Review of We Were Soldiers (2002) by Jim M — 26 Sep 2009

Novemeber 1965: Lt Col. Hal Moore leads his battalion into the Ia Drang Valley, South Vietnam, his mission a recon in force to locate and eleminate communist forces who have attacked a Special Forces Camp nearby. It is here that Moore's new airmobile unites will receive their test as the 450 Americans are quickly surronded by over a 1,000 regulars of the North Vietnamese Army. Over the next few days the first major battle of the Vietnam War will play out.

One of the better war movies of the first decade of the 21st century, We Were Soldiers features some great battle scenes and a trio of great performances from Mel Gibson, Sam Elliot and the underrated Madeleine Stowe (also features Chris Klein in the only thing he's done outside American Pie). Dragged down a bit by some of the scenes on the homefront, mostly pre-battle stuff (really? the one chicks surprised to learn about segragation in 1960's Georgia? there are better ways to make your point about the unfairness of the situation). It is nice to see an apolitical movie about Vietnam for once, like Black Hawk Down or Saving Private Ryan it eschews politics in favor of telling the story of the soldiers who fought in the battle and is sympathectic towards both American and Vietnamese combatants. That said the Hollywood ending could have gone SPOILER WARNING The film ends with Moore leading a charge against the NVA positions in reality he was reinforced and the NVA (having suffered heavy losses) withdrew. Also the French GM 100 wan't wiped out in the Ia Drang Valley though it was ambushed and took heavy losses. Should also be noted that the film covers only the main portion of the Ia Drang Campaign around LZ X-Ray others actions took place in and around the main battle and the ambush of American forces at LZ-Albany is left out. Well portrayed as an American victory the outcome was less decisive then shown.