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We Were Soldiers

We Were Soldiers

List Price: $14.99
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Randall Wallace...
Review: ...has created a cinematic masterpiece. In two hours plus he has accomplished a screen play that will glue you to your seat, make it hard at times to breath and make a cough seem irreverent. I am a 5th US Cavalry veteran serving in Vietnam and Cambodia as a rifleman. For a veteran this movie is too painful, for all others it should be required viewing, maybe even mandatory high school curriculum. To finish the movie the hymn written by Randall Wallace and performed by the West Point Glee Club, "The Mansions of the Lord" will destroy what is left of your soul. The song, I can assure you will be a standard at West Point for the next 1000 years. I can honestly say, when all is said and done, that Randall Wallace has quite possibly done as much or more for Vietnam veterans with this movie as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Thank you sir from a grateful Vietnam veteran.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Impressive!
Review: I could have done without the two racism lessons, it's getting pretty tiring now. I suppose it's due to the era this film was based and I accept it for that, but they seemed really out of place to me.

Other than that the movie was excellent. The action was intense and I could feel the tension really build as the movie progressed.

This movie showed very intense action for only a few days of time that went by and really impressed upon me the hell that many of the soldiers and pilots in Vietnam had to endure on a daily basis as they fought against Communism throughout their enlistment.

In all I will never forget the movie and the feelings it stirred within me. I highly recommend seeing it!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Not for country ,not for honor but for each other.
Review: Randall Wallaces couragous at times haunting story about Lt.
Gen Al Moore who led his troops in 1965 in the first major battle
of Vietnam is probly the most honest portrayal of Veitnam it is
in no way as striking and as brillant as Saving Private Ryan the
father of the modern day war film, but it shows Vietnam in a way
that it has never been shown before.As a family man Moore is a
commited father of his children and a loving husband to his wife
,As a soldier he is a caring but gutsy soldier that is willing to
do what he is orderd even though it may cost him the lives of his
company or his own life.

In 1955 when the French were massacred by the south Vietnamese
Lt, Moore knew that they would be calling him to war and he would
have to make that solem promise to his company that he would look
out for them and bring them back even if any of them fall in war
but he never knew that he would have to make them a promise that
would happen , In a scene that looks like that of Apocalypse Now
the outbound helicopters carry Moore and his men unto the grassy
feilds of Veitnam with only one thought in his head how many will
not come home to there familys and will he ever get to see his own family again.

Starring into the face of the enimey his men blocked and I'll equiped and seeing them being cut to shreds by enimey fire
the promise that he made to his company all but vanished,The
soldiers wives unsure that they will see there husbands again

children waiting to see if they will ever be able to hug there
father again.This deep in Moore mind as he is in a desprate
battle that someone orderd him to do but he can't turn back,
Wallace also focuses on the enimeys side as we see how the
enimey experiences.When it's all said and done Moore wonders
why he did not fall insead of his soldiers for they did not
come there for honor or country they came there for each
other an inspirering and worth while honest portrayal
of the Veitnam war and how soldiers delt with it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Engaging, Exceptional War Movie
Review: This is a very fine movie in its own right. I know comparisons are made to Black Hawk Down and Saving Private Ryan, however this movie portrays the realism of Vietnam, where the others show the horrors of Somalia and World War 2. The comparison should stop there. Having served in Vietnam some 5 years after the conclusion of this battle...I have some recollections as to how these things came down. It was very hard for me to sit through this movie...the realism is very good and the acting fine. I had a small problem with Mel Gibson as Colonel Moore, sounding a bit "John Wayneish", almost like he patterned himself after Mr. Wayne, but aside from that he still gave a good performance. Sam Elliot's performance as the unit's Sergeant Major is the highlight of the movie and although some of it is lighthearted in the early part of the movie, his character is totally believable. I would hope that those who wanted to know more about Vietnam would see this movie, and I would hope that those who are afraid it would bring back memories would see it too, we need not forget these men whom so bravely gave their lives for our country, as they have in all wars and as they do now, and I would hope that in the last few moments of the movie , when they show the casualties from this battle and the fact that there were 58,000 more, that each viewer would take a little more pride in who we are as Americans and as patriots, and what that means.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Finally
Review: When a voice-over at the start of the film states the movie is a tribute to not only American Soldiers but also their North Vietnamese counterparts, the stage is set for a unique film about a specific battle during The Vietnam War. Other films have portrayed views of this war that probably did accurately portray a very small number of soldiers that fit every cynical negative stereotype of conduct during war. If that is what you enjoy then Oliver Stone's film is what will please you. If you want a film that portrays swaggering larger than life comic book superheroes, go see a Rambo or Chuck Norris film. And finally if you want a recruiting film, John Wayne's, "The Green Berets", will fit the bill.

This is not a political film, it is not a film that glorifies war, and it is not eye candy for a soundtrack of The Doors, and Hendrix. This is about the men on both sides fighting because that is what their country asked of them. It is also about the wives and children who waited every day for a telegram that would destroy their family. Madeleine Stowe heads a group of women who hold each other together when the fathers leave. Some even take over the grimmest duty by delivering the notices that confirm those killed in combat. These soldiers fought for and with each other. The North Vietnamese were also portrayed as human for a change. As men with families, officers who made difficult decisions, and had no illusions about what this conflict would be. These are the men that went when their country called, and their destination was not Canada or some other safe haven that coddled those who would not defend the nation that provided them with the freedoms they so easily used to denounce her. These are the men that died, were wounded, or came home in one piece to be ignored at best, or spit upon and accused of being baby killers.

