ChicDragon It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

Hadrina The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Matylda Swan It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

Celia A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

pimy95 Low budget and looks more like a TV movie then major motion picture, partially financed by the political conscious star.One of the first Vietnam war movies to come out after the end of the conflict. Therefore had difficulties with funding and not well received in theaters when it came out. We had, had enough about Vietnam.However, very accurate in portrayal of early war, yes including the firearms used. The corruption in the south Vietnamese military, The US walking right into the same places as the French, and not fighting WW2 again. The population, at war with each other and us in the middle, and the effectiveness of "female" Vietcong soldiers, here portrayed by the actress that just a few years later would go on to play "Kwang Lee", on the TV series "Night Court". Yes a pleasant surprise of a film, that tried to tell a story people didn't want to hear yet, when it came out.

dougdoepke A small group of American military advisors and their Vietnamese allies try to defend an abandoned village from Viet Cong attack.It's a difficult movie to parse since the focus remains somewhat fuzzy. But that's probably just as well since the war itself remains fuzzy for many Americans. The enemy wore no uniforms, held no ground, and melted away after engagement. In short, it was a long way from the kind of war Americans were used to fighting, an example of what I believe they now call "asymmetrical" warfare. Here, it's 1964 and our level of engagement remains as advisors only. Big troop landings are still a year away. In the movie, we're introduced to the men of Major Barker's (Lancaster) small advisory command and why they've volunteered for hazardous duty. These range from selfless idealism to career opportunities to the one draftee. What they all lack, including the major, is any understanding of the country or culture they're fighting in. Instead, they depend upon their brutal Asian interpreter, Cowboy! Trouble is he's fighting a personal war against the Cong and cares little whether he's advancing the broader cause. Note that the film makes little or no mention of the politics swirling around our intervention. For the individual soldier, these larger issues may seem too abstract or simply reducible to evils of communist aggression. But either way, they're left to higher-ups. Nonetheless, it's the politics of national liberation from decades of Western occupation that drive the Viet Cong, ultimately galvanizing the ordinary peasant into joining. In terms of the movie, it's what's not really mentioned that's so important, rather than what is. And for the Americans, the bottom line is duty, not national liberation. Thus the apt comparison with the dutiful dead Spartans rings true. All in all, it's a tricky film that may or may not be the best on that bloody misadventure. But it does dramatize a serious level of disconnect.

Poseidon-3 This low-key, but thoughtful, examination of the early stages of The Vietnam War offers up a few clichés, but also does a nice job of presenting the conditions and experiences of the soldiers involved in it. Lancaster plays a rebellious Major, assigned to the disbursement of various soldiers in the field who are meant to aid and advise the South Vietnamese in their quest for democracy. Singer plays his cocky sidekick, a Captain with eyes on advancement. When they are instructed to set up a garrison at an abandoned site called Muc Wa, they send in a rag tag assortment of soldiers who don't always compliment each other. Wasson is an idealistic youth who tends to see only the good in people. Goldsmith is a grizzled veteran on the edge of burnout. Unger is placed in charge of the mission, but must overcome a troublesome physical reaction to the surroundings. Howard is a drug addict, assigned as medic. They are assisted by the hotheaded and brutal, but effective, native soldier Kim. Meanwhile, Lancaster is pestered by an efficiency expert-type (Clennon) who uses a computer to assess which areas of the conflict are most susceptible to attack. Other roles include Hong, as an elderly Vietnamese recruit and Kumagai, as a demure local girl who takes a shine to Wasson. Though the film is serious in it's approach to the material, it isn't without doses of humor, mostly coming from Lancaster and his offhand approach to the warmongering around him. He has a combative relationship with his no-nonsense superior Sweet and a flustered rapport with his ever-casual communications officer Hicks. Eventually, the events turn more toward the dramatic as it becomes clear that Muc Wa is going to be targeted by the Communist troops. Lancaster does a nice job in a role that suits his confident persona. The rest of the cast is solid as well with many of the actors enjoying lengthy TV and film careers afterwards. Goldsmith (best known as J.R.'s favorite private investigator on "Dallas") gets what is probably his best showcase ever here and rises to the occasion. Each of them, however, gets his chance to shine. A rather low budget gives the film a certain lack of polish, but also helps keep it rather grounded and prevents it from becoming an operatic, over the top epic as some war films have become.

filmjunkie101 Director Ted Post is incredibly talented when it comes to telling the audience a captivating story. His characters are believable and he helps create one of Burt Lancaster's finest performances. The story is told in a very entertaining and well-paced fashion while sustaining a feeling of tension. This film never received the attention it deserved when originally released. It's really worth your while and I hope when people see it in a video store they'll consider giving it a chance. It is definitely one of the most realistic and gripping accounts of the war in Vietnam. Ted Post proves to be a very talented director especially in the way he directs his actors. He manages to get great performances out of his entire cast (not only some of the stars). I highly recommend this film and hope that more people will appreciate the way I do.