ViewGuide

Created Apr 15, 2009 10:59PM PST • Edited Nov 09, 2016 11:27PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Good 3.0

   Admirable and interesting, this retelling of the first major battle of the Vietnam War nonetheless can’t escape the overall drag of that war’s outcome, and in fact the similar outcome of the Battle of Ia Drang depicted in the movie.

   Still, the story of We Were Soldiers is an important one.

   • It shows how close-order helicopter tactics – the innovation known as Air Cav – changed military tactics, though not enough to win the war.
   • It shows how stellar military leadership can be fierce and ethical at the same time.
   • And it shows how war – as ever – is hell.

   War movie buff though I am, I’d avoided this one after swearing off Mel Gibson movies due to his sick predilection for S&M in Braveheart and The Patriot: And this before The Passion of the Christ or even Apocolypto, neither of which I’ve seen.¹ (Having taken a stand, stubbornness becomes appropriate.) However We Were Soliders – fairly sober – is worth watching.

   ¹ I did ultimately screen Apocalypto. Review here

4. Acting

   Very Good 3.5

   A strong cast led by Mel Gibson – well suited to play the upright warrior – nonetheless doesn’t rise above the uniform albeit consuming storyline. Still, Greg Kinnear, Sam Elliott, Barry Pepper, Madeline Stowe and the ever adorable Keri Russell are never less than watchable.

   Unknown Watch – Jon Hamm, pre-Mad Men.

5. Male Stars Very Good 3.5

6. Female Stars Very Good 3.5

7. Female Costars Very Good 3.5

8. Male Costars Very Good 3.5

10. Film

    Good 3.0

    Kudos to General Hal Moore for his impressive military leadership and for helping to commemorate it via this movie and the bestselling book that preceded it. Aided by Joe Galloway, the journalist who documented the battle and co-wrote the book, and directed by Braveheart writer Randall Wallace, they’ve created an unusually solid war movie.

    The home front scenes when the wives had to deal with the news of casualties are especially well drawn.

11. Direction Good 3.0

12. Play Good 3.0

13. Music Good 3.0

14. Visuals Great 4.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 2.0

    Brutal battlefield violence accurately depicted.

17. Sex Innocent 1.1

18. Violence Brutal 3.1

19. Rudeness Salty 1.8

21. Reality

    Glib 1.2

    Two of the copter pilots (one played by Greg Kinnear) and a platoon leader were awarded the Medal of Honor for their service in the Battle of Ia Drang. No higher praise can be given.

    According to Wikipedia, the movie does crank up the heroic action more than actually occurred, especially at the end of the battle when Mel Moviestar makes his heroic charge. Hence the circoreality score of 150%.

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.5

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0