respectful and well-made despite the fact that its been seen before

Rating: Null/10 (9 September 2002)

Gripping Vietnam War saga covers familiar ground, but is made worthwhile by its characters and their differing perspectives of the battlefield. There's a steadfast U.S. Army colonel and family man who would rather give his own life then those of his men (Gibson), a curious reporter who gets a first-hand account of the chaos and brutality of war (Pepper), Vietnamese soldiers determined to complete the task at hand, and grieving widows who must deal with the tragic loss of their husbands. Long, with a few too many moments of melodrama, but strongly acted with very convincing battle scenes. Delivers pretty much what you'd expect. **½