The plot in the movie not much different than other Vietnam war movies. You have soldiers in combat where some do not want to be there so there are discipline challenges. The platoon has the usual cast of characters for Vietnam - gung ho career types to druggies to green FNGs like the LT that add the personal tension beyond the actual combat sequences. The acting was decent. It was not overly dramatic in stone but more a reality presentation,
Of course attacks on firebases were common in Vietnam and the movie works better to me than something like the preachy Green Beret or the angry The Siege of Firebase Gloria. It was interesting that the LT and Platoon sergeant fully recovered from their wounds.
It does come across as a lower budget movie but it does a lot for what it did have. The look and feel lended a realistic feel. The soundtrack was annoying.
I checked the film location and it was filmed in South Africa so that may explain why they did not show the faces of many of the extras in the village as they always ha their head down under the conical hats.
Now what I consider aspects not consistent with proper military operations. First the firebase was not at the crest of the hill and even worse adjoining a village. There was no way to prevent civilian casualties - intentional or not.
Firebase defense primarily depended on mortar and artillery as the primary since can be fired almost immediately then supported by air that can take time. They did not call in artillery or for a lot of illumination, after being attacked. On a real firebase of this size, the LT, his RTO, and sometimes the medic usually co-habituated to share radio watch with the company and battalion. On patrol, there was a lack of ammo bandoliers on the soldiers and others carrying M60 ammo that would sustain all that rifle fire,
Of course attacks on firebases were common in Vietnam and the movie works better to me than something like the preachy Green Beret or the angry The Siege of Firebase Gloria. It was interesting that the LT and Platoon sergeant fully recovered from their wounds.
It does come across as a lower budget movie but it does a lot for what it did have. The look and feel lended a realistic feel. The soundtrack was annoying.
I checked the film location and it was filmed in South Africa so that may explain why they did not show the faces of many of the extras in the village as they always ha their head down under the conical hats.
Now what I consider aspects not consistent with proper military operations. First the firebase was not at the crest of the hill and even worse adjoining a village. There was no way to prevent civilian casualties - intentional or not.
Firebase defense primarily depended on mortar and artillery as the primary since can be fired almost immediately then supported by air that can take time. They did not call in artillery or for a lot of illumination, after being attacked. On a real firebase of this size, the LT, his RTO, and sometimes the medic usually co-habituated to share radio watch with the company and battalion. On patrol, there was a lack of ammo bandoliers on the soldiers and others carrying M60 ammo that would sustain all that rifle fire,