World Famous Comics: We Were Soldiers (Widescreen Edition)
We Were Soldiers (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Mel Gibson, Madeleine Stowe, Greg Kinnear, Sam Elliott, Chris Klein Directed By: Randall Wallace Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Binding: DVD Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, THX, NTSC Label: Paramount Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: August 20, 2002 Running Time: 138 minutes Theatrical Release Date: March 01, 2002
Product Description: Exploration of the courage, valor and loyalty among an elite American combat division that is sent to battle in Southern Vietnam. Genre: Feature Film-Drama Rating: R Release Date: 8-AUG-2006 Media Type: DVD
Amazon.com: Based on the book by Lt. Col. Harold Moore (ret.) and journalist Joseph Galloway, We Were Soldiers offers a dignified reminder that the Vietnam War yielded its own crop of American heroes. Departing from Hollywood's typically cynical treatment of the war, writer-director Randall Wallace focuses on the first engagement of American soldiers with the North Vietnamese enemy in November 1965. Moore (played with colorful nuance by Mel Gibson) and nearly 400 inexperienced troopers from the U.S. Air Cavalry were surrounded by 2,000 North Vietnamese Army soldiers, and the film re-creates this brutal firefight with graphic authenticity, while telling the parallel story of grieving army wives back home. While UPI reporter Galloway (Barry Pepper) risks his life to chronicle the battle, Wallace offers a balanced (though somewhat fictionalized) perspective while eliciting laudable performances from an excellent cast. Like the best World War II dramas of the 1940s, We Were Soldiers pays tribute to brave men while avoiding the pitfalls of propaganda. --Jeff Shannon
Vietnam Based on the book written by Gen. Moore, I thought is was well acted, with great special effects. Furthermore I think it pays tribute to the soldiers, and there families, who had to fight that war. It follows the the book closely, and I am told that it is historically accurate.
A Great Film Demonstrating Enormous Resolve of Our Troops This film is very intense, realistic and superbly shot. The production values are incredible. As a slice of life from the Vietnam era, the film captures the esprit de corps of the troops, the strength of the soldier's wives as well as the challenge of a new era in warfare. Mel Gibson is excellent. His sargeant, Sam Elliott, was a superb characterization of a tough sargeant who went through all three major parachute jumps in World War II. He is a no nonsense warrior.
All the more powerful is the portrayal of Gibson's faith in light of duty, courage and devotion to his men. Greg Kinnear did an excellent job as a challenged pilot creating a new Air-Cav warfare in the early days of Vietnam. His copilot "Too Tall" received the Congressional Medal of Honor decades ago. Kinnear's character finally received his CMH in the last year - long overdue.
Powerful. Memorable. Realistic.
One of the Best War Films "We Were Soldiers" is an exceptional war film. It may be the best war film I've seen apart from the Civil War masterpiece "Glory." The battle scenes are intense and brutal to watch. The naphalm scene is especially horrific though I assume very realistic. Mel Gibson does a fine job as Col. Moore and Sam Elliot is superb as a tough seargent. The scenes of families at home and the arrival of messages telling of the death of loved ones were well used to illustrate the wider impact of war. In fact, it was the combination of war scenes and more personal scenes which put it over "Saving Private Ryan" (if only barely) in my mind. Parents should be advised that this is not a film for children. There is a considerable amount of violence and some pretty harsh language as well (I know that the cursing is realistic but I felt it personally detracted from both this and "Saving Private Ryan"). Anyway, I would recommend this film though I advise it is graphic. On a side note, the film only covers part of the battle in the Ia Drang Valley. The film was also judged to be mostly historically accurate by a commentator on a History Channel "History vs. Hollywood" show though there were inaccuracies such as the final charge.
Great Movie It was even better in HD. The HD experience is like being at the theater. The video and sound were great and of course the movie is one of the rare pieces out of Hollywood worth watching in the first place.
This is Sam Eliot's movie! Sam Eliot steals this movie. Mel Gibson does a fine job, but his character is supported by his Master Sergeant, a dour, laconic guy played to a T by Eliot. The best line in the movie: "Sir, Custer was a pussy -- you ain't one." belongs to Eliot. There are lots of reasons to watch this movie -- I just felt other reviewers weren't giving Eliot his due.
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