This was a fantastic film depicting the struggle of a small group of Americans, set down and surrounded by Viet Cong in the first major confrontation of the Vietnam war. Though the cinematography was amazing (a la Dean Semler, 2012, Waterworld, Dances With Wolves), the film seemed almost too perfect - the perfect amount of grit, the perfect amount of valor, the perfect blood splatter, the perfect plot points, etc. Void of the nonsense that other Vietnam films tend to portray (Apocalypse Now, Good Morning Vietnam), this film felt a little too staged and a little too scripted. That said, the film drew deep emotions, establishing connections with the viewer, with only the slightest touch of trite sentiments. Mel Gibson's acting felt much too over the top, and so overshadowed the rest of the characters, it left me feeling like this was a one man show, rather than a group of soldiers banded together against a common enemy. In addition, the plot felt much like a Vietnam version of Black Hawk Down, We Were Soldiers coming out the following year. In spite of these factors, the film was extremely well made, very entertaining, and in my own career, wouldn't mind if all I ever made were films like these.
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1/17/2010
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