We Were Soldiers: Getting It Right

Down to earth comments and video from one of the few great leaders of US combat forces during the Viet-Nam "conflict". Mr. Wallace's comments were a little self promoting, but otherwise informative. Enjoyed Joe Galloway's comment's, who I think is a real american hero, for his unselfish devotion to his "duty", as he saw it!!

The producers did a wonderful job of telling the story behind the story of this terrific film. Colonel Moore and Joe Galloway get an opportunity here to communicate "their Vietnam" directly to the American people.

I have always watched war pictures, to try and understand our history. Until recently, I felt that "Battle of the Bulge" was the best at depicting not only the war, but the battle. "We were soldiers" has not only meet that quality, but out did it. The film put you into the battle, and what these men did for their country, and their leader. It also showed the other side of the story. People tend to forget the families and lives that the soldiers had to leave. This film showed what these brave women lived through. With past films you got a glimpse of the emotional bond of the soldiers, but with this film you go to see the emotional side of the wives. From the time they first learned that the soldiers had to go into battle, until the time they received a letter from the Department of Defense. The film showed a "human side" to war. It showed the emotional scars of the women and of the soldiers themselves. It also showed a humanity side of the enemy. I think that the casting of this movie was perfect. I also agree with another who stated that Mel Gibson is the John Wayne of this era.

This is a movie that covers every aspect of war. The truly awful scenes of battle were balanced by the awful waiting of the families back home. I laughed, I cried, I felt proud of my country and the brave soldiers who fought and died for our country.

Mel Gibson played Col. Moore to perfection. Sam Elliott was absolutely terrifying as Sargeant Major Basil Plumley. As the soldiers of the 7th Cav said of the real Plumley, God must look like Sar-Major Plumley but He is nowhere near as mean. Elliot had that attitude mastered.

If you want to experience the chaos, bravery and horror of combat, "We Were Soldiers" is the movie for you.

Mel Gibson gives an accurate and passionate performance in his role as Lt. Col. Harold G. Moore, the author of We Were Soldiers. The emotions he had to portray ran the gamut from humor to pathos with every possible stop in between. We Were Soldiers is Lt. Gen. Moore's (US Army Ret) recollections of the introduction of the modern air calvary concept to the battlefields. Early scenes in the movie depict Moore's intellectual study of the Indo-China wars and suggest that such study should have been done at higher levels than his. Noteworthy were his "lessons learned" from the French experience ten years earlier. Sam Elliot also gave a very realistic performance as the regimental sergeant major's (Sgt. Maj. Plummey) professional military border-line nuttiness. This movie was well worth the cost of the rental and should henceforth be the paradigm aginst which all military movies should be measured. Mel Gibson's portrayal is what one would envision in an intellectual John Wayne type role.