Another in a long line of ultra-violent war movies, this one is not quite what it could have been as a film, but the story and theme make up for it.

Rating: Null/10 (27 February 2002)

Another in a long line of ultra-violent war movies this year, this one is based on Lt. Gen. Hal Moore's book of the same name. Unfortunately, it's been re-worked and "Hollywood-ized" by screenwriter/director Randall Wallace ("The Man in the Iron Mask"), who also penned the dreadful "Pearl Harbor" script. It tries a little too hard to pull at your heartstrings to get sympathy for the characters, which isn't necessary considering the tragic elements of the story itself. The character development is strong, which purposely makes it even harder on the viewer when the soldiers are killed.
The actual story itself is very good, though. It deals with Moore's leadership in the first major battle in Vietnam where he realizes that his men are outnumbered and inexperienced. His "leave no man behind - alive or dead" attitude inspired the soldiers and gave them reason to carry on. Like it is said in the end of the movie, the men fought for themselves and each other, with almost no support from their fellow countrymen. However, this movie tends to avoid that as a subject, which is admirable. The point wasn't why they were there or if they thought it was right or wrong. It was about courage and nobility, which is rare in a Vietnam movie.
Interestingly enough, the theme of courage is also shown as parallels several characters. It is seen in Moore's wife (Madeline Stowe), who takes it upon herself to keep the women at home strong while their husbands are fighting. It is also found in the Vietnamese leader who continues to encourage his men to fight hard even in the shadow of defeat, and also in the war journalist/photographer (Barry Pepper), who chooses to be in the middle of it all to capture images that will help the people back home understand what the soldiers went through. While this is nowhere near the caliber of "Platoon" or "Full Metal Jacket", it does pack a punch and is sure to hit some nerves with some veterans. Mel Gibson, Sam Elliott, Greg Kinnear, and Pepper all give solid performances, but something just isn't quite there that made the aforementioned films as well as other war classics what they are. The dialogue is a little cheesy and ham-fisted and the violent effects don't always seem realistic.
It is hard to "enjoy" this film, but it does well to show appreciation for leadership in Vietnam, something that was not shown by the people who should have given it in the first place. If you enjoyed Mel Gibson's work in "The Patriot" or "Braveheart", you will probably like him in this one as well. While not what it could have been, it's not entirely bad either. Go check it out in the theater if you're going to see it at all, though. As you might expect, it is quite violent, so it might be one to skip if you're squeamish or if it might conjure up some bad memories.