I don't know how veterans of this war feel and if there is any way to make up for what they earned and were never given. I hope this film demonstrates the respect they earned and the debt they are owed, and generates a new attitude toward the veterans of this war who served with the same distinction as any veterans of any of this nation's conflicts. There are an endless number of reasons to condemn war, and even more that may be unique to Vietnam. That condemnation should be reserved for those who started and continued this conflict and not the soldiers who had to carry out insane political decisions.

Mel Gibson delivers another solid performance, but he is joined, and the film achieves what it does by a host of supporting players. Performances by Sam Harris, who makes a comment about Custer that is priceless, as the Sergeant Major, Barry Pepper as the reporter Joe Calloway who would eventually co-produce the book that lead to this film, and even Greg Kinnear, who may not have said much, but he represented the pilots of the helicopters that continually flew into the midst of the fighting to support the troops and bring the survivors, wounded, and the dead back home.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This movie ain't good! It's GREAT!!!!! GREEAAAT!!!!!!
Review: Whatever you are doin' right now, drop it! Get yourself over to see this movie ASAP! Take all your friends and loved ones with ya! Its GREAT!!!!!!!!!!! [Violent though.] Are some things really better in the post-September 11th world? This film is really something to get excited about. The actual men from the 7th Calvary who fought in this battle gave the film 70 - 80 per cent historical accuracy. They are such decent guys! The film will be hard to beat.

Only one drawback--It is partially dedicated to our enemies.Three cheers for this heroic film!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Wow
Review: The best Vietnam war film I've seen. Deals with the first American engagement with the Vietnamese. This movie just never stops after getting to Vietnam.

Gives people a whole new respect for the soldiers who laid it on the line for their country. No politics, no social statement, just American Heroes fighting an enemy with honor and bravery. Sam Elliot was fantastic and Mel Gibson was a pleasant surprise.

Bravo! At last a movie that shows the vietnam war vets as the heros they were.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Solid war scenes, but perspective and emotion needed help
Review: Written and directed by Randall Wallace (w/d of The Man in the Iron Mask) We Were Soldiers is yet another film based on true events and real people, yet the people are as two-dimensional as paper. If you're going to see this film only for the big blasts, bombs, gunfire, and showbiz effects, then you'll be satisfied because there's plenty of that. However, when I see a film advertized as being based on a true story, I want to go further than the explosions, and learn about the people. This film offered little of that.

Mel Gibson is our central character, Lt. Colonel Moore, and his wife is portrayed by Madeline Stowe. Both these actors do wonders with the little they are given, yet even then, it is not enough to make us emotionally involved. As the Lt. Col.'s wife, Stowe would host the wives' meetings at her house. "Issue one--where do we go shop when the commissary is out of something? Does anyone know of a place to go? Issue two--laundry. The places on base are not reliable. Does anyone know of someplace better?"

I can't imagine women sitting around talking about such absolutely idiotic piffle when their husbands are out there in Vietnam getting shot at in a bloody massacre. One could argue they were trying to focus on something else. One could argue they were trying to deal with things within their own realm. Okay, fine. HOWEVER, when I DON'T see them crying, flipping out, talking about their husbands, talking about how much they love them, and are instead discussing laundry and shopping, I have to say a grand part of the equation is missing. The only time the wives were allowed to show emotion was when they were delivered the ever-so dreaded telegram informing them their husband is dead. Are they not allowed to care for their men UNTIL then?

Think of the opposite as well: how would their husbands feel knowing while they is at war their wives' biggest concern was getting the whites clean, or finding tatter tots in the frozen foods section? "Yeah, I'm out here getting shot at so I can go back home and live with a woman who's biggest worry is having enough quarters for the laudromat. Now THAT'S love." Can you see how I say this film lacks credibility, IN SPITE of it being a true story?

Wallace's script lacks emotion and believability, and makes us less able to mourn those who perish on the battle field. Do I really care about these men? Their wives don't seem to, so why should I?

Also given the impossible task of making a character real are the very formidible Sam Elliot and Greg Kinnear. Poor Sam. He is a splendid actor, yet his dialogue was reduced to nothing but one-liner quips, usually with some sort of appropriate expletive in it--I wish I could list some of them in this review as they came off absolutely hilarious. However,this man is a very capable actor--why would Wallace want to waste him like this? Same with Kinnear, whose role is limited to being in a helicopter. This Oscar-nominated talent is given only two major scenes in the entire film. Waste!

Like I said, if you like explosions, then see it. If you want to be moved by the characters and learn something about Vietnam, perhaps renting Platoon will be a better option.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Best War Movie.........
Review: We Were Soldiers was a great, movie based on the book. I will say this movie is really graphic and lots of blood. But Mel Gibson did a great job playing Hal Moore. Also this is very sad. I won't say anything else. Go see this.....not for younger viewers.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: War Movie + Great Cast= One of the greatest films ever
Review: Like all other war movies out there, this movie is great.If you enjoyed "Black Hawk Down", then you will love "We were Soldires".
Just like "Black Hawk Down", there is lots of action, blood, gore, and entertaining scenes. Unlike "Black Hawk Down", this movie has character developments. Mel Gibson is a army colonel.Sam Elliott is his assistant.Chris Klein is a soldier, and Keri Russell is his pregnant wife. Greg Kinnear is a helicopter pilot, and Barry Pepper is a photojournalist who is in the middle of the battle.

While this movie is entertaining, it also has a great positive message.

If you want to go see a great war movie, with a great cast, go see "We Were Soldires", you wont be disapointed.


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