Your favourite Vietnam War film?

[Solo4114]

Platoon -- Great film, pretty well realized characters (at least your main characters), and I thought it showed some important stuff. The "My Lai 5" incident in the film, in particular, is interesting, as is the stratification within the platoon itself.

FMJ -- Again, great film, but far more surreal than Platoon.

Apocalypse Now -- Isn't really about Vietnam. It's about the darkness within humanity as depicted via Vietnam as well as a gradual journey away from civilization. The Vietnam setting is almost incidental. It helps make it contemporary (remember, the war's only been "over" for like 4 years when Apocalypse Now hits theaters), but it's not a movie ABOUT Vietnam.

Hamburger Hill -- I thought this one was kind of weak. I blame this mostly on the lack of effective characters. You get cardboard cutouts (which is true in Platoon too, but not for the three main characters), instead of actual fleshed out characters. I never really felt like I got to know anyone in Hamburger Hill so I never really felt like I cared when bad stuff happened. Again, that can be applied to many of the side characters in Platoon, but the difference is that Platoon actually does give you a few clearly defined and developed characters in addition to the sort of "Well, that's Jimmy. He's a redneck. And..uh...now he's dead."

 

[Ttaskmaster]

Hamburger Hill -- I thought this one was kind of weak. I blame this mostly on the lack of effective characters.

See that's why I like it.
They're not actual 'characters' - They're based on real people. This film is essentially a snapshot, so while you don't get several well developed main characters, you do get insight into the whole platoon. A bit like Band Of Brothers, but limited to a couple of hours.

 

[Solo4114]

Well, that's the problem. Band of Brothers helped you to actually identify with the characters/people. Hamburger Hill may be based on real people, but I don't get to know any of them in the film, so I don't really give a crap about what happens to them. In the film, that is.

They may be based on real people, but the way they're portrayed in the film, the way they're written, they're just cardboard cutouts. "Sergeant Yankee" and "Sergeant Redneck" and "That guy with the funny name" and several other people I don't even remember. And in the end they get all blowed up. Ooops. What else is on? I really just couldn't bring myself to care.

 

[Probe Droid]

Apocalypse Now because it's just so big and crazy. I also think it has the best narration of any film. Sheen is plain wonderful.

 

[Stinky Dragon]

Apocalypse Now -- Isn't really about Vietnam. It's about the darkness within humanity as depicted via Vietnam as well as a gradual journey away from civilization. The Vietnam setting is almost incidental. It helps make it contemporary (remember, the war's only been "over" for like 4 years when Apocalypse Now hits theaters), but it's not a movie ABOUT Vietnam.

QFT. I didn't really like Apocalypse Now the first time I saw it, but I got a different perspective on it after reading Heart of Darkness.

 

[agent5]

You also have to see Hearts of Darkness, the documentary of the making of the film, directed by Coppola's wife. Very intense at times.

 

[franz bolo]

I liked Off Limits with Willem Dafoe and Gregory Hines. A good twist on a wartime movie.

FB

 

[Gilmortar]

We Were Soldiers...

 

[TK1536]

I would have to put Vietnam movies at the top of my favorite films, even above Sci-Fi.

Full Metal Jacket, Platoon, Hamburger Hill, Apocalypse Now, We Were Soldiers... all are outstanding films. Another sorta-Vietnam film was the Deer Hunter, which I could not get through. I seem to recall enjoying 'Good Morning Vietnam', although not a war film.

 

[DarkHelmet]

Platoon for me.

I was in the Army at Bragg when it was released and I had just got back from a long stint in Central America where I lost a very good friend.

I also served with many Vietnam veterans who were still active duty in 1986 who said it was the most realistic movie about that conflict.

That movie hit so many chords with everyone then. The basecamp in the movie was very similar to Palmerola AB. Also at that time, we were still wearing Jungle Fatigues, Jungle Boots, and the head wraps.

 

[JunkSabers1138]

Ok, maybe I should bring up something I failed to mention before. Full Metal Jacket is definately my close second Vietnam film, though I have to admit the first act is FAR more entertaining than the actual Nam scenes, particularly the ending, which while significant and symbolic of what War does to people, it still just ENDS and has no real resolution. I dont know why.... I mean, they could have extended the first act, made it a Nam era boot camp film with a few extra side-plots and a different climax after the memorable "murder-suicide" scene, and it would be equally memorable IMVHO.

