Review of We Were Soldiers (2002) by Nick V — 08 Jun 2011

Randall Wallace, please stop writing and just stick to directing. I never read the book, but I have a sneaky suspicion that it was butchered on its way to the big screen. I really enjoyed the combat scenes and not just for the blood and guts, but for the intelligent and insightful battle progressions from hour to hour.

There's no doubt that it's heartbreaking and uncomfortable to think about all the men who died in Vietnam for what seemed like an unnecessary sacrifice. But what I took away from this film certainly made me feel guilty for the times that I've complained about doing a menial task that I felt had no purpose in doing.

Imagine risking your life for something that ultimately seems pointless. These soldiers risked everything they had for the sake of their duty. How patriotic can you get? Aside from the reality of this war, the movie just doesn't do justice in the storyline department.

Just like Wallace's Pearl Harbor screenplay, there's just way too much sap going on here. I know you're trying to portray these men in the highest regard, but please cut back on the slow-mo death scenes of soldiers that I don't particularly care about because their mini background story is just not compelling enough on screen.

I care for all these soldiers who have left behind wives and kids, not just pretty boy wannabe Chris Kline's character. The soldiers' wives scenes are hard to watch for a couple reasons. One, it's very sad to see such tragic news delivered to the wives, and two it's just very cheesily done.

Take away the battle scenes and you've got yourself a made for TV Lifetime movie of the week. My only other positive is that it gives the soldiers their due in the end by highlighting their elegance to their country regardless of the circumstances.

All for one and one for all and so on...