The Shock of Recognition

Rating: Null/10 (7 March 2002)

For younger viewers who believe they understand the Vietnam War because they have seen it through the distorting lens of Kubrick, Stone, and others, "We Were Soldiers" may come as a shock and a revelation. Despite the high artifice of some of its violent scenes and the melodramtic nature of others (but war is melodrama), it expresses vividly the emotional struggles of American men and women of that time. And it dares to show the Vietnamese as more than helpless victims of psychotic Americans, even inviting us to respect the enemy for his intelligence and dedication. Reviewers who have complained the Moore-Gibson character is just too moral and patriotic to resemble soldiers of that time did not know any of the best soldiers of that time. It may come as a threat to some cynics, but there were such men (not saints, just good men), and those "protected ones" had better hope there are such men (and women) yet today. Of course, some in the younger generation will sensitively reflect on this film, as exemplified in a recent report by a Vietnam vet whose son phoned him: "Thanks for your service, Dad. I just saw 'We Were Soldiers' and I think I understand better what you must have gone through." What finer recognition could there be of a father's achievement -- or of a film maker's?