Based on the true story of Lt. Col Hal Morris played by Mel Gibson who led 400 American soldiers in the first major battle of the Vietnam War. The year is 1964 and Hal Morris is put in charge of training young men for possible combat in the conflict-taking place in Vietnam. After nearly a year of training the President Lyndon Johnson gives the announcement that he will be increasing the force in Vietnam and Morris’ air battalion is to be shipped to the war. Up until that point Americans had only had light skirmishes and no true battle against the North Vietmese. But when Morris’ troopers follow them into a trap they find themselves quickly surrounded and outnumbered, as the first battle of Vietnam is about to take place.

The movie is a nitty gritty view of the war in Nam. At times the extended bloodbath and battle scenes made movies like Saving Private Ryan and Black Hawk Down look like walks in the park. The movies soundtrack was absolutely stirring though. During certain battle scenes when the soundtrack would come over it would completely envelop you and draw you in so much more than the action ever could. I doubt I have ever heard a soundtrack that was more heart wrenching and befitting a movie then this one. By itself it made the entire movie even though the movie goes way overboard in one bloody scene after another. The heart touching scenes of Morris’ wife delivering the KIA reports to the other wives on base were absolutely heart wrenching at times as they made you feel for some of the characters. The movie captures the uselessness of the Vietnam War even though it did it with a crude bludgeon of one violent scene after another. Mel Gibson puts in an admirable job and makes you feel and care for his character. But it’s the story itself which is based on a true story that steals the show. You almost feel like you there at times. A worthy movie to see but be warned the movie may be one of the bloodiest ever.
3.5 stars out of 5