... We do buy a few DVDs now and then and my boyfriend had brought a few back with him. We decided on watching the war movie ‘We were soldiers’. I thought I had already seen the film but knew it was a really good film. This is another film which includes one of my favourite actors- Mel Gibson. ... Read review
We Were Soldiers, based on the bestselling account of the battle of La Drang valley at the ... more
outset of the Vietnam War, is the latest Mel GibsonBraveheart-esque offering where plot and characterisation, rather than the men who lost their lives in the con...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
On Sunday November 14, 1965 at 10.48am, Lt. Col. Hal Moore (a magnificent performance by ... more
Academy Award Winner Mel Gibson) and his regiment of 400 men touch down at Landing Zone X-ray in the Ia Drang Valley, a place in Vietnam known as The Valley Of Death. They find themselves surrounded by roughly 2,000 North Vietnamese soldiers and the ensuing battle becomes one of the most savage in US history.Heroism, bravery, sacrifice, the butchery of battle, We Were Soldiers is a gruelling exploration of war with all its horrors, that can rightly take its place alongside war classics Apocalypse Now, Saving Private Ryan And Platoon.
On Sunday November 14, 1965 at 10.48am, Lt. Col. Hal Moore (a magnificent performance by ... more
Academy Award Winner Mel Gibson) and his regiment of 400 men touch down at Landing Zone X-ray in the In Drang Valley, a place in Vietnam known as The Valley of Death. They find themselves surrounded by roughly 2,000 North Vietnamese soldiers and the ensuing battle becomes one of the most savage in US History.
For You (Dave Matthews) (Johnny Cash) Some Mother's Son (Carolyn Dawn Johnson) Fall Out ... more
(Train) Soldier (Steven Curtis Chapman) Good Man (India.Aire) The Beautiful (Five For Fighting) My Dear Old Friend (Mary Chapin Carpenter) I Believe (Tammy Cochran) The Widowing Field (Jars Of Clay) Not So Distant Day (Jamie O'Neal) (Michael McDonald) Didn't I (Montgomery Gentry) The Glory Of Life (Rascal Flatts) Sgt.MacKenzie (Joseph Kilna MacKenzie) The Mansions Of The Lord (Metro Voices) (United States Military Academy Cadet Club)
Postage & Packaging:£0.00 Availability:3-5 working days
In November 1965 450 men of the 1st Battalion 7th Cavalry under the command of Lt.Col. ... more
Hal Moore were dropped by helicopter into a small clearing in the Ia Drang Valley. They were immediately surrounded by 2000 North Vietnamese soldiers. Three days later only two and a half miles away a sister battalion was chopped to pieces. Together these actions at the landing zones X-Ray and Albany constituted one of the most savage and significant battles of the Vietnam War. How these men persevered - sacrificed themselves for their comrades and never gave up - makes a vivid portrait of war at its most inspiring and devastating. General Moore and Joseph Galloway the only journalist on the ground throughout the fighting have interviewed hundreds of men who fought there including the North Vietnamese commanders. This account rises above the specific ordeal it chronicles to present a picture of men facing the ultimate challenge dealing with it in ways they would have found unimaginable only a few hours earlier. It reveals to us man's most heroic and horrendous endeavour.In this history of one of the most violent periods of the 20th century the author relates the personal experiences of men on the brink of death for a cause they didn't understand. The book has been adapted for film starring amongst others Mel Gibson.
Postage & Packaging:£0.00 Availability:3-5 working days
Production Year: 1977 - Action/Adventure - Director: Clint Eastwood - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring:Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Pat Hingle, William Prince, Bill McKinney
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
Production Year: 1989 - Action/Adventure - Director: Rowdy Herrington - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring:Patrick Swayze, Ben Gazzara, Sam Elliott, Kelly Lynch
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Advantages: Great Cast, Good acting, nice filming locations Disadvantages: quite a long film
...watching the local rugby games, we decided to kill two hours and watch a film. We do buy a few DVDs now and then and my boyfriend had brought a few back with him. We decided on watching the war movie ‘We were soldiers’. I thought I had already seen the film but knew it was a really good film. This is another film which includes one of my favourite actors- Mel Gibson. He plays many good roles and this is no exception. Having his name star as the main ... ...on true events of history. We were soldiers is based around the Vietnam War which I do not know much about so it was good to see more of what happened there.
