Hate war not the Warrior! . Review on We Were Soldiers Movie

We Were Soldiers.. Welcome to the world of Vietnam (once more???)... but unlike other Nam war movies, this one is about the very beginning of the American involvement in the war AND it is a TRUE story. Just these make this movie worth a dekho.. if not for anything else.

Based upon a real battle between the ''Air-Mobile'' 1st battalion, 7th Cav and the NVA... the movie depicts a 2 &1/2 dat battle in which about 450 US soldiers confront and hold again a 2000 strong NVA infantry division.

The plot is based upon hard facts though the directors/ writers have surely used there artisitic liberty too make the movie more intense!! LIke the final siege by the US soldiers leading to the all conclusive victory NEVER happened in real.

As for the cast, lets just say besides Mel Gibson no one else really had a lot of ''acting'' to do. Mel has his moments in the movie, like the scene when he decides to call up air support (''Broken Arrow'') in an act of desepration; but in all its surely not one of his best performances.

Maybe after Braveheart/ Patriot he has had his quote of war hero roles! As for others, S Elliot who play the Sergeant Major, essays perfectly the role of the stoic, battle hardened leader of troops.

Having been an army-brat myself, one can empathise with the whole ''wives left alone during war'' angle, but still I think there's an overdose of the same. The writers had a good thing going but the overkill gets on to the nerves. The battle sequences are gory, detailed and intense.

Surely not as much as Speilberg took us though in Saving Pvt Ryan, but still they pack a punch in the gut. Especially the scence with the half burnt and charred body, that will surely get your date to hold on to u tight. Some incentive eh??

All in all, a pretty OK war movie, would have been better. But if one knows that its a true story beforehand, then the whole hopelessness of the soldiers situation becomes glaringly scary. This adds to the whole experience.

On a scale of 5, I give it a 3.5. And recommend you to get the DVD/VCD of the same if you haven't caught it yet. A good sunday afternoon shake up!

Adios!!

P.S. - IF anyone has, or is lucky to get there hands upon the book its based on (''We were soldiers once.... and young'') please please share it with me.. have looked all around. Haven't found it.. even Amazon ''Doesnt have it presently'' :(