Rating: 
Summary: Anti-war Trilogy
Review: This is the last of what I consider the ultimate anti-war trilogy.It is best if they are seen in the following order:
1. Go Tell the Spartans. (Burt Lancaster at his best)
2. Hamburger Hill. (Most violent of the three)
3. Gardens of Stone. (The bottom line) Have a box of tissue handy - guys. My take home: war is hell; avoid it whenever possible; but if you have to fight, fight to win - if not, "it don't mean nothin'."
Rating:
Summary: Anti-war Trilogy
Review: This is the last of what I consider the ultimate anti-war trilogy. It is best if they are seen in the following order:
1. Go Tell the Spartans. (Burt Lancaster at his best)
2. Hamburger Hill. (Most violent of the three)
3. Gardens of Stone. (The bottom line) Have a box of tissue handy - guys. My take home: war is hell; avoid it whenever possible; but if you have to fight, fight to win - if not, "it don't mean nothin'."
Rating:
Summary: Probably the best Vietnam-era movie I have seen!
Review: This is the most authentic portrayal of the early (late 1960's) Vietnam-era Army I have seen. James Caan as a old platoon sergeant (veteran of Korea and Vietnam), and James Earl Jones is his old friend and Sergeant Major (World War II, Korea, and Vietnam vet). These are the guys I met when I joined the Army in 1968. These are the guys who were killed off or retired when their fourth tour in Vietnam came up. These were the guys who were missing when the Army started rebuilding in the early 1970's. There is also an up-close-and-personnal view of the Vietnam-era home front, as James Caan's character befriends a promising young soldier, coaches him into OCS, and sees him go off to Vietnam as an infantry platoon leader, not to return. If you're curious about what the Army was like in the late 1960's, as the casualties from Vietnam were begining to bite on the professional Army, this is the movie to see.
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Summary: Outstanding
Review: This movie is a true testment of how during a time in America's history we were all torn between our belief in justice and supporting our troops in Vietnam!
Rating:
Summary: Overlooked Gem
Review: This movie is an overlooked classic. The writing, directing and acting are wonderful. An all star cast lead by fantastic performances by James Caan, James Earl Jones, D.B. Sweeney, Angelica Houston, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Dean Stockwell. Caan is wonderful in one of his finest performances. This is a touching and endearing anti war movie. But it is much more than that. Check it out.
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Summary: GREAT MOVIE ABOUT ARLINGTON
Review: Very moving story about a young soldier who want to go to Viet Nam. There are some funny parts and romantic parts and some sad as well. Great movie.
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Summary: What more can be said.....
Review: What a great soldier's story. I am a fan of Vietnam-era movies, and this is one of the best I have seen. Having grown up in Northern Virginia, I was particularly interested in the 3rd Infantry/Old Guard aspect of the storyline. I highly recommend the movie, and also the novel (even to those who have already seen the movie).
Rating:
Summary: A different look at the Vietnam war
Review: With all the Vietnam movies that have been made to date, you don't see too many that show the view from soldiers that didn't fight in that war. This movie is about those soldiers in the Army's Old Guard that had to bury all the dead soldiers (in Arlington Cemetery) who died in the Vietnam war. The story unfolds in 1967 with Specialist Jackie Willow (D.B. Sweeney) coming to the Old Guard as part of his Army tour of duty. Willow has big plans of becoming an officer and serving in Vietnam because he belives that he can make a difference. His Platoon Sergeant, Clell Hazard (James Caan), is a highly decorated Korean and Vietnam war veteran that is also fighting his own demons about whether he should go back to Vietnam to help lead unexperienced soldiers that are dying at an atrocious rate. Sergeant Major Goody Nelson (James Earl Jones)is a fellow veteran of Korea and Vietnam and very close to Sergeant Hazard. Both, try as they may, want to dissuade Specialist Willow from going to fight in a war that is virtually unwinnable and wreaking havoc on the American hearts and minds. Sergeant Hazard begins a tenuous relationship with an anti-war correspondant (Angelica Huston) who has her own ambiguous feelings about the war and the toll it is taking on all around her. Sergeant Hazard must balance his relationship, the Army, the daily burial of large numbers of dead soldiers, and his own troubled feelings on everthing unfolding around him. Specialist Willow, by chance, encounters his old girlfriend (Mary Stuart Masterson) who he had planned to marry at one time but has not seen in years due to them going their own ways over differences they had. Rekindling their lost love, they end up getting married and Willow continually pursues his goal of becoming an officer. As the year 1968 unfolds, we find that Willow has become an officer and is sent to Vietnam. In the end, we see the death of a beloved friend and soldier and the impact it has taken on his new wife, his friends, and the fellow soldiers in his life. Some reviewers have said that the movie moves too slowly and is not exciting enough and is boring. A small news flash for everyone - this in NOT an action movie but a drama and a very good one at that. The plot develops nicely throughout and doesn't stray from the subjects at hand. Eventually it leads up to a somewhat predictable climax but it is quite poignant and sad at the same time. The acting in the movie was very well done with an exellent cast of fine actors. James Caan, James Earl Jones, D.B. Sweeney, Lawrence Fisburne, Mary Stuart Masterson, Angelica Huston, and Dean Stockwell. All provide very real and touching scenes that lend credence to an exceptional Vietnam movie. The DVD itself leaves a little to be desired. There were 3 trailers offered but none of them was for the featured movie. There are no featurettes or other extras one may expect. The upside is that the movie has been digitally mastered in audio and anamorphic video and has a superb picture with very good sound even if it is Dolby 2 channel surround. For those looking to see a Vietnam war movie from a different perspective without having to be in the direct center of it (Platoon, Hamburger Hill, etc.), you will probably find this movie very watchable and enjoyable. It is well worth the price and exceedingly well done.
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