leadership

When viewing a biographical movie, such as this, it is always interesting to research the background of the story's main character. A simple Google of the name Hal Moore opened an enormous volume of information. Notably, for me at least, was the actual "after action report" prepared by Col. Moore himself which provided the blow by blow description of the battle of Ia Drang the focus of the movie. This is an astonishing tale of the type of military leadership that is so often overlooked in our great nation. There is much to be learned from men like Colonel Moore. I enjoyed the movie as a war story but more importantly I also learned the type of preparation a commanding officer like Colonel Moore puts into his assignment. As a civilian I could only assume that any commanding officer worth his salt would study the maps of the terrain he was about to assault. This man took it far deeper and studied the history of his enemy, its role in this location and most importantly the NVA leadership and tactics. His dedication to duty and to his men was inspiring.

Superior war film that looks great in HD

Being a child of the Vietnam era who elected NOT to fight, resisting the pressure of two parents who were WWII Vets (who relunctantly supported me when Walter Cronkite finally broke-thru Gen. Westmoreland's babble), I am surprised how much this film affected me. It is a great war film, but the scenes of the wives back home receiving their "We regret to inform you.." Western Union telegrams is both horrific and poignant. In comparison, "Apocalypse Now" seems almost cartoon-like. Forget the bad press about Mel Gibson: he gives a performance worthy of George C Scott's Patton, (and Sam Elliot once displays his remarkable talent), and I totally agree with another review who compares this film to Zulu - a film I defy to watch and not be moved and brought to tears. This is my first HD film and if the others I purchase match the video and audio content of We Were Soldiers, I feel justified in my purchase of my new DVD player!

Unrealistic and annoying - one slow motion kill after another

There are hundreds (at least it seems that way) of deaths shown in slow motion. It gets really annoying. Ruins what could have been a good movie.