We Were Soldiers
Set in 1965, during America's war with North Vietnam, Lt. Col. Hal Moore (Gibson) commands the air cavalry, a born leader unwavering in his devotion to his troops. His target is the Ia Drang Valley, known as 'The Valley of Death.' As Moore readies for one of the bloodiest engagements in American history, he delivers a stirring vow to his soldiers and their families: "I will leave no man behind...dead or alive. We will all come home together."
Director(s)
Erik MacArthur
Frank Kostenko Jr.
Randall Wallace
Cate Hardman
Allen Kupetsky
Nilo Otero
Allan Graf
Cast & Crew
Details
Reviews
CinemaSerf
Mel Gibson ("Col. Moore") takes charge of training for, and then execution of, a perilous operation in the Vietnamese highlands in 1965. We know from the start of the film how difficult that task is going to be - the previous French troops met with ruthless treatment at the hands of the N.V.A. and so "Moore" and his motivational deputy "Crandall" (Greg Kinnear) know that they are going to have their work cut out for them. Their mission is to combat an enemy with overwhelming superiority of numbers and try to capture and hold a mountain. Needless to say, their hosts are none too keen on that a plan and what ensues is a brutally depicted, bloody and gory, series of well photographed combat scenes that test the mettle of both sides as the body count mounts. There is a poignant angle added too, as back home we see the colonel's wife "Julie" (Madeleine Stowe) take responsibility for delivery of the letters that are sent to the families on the base intimating bad - even tragic - news to those left behind. Sam Elliott adds well some stoic discipline as "Sgt. Maj. Plumley" and Chris Klein's portrayal of the recent father "Lt. Geoghegan" also contributes a strong human angle to this story. Sadly, though, this is all way too long and though certainly potent at the start, that is washed away in a sea of repetition. What makes us sit up and take notice at the start becomes much less effective; the pyrotechnics lose their impressiveness a bit and to be honest, Gibson just hasn't the on-screen presence to carry this for 2¼ hours. It does emphasise just how modern - airborne, usually - warfare can provide smaller groups with greater superiority and as an example of the ghastliness and futility of war it is a worth watching.
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![We Were Soldiers (2002) - HD Trailer [1080p]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FHnLHmGzByPA%2Fmaxresdefault.jpg&w=3840&q=75)