Relatively Acurate and Not Kind

Rating: Null/10 (9 March 2002)

Like "Beloved", this is not a kind movie. I feel this is one of the strongest anti-war movies ever made and the way it depicts the soldiers on both sides of the conflict is probably the most acurate of any war movie.
The movie draws on other classics of the genre, notably "Run Silent, Run Deep", in that we are given a soldiers perscpective on what it is to be in combat and the perspective is given from both sides. This particular movie walks a fine line in that it presents the Americans as heroes while it does not glorify them. The Viet Nameese are presented not as sterotype agressors, but as defending their homeland to the best of their ability. For this, the production crew is to be commended.
Points also go to the crew for remining us that while the Army was integrated on paper, segregation was still a part of life in America in the mid sixties. These soldiers showed it really dosen't matter what color you are. a good soldier is recognized by their actions.
The movie is gory, of that there is no doubt. That's what separtates this movie from the typical John Wayne hero epic. War is bloddy and is not to be entered into lightly, a fact that the powers behind the real wor seem to have forgotten.
This is not a movie for the fainthearted, but it is a movie all should see. Perhaps now, the Viet Nam vet can hold their head a little more prooudly knowing that someone told their story truly. They were in a war with bad intelligence at their disposal and little or no support from home. In short, as another general remarked "War is Hell".