Even though we had both seen this before at some point, we both wanted to see it and knew it was a good film. It is one of those films where you do need to listen on what is happening but it is not complicated and it is not hard to follow. The director ... more
~ Fathers, Husbands, Brothers & Sons~
This weekend after spending most of Saturday day time out watching the local rugby games, we decided to kill two hours and watch a film. We do buy a few DVDs now and then and my boyfriend had brought a few back with him. We decided on watching the war movie ‘We were soldiers’. I thought I had already seen the film but knew it was a really good film. This is another film which includes one of my favourite actors- Mel Gibson. He plays many good roles and this is no exception. Having his name star as the main protagonist would attract me to the film. It gives it a good expectation from the acting and cast. The first time I had seen this was about a year ago and I remember picking it up from my friends collection to borrow. The DVD cover looks pretty intruiging. The film includes other good cast members some of which I did recognise. I really like watching war films especially when they are based on true events of history. We were soldiers is based around the Vietnam War which I do not know much about so it was good to see more of what happened there. Even though we had both seen this before at some point, we both wanted to see it and knew it was a good film. It is one of those films where you do need to listen on what is happening but it is not complicated and it is not hard to follow. The director Randall Wallace has not directed many films but does well in this. This is the reason I had not heard of him as a director, he has written many films I have heard of though. The film was released in 2002 and shows classic themes of a great, interesting war film. ~ INFO ~ Director- Randall Wallace
As previously mentioned Randall has not directed many films which surprised me as this was done well. However he has written many which we know and some of these include other classic war films- Pearl harbour 2001 and ‘Braveheart’ 1995. This shows he has worked with Mel Gibson before and you do get some directors who like to work with certain actors. Wallace is an American director and has also published seven novels in his career.
Writers- Harold G Moore and Joseph L Galloway Release Date- 8 March 2002 (UK) Runtime- 138 Mins Certificate- 15 Distributed- Paramount Pictures
PLOT
We were soldiers follows the first major conflict of the Vietnam War where America first come into serious contact. Lt Colonel Hal Moore (Gibson) and 400 soldiers are sent to the country to destroy the enemy. The Americans have underestimated their enemy and soon realise their fate. This was one of the most savage and fierce battles in US history. CAST
Mel Gibson – Lt Col Hal Moore
Col Moore is a very dedicated man to his career and he is a very good leader. He has the job of leading 400 troops to battle without knowing how many enemies lie before them. He shows he cares for his troops and that he would do anything to save them. I found that he was a very intelligent man and is very used to war. As well as a good soldier, Col Moore is a good family man to his wife and five children. Hal Moore is known in history for the Battle of la Drang and was known for his outstanding courage and leadership. Mel plays his role as Col very well and this does not surprise me. Every role he takes he seems to be able to successful create a fantastic character. As he is one of my favourite actors I think very highly of Mel Gibson and his characters. Although he has the same look and sometimes dialect in his films I do not get bored of his characters. In this he provides a strong backbone for the film and gives it more publicity. I think he was the perfect choice for this movie. Other films of his include- ‘Braveheart’ 1995 and ‘The Patriot’ 2000. Other Characters
Madeline Stowe – Julie Moore Greg Kinnear – Maj Bruce Crandall Sam Elliott – Sgt Maj Basil Plumley Chris Klein – 2nd Lt Jack Geoghegan Keri Russell – Barbara Geoghegan Barry Pepper – Joe Galloway
One of the best features of the film is the cast and the great acting. The characters are not shown as heroes but just simple soldiers doing their job. All of the characters are well shown and they support each other well. The female roles are equally as good and provide the other side of army life. The dialogue is nicely scripted and every actor on the battlefield fits their part. THEMES and PLOT
The story is very interesting and is mainly built around the events of the first battle in the Vietnam war. As well as this the movie includes many other sub plots and themes to keep you interest and to attract a wide audience.
