Powerful, intense, moving - a great anti-war movie

Rating: 10/10 (8 April 2002)

Words alone can not describe this film. It will touch you on an emotional level so long as you view it with an open mind and no pre-set bias. I was amazed to read some user comments which describe this as a 'gung ho' or 'America rules the world' movie. That simply is not the case.
Just as with Platoon, this film shows the horror, idiocy, stupidity, futility of war. It is true that high stress combat situations can and will bring out the best in some, and that the media will then portray those people as heros. But that was never the point of this movie.
This film clearly shows how moronic leaders like LBJ and Westmoreland spent the lives of American youth on nothing more than rock strewn fields and hills - gains quickly given up after apparent 'victory.' It shows honor and loss on both sides of the lines as we were not the only ones to suffer. It shows the supreme arrogance and stupidity of getting involved in the first place.
The effects, acting, and score are all first rate. The haunting melody and lyric of the Irish song played during some of the scenes will not soon be forgotten.
This is a must see film.