The movie also encapsulates in the span of two hours and change pretty much what the entire war was about.  The foreign power coming in and expecting to fight a traditional war against a non-traditional enemy which they did not understand, on their own turf.  Really it doesn't get much simpler than that, and it shows that even though Moore may have anticipated the NVA's nearly every move, he still wasn't able to do what he needed to do.  This also despite superior air power and technology.   But we could go on forever on these points, movie or no movie.

The other thing that bothered me about this picture was the way Moore was made out to be such a frickin "hero."   The whole "I'll be the first on the battlefield and the last to leave" is a noble sentiment, but this is Vietnam we're talking about.  Stuff like that just doesn't matter here.  Except maybe to show just how dumb it is when the sh-t hits the fan.  But when you're the one writing the book, I suppose these things can't be helped....

There are also more lessons to be learned here.  Throwing young kids with no experience into the fight ("Look a scout! Let's take him prisoner!") which is always a war-movie contsant, and the entire sub-plot of the wives at home dealing with the loss of their husbands, sons, and fathers.

One thing also that I found odd was the setting.  To me it just didn't feel like what I've come to envision when you think of Vietnam.  The entire battlefield looked like your average rolling-hills US farm country, instead of the typical jungle-foliage and pointy hills you think of.  Maybe that's what this part of Vietnam looks like, I don't know.  Just a sticky point with me I guess.

We Were Soldiers is a compelling story though, once you get past the Mel-Gibson-ness of it, and the surroundings.  If nothing else it shows just how much we should have learned early on, but didn't.  I'll give it points in that respect.

Technorati Tags: war movie review, we were soldiers, 2002, 1965, vietnam, hal moore, joe galloway, barry pepper, mel gibson