 

[Kris]

Full Metal Jacket. But I do love Apocalypse Now too.

(And while not a real 'Nam movie, Thropic Thunder was awesome too in a whole other level).

 

[SSgt Burton]

You also have to see Hearts of Darkness, the documentary of the making of the film, directed by Coppola's wife. Very intense at times.

A little off topic- but Agent5 speaks the truth! The "making of" Apocalypse Now has to be seen to be believed! You will be glued to your seat from start to finish!

Too many incredible incidents to mention! The "full" Captain Willard apartment scene is worth it alone!


Kevin

 

[The Stig]

Platoon is actually the first war film I remember seeing, so it has a special place in my heart.

 

[DARKSIDE72]

We were Soldiers

Platoon

Full Metal Jacket

Hamburger Hill

Why not Apocalypse Now? It's just a weird story... I guess if you're on a drug of some kind it will have a meaningful experience for you. One can thank the filmmaker for that.

It's just not about the average soldier/guy in the **** and I guess that is why it fails on so many points.

:lolEvery time you see a guy hide behind a tree or a concrete slab being shot at by an AK-47 cracks me up as the 7.62 x .39 round drives right through any tree/rock I've ever shot at.

 

[Tony]

Tough to choose a favorite but I would have to pick 'Apocalypse Now' and 'Born on the Fourth Of July' second and 'Full Metal Jacket' third.

 

[CTF]

A little off topic- but Agent5 speaks the truth! The "making of" Apocalypse Now has to be seen to be believed! You will be glued to your seat from start to finish!

No, not off topic... I meantioned it on the first page!

It's just a weird story... I guess if you're on a drug of some kind it will have a meaningful experience for you.

Well, I'm not on any kind of drugs, but I still love it... but each to their own. I mean, I thought We Were Soldiers was pretty bad. If I want to see the Air Cav, I'll watch Apocalypse Now.

 

[cayman shen]

Not only is Apocalypse Now my favorite Vietnam film, it's one of my top five films period. It's the Blade Runner of war films. It's Coppola's Seven Samurai. It's surrealist Sergio Leone with a melancholy drunk on. It's friggin brilliant and I could watch it over and over and over. (I've no interest in the Redux and havn't watched it).

I'm an English teacher, and I tried to have the kids watch it in conjunction with the book The Things They Carried, but only a few of the students really got it.

Not sure I get the "you need to be on drugs" comment. I think that reveals a pretty low tolerance for anything unique or unconventional...you know, interesting, thought-provoking, challenging art. If enjoying flawless direction, narration, and cinematography, coupled with a deeply introspective climax that has one of the greatest actors of the generation ruminating over one of the greatest poems of the 20th century followed by a textbook example of powerful intercutting and one of the most chilling final lines ever (great intercuts and endings must be FFC's thing...Godfather, anyone?) is only for those "on drugs," then baby, light me up.

 

[dbuck]

When people ask what basic training was like, I tell them to watch the first half of FMJ. The best movie basic training I've seen. I kind of like some of the second half, mostly the sniper bit.

The first time I tried to see Platoon on the theater I went with a Vietnam vet friend who had to leave the theater when Charlie Sheen saw the VC coming slowly at him in the night. He broke into a deep sweat and he basically ran to the lobby. He said the surround sound put him in the jungle and when he saw the VC he just lost it. I saw it later without him. I love the film.

I also love Apocalypse Now, but to be honest I can live without the last part after the Lo Dong bridge stuff. Brando screwed Coppola over by not showing up in anything resembling Green Beret shape and Coppola had to make up a new ending that to me is......meh. My relative who served on a PBR thinks the movie is a salute to his service. He gets drunk and watches it once in a while when someone he knows passes on.

Hamburger Hill doesn't do it for me. I just don't care about the characters, as stated by others.

Missing in Action. Best war movie ever. Just kidding.

And now in parting....this is my rifle, this is my gun. this is for shooting, this is for fun.
Yup. Never call your rifle a gun, or you have to do that. With the correct hand placements.

 

[SaberFreak]

Does Rambo count?

The obvious choices have all been stated, but there's a TV series I never missed as a child: Combat! Starring Rick Jason & Vic Morrow.