It has been a while that I saw Platoon, Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket. Movies that apparently are often used as a comparison in judging this movie. I read a lot of veterans say that this is the most realistic one out of the bunch. Knowing little about the reality of it i cant judge it on realistic criteria. Only things that came off a little bit unrealistic were an exploding head and the "firework". The rest was quite horrific, and i am sure thats what war is. But a movie should have more to offer then realism, and that is where the movie failed a bit. It just had little impact on me. The soldiers in this movie showed too little of themselves before and between battle to get me emotionally involved. In the dying finale on the hill i even had problems distinguishing one dying soldier from the other. It now felt as a final episode of a series which earlier episodes i missed out on.
Apart from that i noticed discussion about whether this is an anti-war movie or not. The horror speaks for itself. Do you think it's worth it?? I don't. Of course most soldiers are not happy with press hanging around the spectacle while their comrades are dying off, or for antiwar protesters for that matter. But that seems a logical perspective to me once you are out there fighting and doing your job.
offtopic: Not only in this movie, but also other stuff i watched and read about Vietnam i have gotten the image that amongst warprotestors soldiers were harassed once returning. I have also demonstrated a lot against military involvement of my country. But pointing fingers at soldiers is just screwed up. Then, as an anti-war protester, you seriously don't get it.
Apart from that i noticed discussion about whether this is an anti-war movie or not. The horror speaks for itself. Do you think it's worth it?? I don't. Of course most soldiers are not happy with press hanging around the spectacle while their comrades are dying off, or for antiwar protesters for that matter. But that seems a logical perspective to me once you are out there fighting and doing your job.
offtopic: Not only in this movie, but also other stuff i watched and read about Vietnam i have gotten the image that amongst warprotestors soldiers were harassed once returning. I have also demonstrated a lot against military involvement of my country. But pointing fingers at soldiers is just screwed up. Then, as an anti-war protester, you seriously don't get it.