dbacke1

All I can say is......WOW! This is an outstanding show on all levels. Writing, directing, acting, pace, etc., all top-notch. Every single episode has the viewer on the edge of their seat from the opening to the fade-out, and each episode seems to go by in mere minutes. This is entertainment at it's finest, and the quality is unmatched. I rank this up there with "Lost" and "24" in total quality. And yes, if you have noticed, I am writing this review in February 2016. I never watched it back when it originally ran, and I am currently binge-watching on Netflix, which as far as I am concerned is the only way to fly, because you don't have to wait a week between episodes. I can't wait to finish the show and also see what the new installment will bring when it premieres in a year or two from now. Bravo!

Yes, I know that these were not his farewell performances, as his last performance would be over a month later in Indianapolis. However, it was the last officially filmed concert footage, and I feel that it is both moving and magnificent. I remember as a kid watching it back in 1977 and thinking how sad it was to see him like that, and that he looked bad. However, with the passage of many years, I can now watch it and really see just how great of an entertainer and human being Elvis was. He really shows himself as how he really was on stage. He is not arrogant, he is funny, he is modest and pokes fun at himself, and above all else, he is happy. Oh, and I forgot to mention his voice, which , as Joe Esposito said, never failed him. There are some great performances in this special, regardless of how Elvis looks, and the fans in the audience love it. If EPE could do a multi-DVD set that includes both concerts without fan interview interruptions, and maybe a separate DVD with behind the scenes and fan material, and maybe even material not included in the original special, it would be awesome. Even better would be a release in blu-ray format. Come on already, EPE!

Despite all of the complaining, and some it justified, you can't hide the fact that this is definitely one of the more accurate Vietnam war films based on a real-life battle. Yes, the climactic battle scene is pure Hollywood, and I myself was very disappointed by it, but overall the events as they are portrayed in the film follow the book quite nicely. As another reviewer pointed out, it could have been one of the all-time great war films, but it fell a bit short. I do disagree with reviewers who try to paint this film as pro-American propaganda and revisionist. It is simply a Vietnam war film about the bond between a commander and his men in the field, and it was very well done in that aspect. I don't remember a whole lot of dialogue in the script about who was right and who was wrong, or why we were there. It was all about survival in the face of a determined enemy. I also don't agree with the reviewer who stated that the LZ Albany ambush was avoided in order to paint a one-sided version of the battle, because that was a separate event that didn't involve Colonel Moore or his men. Involving other units would have meant a much bigger film in scope, even though I still think that it could have been handled well. The battle scenes were some of the best filmed. However, as I stated earlier, Hollywood inevitably stepped in right near the end, and that is why the film was flawed. A more realistic climax and ending would have been much better, and still satisfying. Hopefully, some day in the future a filmmaker will avoid Hollywood clichés and finally get it 100% right.