Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I read all the reviews that were submitted...interesting. Valid points include that this film attempts to follow the tumultous life of a man of uncomprimising nature as well as an uncanny military genius w/ mixed success. Less credible are the Vann's "grandson" comments on his distain for interracial sexual relations(?), and "there's not enough action". Many Vietnam movies tend to focus on the extremes of human emotion and visceral narration (i.e grunts, fighter jocks, spec. ops. etc). If you are seeking the emotional impact and bullet time of Platoon or Apocalypse Now you won't find it here.
This movie focuses on the broader issues of the conflict, South Vietnamese corruption, U.S military leaders' ineptitude in combating guerilla warfare, and the evolution of the press affecting American sentiment toward to the long course of war. Corrupt South Vietnamese cadre, themselves products of colonialism, whose elitism pushed to average Vietnamese into the waiting arms of the communists. Also the single-mindness of the US military is clearly evident, even when their continual losses revealed their flawed strategy. General Westmoreland is portrayed as a over-conficent and narrow-minded man unaccepting of his subordinates advice. If this seems inaccurate, just watch his opinated comments in the Hearts and Minds documentary. Its seems poor Vann is the only man w/ the right ideas in a world full of officers still fighting WWII. His career is shattered because he wouldn't back down in a military system where you don't challenge your commanders. In the end, Vann finally gets his props and realizes his potential, but it was too late...American public had enough of Vietnam.
I wouldn't review this movie on its accuracy on the book or the man, this is told as a story of a man who personified the conflicted nature of the American side of the conflict. In the beginning Vann wants to fight the war w/ a conscience but as it gets uglier you see his character begin to solidify into a consumate fighter only wanting to win at any cost. His inability to compromise and adapt to a world changing much faster than him eventually consumes him.
Overall, the film breaks new ground into Nam movies by showing an abbreviated evolution of the conflict, the workings of the US brass, and the nasty underlying issues that made that conflict so controversial w/out beating you over the head. I wouldn't compare it to other blockbuster movies on Vietnam...if only this movie was given their huge budget and screen time.
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