10 (18 January 2006)

This film is excellent all round. Good acting, good score, good script and directing. The cinematography is also well done. There is a very high level of realism, almost frighteningly so.
Mel Gibson gives one of his finer performances in a good sound script worthy of such an effort. The rest of the cast give good supporting performances.
The score is moving and appropriate. All music is spot on for the specific scenes, i.e. each piece catches the mood of the scene correctly. The music itself is very good.
The script is well balanced, showing different views of the conflict as it unfolds. The picture takes its time in developing its characters and the historical/sociological background and this pays off.
It is an unusual film in that it shows us American soldiers who are men of honor and character and worthy of admiration. Not the usual message Hollywood sends us about our warriors - and it is a true story.
A good, solid satisfying picture worth watching.