Very good book turned into a very good movie

Rating: 10/10 (17 April 2005)

Well, I said very good book turned into a very good movie, but in all honesty it was a very tragic event that took place during a war that was written about by the people that were there, then turned into a good movie. War is hell. That is a well known fact that many movies try to hide. During the Vietnam War however, the media didn't try to hide it at all, and this movie captures much of this statement in the opening statements, and does nothing to downplay it throughout the rest of the movie. Its a well made movie, showing all aspects of the battle in the Ia Drang Valley from the training of the US soldiers to the actual battle, to the commanders behind the lines, and to the wives left behind at home. It does a good job of showing that wars not only touch the lives of the soldiers fighting it but those they leave at home. Overall this movie was well written, and very well made. When I first saw it in the theater the weekend it opened, it was in a packed theater (full of Vietnam Vets I might add) and more than one person said that they were glad there was finally a good movie about it, because thats how it actually was.