We Were Soldiers - A brilliant film (We Were Soldiers (DVD))

Member Name: Lewis187

Product:	We Were Soldiers (DVD)
Date:	18/06/09 (3 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very graphic scenes and Mel Gibson's role

Disadvantages: none

We Were Soldiers - Directed by Randall Wallace (Pearl Harbor) in 2002. Approx 138 Minutes long.

Cast

Mel Gibson (Lt. Col. Hal Moore),
Madeleine Stowe (Julie Moore) - Also starred in Twelve Monkey with Bruce Willis
Greg Kinnear (Maj. Bruce 'Snake' Crandall),
Sam Elliott (Sgt. Maj. Basil Plumley)
Chris Klein (2nd Lt. Jack Geoghegan)

The Story

Based on the book ''We Were Soldiers Once . . . And Young' and set in the La Drang valley, Vietnam. 400 elite US soldiers, lead by Lt. Colonel Hal Moore take on 2,000 Northern Vietnamese fighters. A story of the dedication, love, honor and comradery of these men of all ages as they fight in one of the bloodiest battles America has been involved in.

My Thoughts

I found the film utterly gripping as it provides none stop action from start to end. You really get a feel for the characters and soldiers involved in this one and despite this just being one of the many battles of the Vietnam War, it give you a good understanding of the day-to-day routine these brave men faced.

The film stays away from any political aspect of the war and delivers a magnificent account of the battle through its brutally graphic scenes. You see images of Napalm victims which are certainly not for the faint hearted followed by lots of close up bloody action.

Mel Gibson for me is a true leader in films (Braveheart comes to mind). He presence on screen commands respect and he certainly has the respect of his men as they fight tooth and nail to prevail.

A very good film overall and despite not being an all star cast the director does get the most out of them and also the scenes are just fantastic

Summary: 10 out of 10 for me!