• Family values. There is evidence that in this film there are strong family values shown by the soldiers. Hal Moore is shown to be a very caring father and he tries his best for his family. Around this time it was very hard for families of soldiers and the film shows not only the battle but how the wives and children lived too. It gives you a good prospective of how the wives coped with their husbands being sent to war. The women all stay strong together and help each other as much as they can.
• Courage. There are many signs of courage from the soldiers and wives in the film. I remember one scene where a soldier deliberately throws himself on a grenade to protect his colleagues. He saves a lot of people and sacrifices his life. They also stay strong during the battle and even though at times they are pinned down they still show the strength to carry on.
• The families show courage in doing what they can for each other and carry on every day life. The women must have been strong to care for their children and still have the worry about their husbands.
• Racism. There are at times a few racist values brought up in the film. As the time of this war show that things were very different. Amongst the families living at the base in America is a black woman and her children. She is not given the same help as the others which some other white women find disgusting. She is not allowed to use the facilities even though her husband is fighting for the country.
GENRES
The mix of genres in the film is good and attracts women as well as the males to watch this war action film.
• Romance- This is shown between the families and the lives of being married to a man in the army. The connection between Moore and his wife is strong.
• Action. Most of the film is the action that happens during the war. We see the Americans struggle to survive for many days and ongoing attacks.
The story shows clearly the horrors of war and its outcome. The film does provide some gory injuries which is why it is a 15. This is because it needs to get across how deadly battles were and can be. It takes the understanding of these events and provides many different views of what happened. You see the life of an American soldier in battle, the lives of the wives and it shows sections from the enemy.
QUOTES
Lt. Colonel Hal Moore: I can hear you laughing you know. Julie Moore: I'm not laughing, I'm marvelling. Lt. Colonel Hal Moore: At what? Julie Moore: That you can find stubbornness in your children and think it comes from anywhere but you...
Sergeant Major Basil Plumley: You can't take any pictures from down there, sonny. [Galloway gets up and is handed a rifle] Joseph Galloway: I'm a non-combatant. Sergeant Major Basil Plumley: Ain't no such thing today.
Lt. Colonel Hal Moore: Where you from, son? Joseph Galloway: Refugio, Texas, sir. Lt. Colonel Hal Moore: Well, that's the first thing I've heard today that makes any sense.SETS and LOCATIONS
Filming locations- Even though this is based on the Vietnam War the movie was all filmed in America.
The filming was done very well and there are many different sets to make it appealing. All of the battles done are moved around the jungle set and it looks very realistic. I loved the establishing shots for each scene and it clearly shows where the next scene will take place. OVERALL
The film is a definite must see and I am glad we own it on DVD. Those who enjoy a good war film will be happy to watch this and it has some great action included. Even though it is quite a long film it provides good well balanced narratives to interest everyone. The pace is fast and exciting and the filming successful shows the horrors of war. It is a very fitting tribute to all the men who died during this battle. I would give this film an 8/10.
The film received mainly positive reviews and has a rotten tomato rating of- 62%. EXTRAS
Soundtrack
• "Hold On I'm Coming" By Isaac Hayes (as Isaac Hayes Jr.) & David Porter Performed by Tommy Blaize Produced by Nick Glennie-Smith
• "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" By Harry Noble Performed by Tommy Blaize Produced by Nick Glennie-Smith
• "Sgt. MacKenzie" By Joseph Rizza Kilna Performed by Joseph Kilna MacKenzie Produced by Joseph Kilna MacKenzie & Seoras Wallace
• "Mansions of the Lord" By Nick Glennie-Smith and Randall Wallace Performed by the United States Military Academy Cadet Glee Club Also performed by Metro Voices Produced by Nick Glennie-Smith
More info
• The film won an ASCAP award for Top Box Office Film and was nominated for four others.
DVD
The DVD can be brought from play.com at only £3.99; this does not include any special features.
