Average Rating: 
Rating:  - We Were Soldiers Review
Absolutly the best war movie I have ever seen, and I have missed very few the past 25 years. Clearly indicates the spirit of the US Army Infantry AND the tremendous leadership skills and human elements of Col Hal Moore; who by the way retired a 3 star, or Lt General.
I know a retired Airborne Ranger who lives here, that served with Col Moore on 2 out of 3 tours in Viet Nam. This professional and decorated soldier ,speaking of Col Moore claims the movie doesen't even cover to the level deserved re his leadership, bravery under fire and just being a great human being. He was "Simply the Best". Col Moore is 80 now and I believe in pretty good shape. He consulted on this movie and people half his age struggled to keep up with his effort and energy, to insure an accurate and professtional movie was produced ,that told it like it was!!!
This originally came out 4-5 years ago as a book "We were young once--and Soldiers" It is still available and I highly recommend it as great reading. "Airborne---All the Way"
Rating:  - Heart Wrenching
As much of the Vietnam War becomes forgotten except as it is experienced through the movies about it, this movie is an important addition to the genre.... The story told here is an honest one about brothers in arms who went where their country sent them and did what they were asked to do. The message is not dissimilar to that seen in many WWII movies but severely lacking in movies about this conflict which seem to find more "truth" in such movies as "Platoon". While that, too, is a great film, it must be remembered that the acts portrayed in it were the exception, rather than the rule. "We Were Soldiers" examines the first battles of the Ia Drang Valley in 1965. Col. Hal Moore (Mel Gibson) and a force of some 400 men defend a vulnerable position from attack by as many as 4,000 North Vietnamese entrenched in the surrounding mountains. The tactics, the motivations, the emotions and, ultimately, the terrible cost are examined through the eyes of Moore, his top Sergeant (played flawlessly by Sam Elliot), Moore's wife (Madeleine Stowe), an intrepid chopper pilot (Greg Kinnear) and a photojournalist (Barry Pepper). The battle scenes are realistic - though not quite as harrowing as "Black Hawk Down" - and the characters are more clearly drawn than in that film. Overall, this is an excellent look at true heroism and moral conviction in the face of adversity and almost overwhelming odds.
Rating: - A Beautiful Crafted Film
I saw this film today - and like everyone in the movie theatre audience, I was crying nearly all throughout the entire two and a half hours.The emotion that's in this movie can't be beaten. And I think it's one of the best films released this year - Mel Gibson's performance as Lt. Col Moore is amazing and should be Oscar nominated. I also loved the narration in the movie. It's true that Vietnam wasn't a popular war and the soldiers that gave their life and the ones that made it and ones were injured - in fact were rarely shown as heroes as they fought the war that no one else wanted to fight. The war scenes are amazing - you can see the bombs coming down, soldiers on both sides being killed and the ones that were badly injured. The camera work on this film was one of the best I've seen in such a long time. And the movie ends with a touching tribute to the soldiers that gave their lives. Also the film goes between the US Army, the Vietnamese soldiers and the wives at home - especially when Madeline Stowe who plays Gibson's wife and Keri Russell handing out telegrams to widows of the soldiers. This movie shouldn't be missed and is Oscar caliber.
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