One of the best Vietnam movies

Rating: Null/10 (1 February 2003)

Forget Rambo. Forget Missing in Action. Forget Apocalypse Now. See We Were Soldiers instead.
This is among the best Vietnam movies. The only other contender for that distinction is Hamburger Hill -- another that deals with a historic engagement.
The theme of We Were Soldiers is best summed up by the real-life unit commander in an interview (included in the special features on the DVD). He thoroughly hates war, but loves the brave men who lay their lives on the line for their country. That even includes those on the opposing side; they fought valiantly as well. And they are in the movie, too.
War's many horrors -- the bloodshed, the suffering of the wounded, the separation from family, and the effects on the home front are portrayed frankly and realistically. Nothing is glorified or sugar-coated.

Finally (WARNING: Spoiler!) the last part provides ominous foreshadowing of what lies ahead for the Americans in Southeast Asia. Our leaders in Washington display a naive optimism which, as we now know, was tragically misplaced. If they had only known!