This movie is both inspirational and emotionally devastating.

Rating: 9/10 (4 March 2002)

I recently went and saw this movie with my father, who lost his own father in Vietnam. While I never knew my grandfather, I could only watch with stunned amazement as one of the best retellings of the early conflict in Vietnam was projected before me.
Intense and evocative of the chaos and madness which must be a part of any battle, I could at the same time feel a closeness to my grandfather (in the part of Lt. Col. Hal Moore) that I have never held before. The power and intensity of the emotions which this movie brought to bear on me I can still feel days after viewing, and I am left with a lingering sadness and feeling of loss for all of the Vietnam Veterans who gave their lives, their bodies, and their families in the name of duty and friendship.
My mouth still has a bitter taste after seeing the method in which the initial deaths were reported to their families. Having once served in the USN (and having seen my father retire out of the US Army), I could not believe the callousness displayed on the part of the US Government in bringing word to these soldiers loved ones. When the call to serve is answered, it is only fitting that the government take responsibility for its actions and give notice to the families befitting the sacrifice of their son, father or husband.
If Lt. Col. Moore was even 1/10th the man he was made out to be on the screen, I would have been proud to serve under him at any time, and I can only imagine his men held him in the same regard. While Sgt. Major Plumley gave much needed levity to the action, the stoic endurance and ability of his character is seen throughout the senior NCO's of our military and I cannot thank them enough for their inspired and unflagging leadership as well.
The terrible losses, the poignant list of faults that the French Army suffered from (and the Americans found to be true for themselves as well), left me feeling unbelievably saddened for our soldiers. And then the inspiration and uplifting prayers which held our soldiers together and in the end led them to a victory which to me seemed near 'miraculous.'
The way the movie shows the political and military viewpoints, and even more in that it shows the Vietnamese soldier as a competent and ably led foe, were telling points, and ones that make this movie strike me as more factual than many others. Based on my own research into the Vietnam Conflict and by what I have read of Joe Galloway's and Gen. Moore's research and desires on their novel, I think this is one of the best retellings of the actual events one could hope for.
Although the impact that the 2nd of the 7th had is not discussed in the movie (most likely due to constraints), I cannot help but sit here and think how tough that Lt. Col. Moore's battles must have been, knowing what he did and how badly it was likely to go (based on his own observations of poor intelligence, fighting in an enemy's home terrain, fighting half a world away from his own family, and all of the other instances which showed the Americans having the same difficulties that the French had had previously).
I can only suggest that anyone interested in the Vietnam War, or in the trials and tribulations which soldiers of any nationality go through take the time to see this movie. It is one of the best I have ever seen and although it left both myself and my father emotionally drained at it's end, I plan on adding it to my video collection when it becomes available.