Thank you for reading- Blackmagicstar4. Sept 09. Also published on Dooyoo. xx
Advantages: They were soldiers Disadvantages: We were not entirely convinced
...boot-camp and slow build-up segments. We get to the battle at just the right moment and the realization that the battle is going to be a nasty, all-out one is well conveyed.
He also doesn't make the mistake of having blokes blub in your face and with his star Mel Gibson delivers a strong emotional scene where Mel's crying is shown only from behind. This really is the only way blokes crying should be done on-screen. Blokes crying generally look like ... ...where a soldier dies and we look into his eyes as his iris expands due to the muscles relaxing control.
There's also a great scene where a soldiers get a close-up hit from a incendiary grenade in super slow motion which looks incredibly dangerous and, as bits of his face are on fire from burning material stuck to him and he has another soldier cutting bits of his face off with a knife, one presumes this was accomplished using a mixture of live-action ...
MisterSlimm 26.12.2005
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of We Were Soldiers (DVD)
Advantages: Wonderful acting, excellent story and effects, emotional and based on true events Disadvantages: Made me cry!
...is the one thing which we all dread when our hubby’s are off fighting wars. I will admit though that times have moved on and there are no longer telegrams telling of the news, but maybe I was being a little too sentimental but this just got to me. I did find that it was an excellent choice to show this side in the film as it did give a brake from all the violence and blood shed. I have to give a lot of credit to Mel Gibson who took on the role of ... ...approval.
The DVD which we have does have some bonus material which includes:-
Feature length commentary from Director Randall Wallace
Deleted Scenes with Optional commentary
‘Getting it right’ making of documentary (25 mins approx.)
TV and Radio Spots
Theatrical Trailer
I have no interest in bonus features so I have not watched any of these but hubby is keen on watching them so when he has I will come back and update with his opinions on ...
sewbizzie 10.06.2009
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of We Were Soldiers (DVD)
Advantages: an excellent and educational film Disadvantages: None at all, apart from all the death and destruction
...them in the Vietnam battle. We see him in one of the extra DVD’s actually in Vietnam and now, in the present day talking to us about how close to reality this film was. There have been quite a few films portraying the Vietnam, Platoon is one good example, but from Lt General himself, he says that this is the most hard hitting, true to life film he has seen…..and that’s saying something.
For me this film was always going to be disappointing, ... ...anybody, and in this film we really are shown the effects war has on those at home, the wives and children of the people out there fighting. Were not just shown the bloody action, we shown love and companionships in the film.
The film revolves around true love for your fellow troops. For instance, we are taken deeper into a relationship between Hal and Jack Gheogeghan (Chris Klein of American Pie fame). He is soon to be a proud father to his baby, ...
GR-Design 28.09.2002
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of We Were Soldiers (DVD)
Advantages: Tries to stick to the facts. Realism throughout. Shows both sides of the battle. Good cast, music, effects and is truthful. Disadvantages: Could have told the whole story included in the book.
...Air Assault Test Division, where we meet Lt. Col Hal Moore who has arrived to take command of the 2nd Battalion 23rd Infantry. Moore’s job as commander is to train up his officers and men in the use of helicopters to get into and out of battle areas. This takes quite some time and lots of practice before it is perfected. During the film’s focus on the training period we get to know some of the main characters of the film. You get to meet and laugh ... ...Freeman), Sgt. Major Basil Plumley, Sgt. Savage and others to name but a few. During this section of the film there are some light-hearted moments between Plumley and Savage that make you laugh out loud. (Check out the extras section for some even better ones!) You will also get to see the wives and families of some of the characters as they battle with their own emotions about their men going to war in a far away country. Next comes the call to ...
Paddys_back 09.09.2002
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of We Were Soldiers (DVD)
Advantages: Best film ever, true story Disadvantages: When i find one i will tell you. The knowledge of all the death being true
...based on the book We were soldiers once….and young. I have not read this to date and cant say exactly how close it is to this. I am planning on reading this very shortly and will update when I have.
