We Were Soldiers - 2002

Icon Entertainment International, Motion Picture Production GmbH & Co.

Directed by Randall Wallace

Cast:

• Lt. Col. Hal Moore – Mel Gibson
• Julie Moore – Madeline Stowe
• Maj. Bruce “Snake” Crandall – Greg Kinnear
• Sgt. Maj. Basil Plumley – Sam Elliot
• 2nd Lt. Jack Geoghegan – Chris Klein
• Barbara Geoghegan – Keri Russell
• Joe Galloway – Barry Pepper
• Lt. Col. Nguyen Huu An – Duong Don
• Sgt. Ernie Savage – Ryan Hurst
• 1st Lt. Charlie Hastings – Robert Bagnell
• 2nd Lt. Henry Herrick – Marc Blucas
• Sp4 Robert Ouellette – Josh Daugherty
• Capt. Tony Nadal – Jsu Garcia
• Capt. Matt Dillon – Jon Hamm
• Capt. Tom Metsger – Clark Gregg

Story: After a brief introduction showing the slaughter of a French patrol in what was called Indochina in 1954, we move immediately forward to 1965. Lt. Col. Hal Moore has just been assigned to train and command an experimental warfare unit known as Air Cavalry. We see both sides of the unit, the Army officers and men, training and preparing for combat, and the families of the men as well. Hal Moore is a family man, with a loving wife and children from teens to preschool age. Finally, the President orders the troops to take an active role in the struggle in Vietnam, and the 1st Battalion of the 7th Cavalry is sent into action. This is the first encounter between American soldiers and regular Vietnamese Infantry, and the battle is fierce and gruesome. Based on the book by Lt. Col. Hal Moore and Journalist Joe Galloway.

Review: Fair warning. If you are the least bit squeamish about combat scenes, pass on this film. This contains some of the most graphic and realistic scenes since the beach landing in Saving Private Ryan. Once the fighting starts, it is non-stop and horrific, and anyone who thinks combat is in any way glorious or heroic will walk away with an altered attitude. The portrayals are realistic and true, thanks to the technical advise of both the authors, and the performances are human and identifiable. Young men who are thrown into combat, young wives and families who are horrified to learn their husbands and fathers are gone. The “illusion of the first time” is perfect, and from the very beginning you are drawn into the story as if you are observing it unfold. Both Stowe and Gibson give Oscar worthy performances, as does Elliot and the rest of the cast. This is one for your collection, and definitely a film any young man with dreams of being a combat hero ought to see before heading to the enlistment office. It should be obvious this is not a film for the children in the family, but teens above the age of 14 ought to be able to watch without nightmares.