Emotionally draining and difficult to watch...

Rating: Null/10 (2 March 2002)

I am the proud wife of a Veteran of the Viet Nam War, and I felt grateful remembering that he was home safe, sitting next to me while we watched the movie, together. This was the most emotionally draining movie I have ever seen, in part, because I lived it too, along with all the other families who prayed every day for the safe return of their loved ones. The daily uncertainty and fear that was felt by the family members, is something that has been overlooked in other "war" movies. These families suffered along with the soldiers, on a completely different level, but none the less significant. The frustration and futility of fighting this political war, at the expense of our naive youth, was brought to life with every relentless battle scene. Although the realistic combat scenes were difficult to watch, they were necessary to tell the story with full impact. The movie ended abruptly, and the lights came up, not giving the audience members a moment to wipe tears or reflect private thoughts. Then I realized, the most POIGNANT part of the movie was at THAT very moment, because the screen began to scroll with all the names of the actual casualties of that particular battle in 1965. The entire audience just sat there, numb. I was so thankful to be able to reach over to my husband, give him a hug, and have a better understanding of the horrors and tragedy that he personally experienced, and survived.