History behind all of this:
The Americans decided that they couldn't keep up with the terrain and moving troops so came up with the idea of shipping troops in via helicopters. Genius at the time and now a very productive tactic in modern war. The person ... ...Lt.Col. Hal Moore. He was the first to step foot onto the battlefield and also the last to step off the battlefield. 400 of his regiment were sent into Landing Zone X-Ray in the La Drang Valley *translated as the valley of death*. Greatly outnumber 1 American to roughly 5 Vietnamese. 2000 Vietnamese had them surrounded and outnumbered. This led to one of the most savage battles in US history. I cant even begin to describe to the courage and bravery ...
underdose86 08.04.2006 (21.04.2006)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of We Were Soldiers (DVD)
Did you enjoy it?
Story
Characters / Performances
Special Effects
Soundtrack
Similar reviews »
Reviews which might be of interest for "We Were Soldiers (DVD)"
Advantages: 3 action dvds in one box Disadvantages: Not everyone's cup of tea
Review of 3 Action classics ?WeWereSoldiers, Mad Max and Lethal Weapon? DVD, starring Mel Gibson..
This is a boxed DVD set, which I must admit had been sitting unwatched and ignored in the cupboard for some time. I believe the set was a Christmas Gift to my other half a few years ago, which we never got around to watching, probably because we already owned a couple of the movies as single dvds!
The set consist of three popular Mel Gibson movies, on three individual discs. They comprise of 'WeWereSoldiers', 'Mad Max' and 'Lethal Weapon'. The box is really rather uninteresting, just three pictures of Gibson in each of the movies on the front and a small amount of information about each film on the reverse, along with information about directors and classification.
I will attempt to give a brief synopsis of the films ...
Advantages: A great British film Disadvantages: No real tense moments
I rented this film one night for me and a few of my mates (I now own this on video, should give you a clue about whether I like this film) to watch when wewere going to have a night of takeaway, DVD's and lots of beers. After a lot of comedies and over the top action films we decided to watch Dog Soldiers.
The plot for this film is quite simple and a very British film, a squad of British soldiers are sent to Scotland to take part in a training activity against an elite British special operations unit but there not the only ones in the Scottish Highlands. When they find the elite united all dead without them evening being able to fire of a single round in defence the squad realise that they is something not quite human in the woods that threatens all of them. Just as there being attack they find themselves being helps but a local woman ...
beer_spy 13.08.2006
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of dog soldiers
In a small clearing four hundred young soldiers were surrounded by two thousand North Vietnamese soldiers. The battle that followed was one of the fiercest in US history...
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
Icon Home Entertainment; Warner Home Video, ICON HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Feature Length Commentary From Director Randall Wallace, Ten Deleted Scenes With Optional Commentary, Getting It Right Making Of Documentary, TV And Radio Spots, Theatrical Trailer
Aspect Ratio
2.35 Wide Screen, 16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
DVD Description
In 1965, 400 American troops faced an ambush by 2,000 enemy troops in the Ia Drang Valley (also known as the Valley of Death), in one of the most gruesome fights of the Vietnam War. WE WERE SOLDIERS is a detailed recreation of this true story--of the strategies, obstacles, and human cost faced by the troops that participated. The story focuses on the lieutenant colonel that led the attack, Hal Moore (Mel Gibson), and a civilian reporter who accompanied them, Joseph Galloway (Barry Pepper), as well as a number of other soldiers who were involved.
This is an unusual Vietnam film in that it also shows the North Vietnamese perspective on the battle; their leader Lieutenant General Nguyen Huu An (Don Duong) is depicted as a brave soldier and smart commander. And in addition to the many gory battlefield sequences--which seem to have been influenced by SAVING PRIVATE RYAN--we also see how the carnage of war affects those left behind, the soldiers' wives and children. Ultimately this is a moving anti-war film, which, by sticking close to the true stories of real soldiers, very effectively brings home the overwhelming horror of war.
Compare We Were Soldiers (DVD) to other similar Action & Adventure »
![We Were Soldiers [DVD] [2002]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78526888.jpg)
