Review of Hamburger Hill (1987) by Jeroen D — 13 Jun 2008

I do believe that this film in many peoples eyes is just runner up to Platoon and to a lesser extent Full Metal Jacket. It does have the slight disadvantage of not having as big a budget as those two. And it shows.

This one hasen't stood the test of time as well as its lets say cousins. The effects are sometimes very cheap but they do make it up with some pretty good sound effects. This film has a very unknown cast (Don Cheadle is only one who has really made a name for himself), the cast is good but you don't get any really memorable performances like you had with Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger and Williem Dafoe in Platoon or the Drill Sargeant in Full Metal Jacket.

But what I find a refreshing change is that all the characters seem to like each other and there isn't any strong conflicts. And it doesn't show the soldiers as in a way the bad guys of the piece like some characters are in Vietnam movies.

Also another good point, it tells you more about the split opinions of the people of America at the time. It also dipicts the action well, it is hard to imagine going up a mud sliding hill in rain, bombs and loads of Vietminh shooting at you.

It sounds unberable and the film really makes you feel uncomfortable and you feel these troops hatred of this hill and their frustration as they try to capture it. The final push is one of War movies greatests moments.

Its is just incredible to watch these men put all that frustration and just go straight at them, not giving thought what might happen, they have made to promises to people they love and are going to take this Hill.

It is a bloody battle that, inevitably, only a few survive. It is the first forty minutes or so that let this movie down for me. It just seemed to drag. But once the assualt on the hill begins, it doesn't let up.

I do recommend this strongly, even if you have Platoon and Full Metal Jacket, because it is still a unique experience and fun to compare!