Negative reviewers just don't get it!

Rating: Null/10 (23 December 2003)

I've seen lots of complaints about the use of war movie cliches, unnecessary heart-string tugging, etc. The problem with this short-sightedness is the fact that the human condition IS a cliche. It's sad that some people find it boring that yet another GI falls on a grenade or announces the birth of his child only to die very soon afterward. One can be assured that many GI's have experienced these circumstances. This was war, and these things happened. Just because it's been portrayed before and ruins a film student's idea of great cinema, does not make it a bad film.
The early years of the Vietnam war were a time of innocence. It was generally thought that to allow the spread of communism was a threat to democracy in America and the rest of the free world. It was noble to fight communism as a defense of our way of life. At this point, America believed in the fight. If Vietnam had been granted the right to self-rule after the end of WWII, this war would not have happened. This movie gives us an idea of the American mindset of the time and the very brave men who fought in this early phase of the war. Fast- forward to 1969 and the soldiers, as well as America, have a very different perspective. There should be no comparisons to Platoon or Full Metal Jacket.
Last but not least, no one has a right to comment on "realism" in a war movie unless they have been in battle themselves. Only the vets reserve that right.