We were soldiers.
But, my Dad did fly Hueys in Vietnam in 1969, so I'm partial.
But, my Dad did fly Hueys in Vietnam in 1969, so I'm partial.
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.
Is Apocalypse Now really a true war film tho? I've always been of the impression that it was more of a story that took place during the war but not really about the war. There is only one farily conventional battle scene in the film, but an absolutely amazing scene it is.
Hamburger Hill doesn't do it for me. I just don't care about the characters, as stated by others.
Any one of the supporting cast in Platoon has more depth than the leads in Hamburger Hill.
I can't believe no-one's mentioned The Deer Hunter yet... You get to know these rust-belt guys before they're drafted, patriotic, full of life, and eager to serve, the unspeakable horror they experience in-country, and how each one of them ends up a broken, twisted soul. It contains some of the most gut-wrenching, terror-filled scenes I've ever seen in any film of any genre. I don't think any other modern war film captures the wastefulness and tragedy of war like this one does, except maybe Gallipoli - another one of my favorite war films, and neither of them preachy, force-fed anti-war films nor whose directors had an anti-war agenda. Meryl Streep, Robert DeNiro, Christopher Walken, and John Savage are absolutely phenomenal. Amazing musical score too - "Cavatina" is one of the most beautiful guitar compositions ever written:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAAiYMgFcbw&feature=related
IMHO this film runs rings around all the other Vietnam films combined - it didn't win the Best Picture Academy Award for nothing.
Born on the Fourth of July is less about the war and more about the protest movement, but still a must-see film, both because it's based on a real person and because you can't understand the Vietnam War Era without understanding how it tore apart America's soul.
RR
Forgoing the top three everyone else keeps mentioning I remember really being moved by "84 Charlie MoPic" at the end. I haven't seen the movie in forever though so it might not hold up today. (Ive found many of the movies I loved when I was younger kind of suck when I watch them now. LOL )