Under Heavy Fire

Customer Reviews:

Cashing in on Vietnam-Vet Stereotypes.......2006-05-06

Possibly the worst movie dealing with the Vietnam theme in the last 10-15 years. The plot revolves around a group of Marines returning to Vietnam to reexperience their old haunts of thirty years past. The group is hostile to their captain, who they belive called in an artillery strike on some of them, killing several, after a mutinous incident. As the men relive their experiences of the past war, they begin to confront what took place in the rice paddies long ago.

The movie is bad in nearly every respect. The lead, Casper Van Dien, is woefully miscast (he was great in Starship Troopers) and his efforts to play a Marine captain and demonstrate "decisiveness" are ridiculous. van Diem as a meditative, tormented soul with a "Marlboro gravelly" voice?! Hysterical.

Worse are the stereotypes of "'Nam" vets. After BG Burkett's Stolen Valor, it is amazing such idiotic stereotypes can still exist. Naturally the "'Nam" vets here are all given to constant "confession," drunken reveling and psychotic behavior--brought on by "'Nam," of course.

In the tradition of Platoon, there is no mention of politics in the film--other than "wise" looking Vietnamese soberly declaring that they "fought from the heart for liberation" while the Americans merely "fought from hate of the Gooks." Maybe this is the reason the movie's American vets are constantly weeping and having existential crises that resemble what your kid-sister had when her boyfriend broke up w/ her. Anyway this is "'Nam" for MTV, not actual vets--so why not?

The script is so bad that it's painful to listen to. Did this film have an editor?

In short, the film is a remarkably amaturish attempt to cash in on "'Nam" (dude!) stereotypes and make a buck. Have respect for the real vets. Read a novel by Keith Nolan or Burkett's book instead.

Excellent! .......2006-01-04

This movie suprised me. I was saw it for just $6 bucks here and there and just past it by. Finally bought it and it was really nearly 5 stars. It tears at the heart with the brotherhood of arms and Marines being called in to question. This is not some courtroom trail at all but a chance to grow/live and seal the bonds that only these men can cherish in their hearts

This is relivng the past by going back to what looks like must be early-mid eighties Vietnam. This film looks as though it was filmed there. What happens is a small group of Marines are brought back to do a documentory about what they went through detailing one unfortunatly tragic event. I felt a bit of magic as though it was real.

Go get it and slowly let yourself be taken back. Our real Veteran's are my heroes and these guys play the part well.

Make it 5 stars!

Van Pham needs help.......2004-04-21

This movie shows American soldiers commiting war crimes yet Van says they are spotless in this "racist" film. what a load of crap. The acting is ok, the story is well done as far as the strong emotions brought to the surface as the soldiers attempt to heal their emotional scars. As far as the people criticizing the amount of action, the title accuratly depicts the error of an individual who is under heavy fire and calls in bad coordinance for the air strike that kills his fellow troops.

The Viet Nam Experience Was SHEER HELL!.......2004-04-01

A No holds barred view of the conditions of war and the Hell we called Viet Nam, this DVD is a no glitz unvarnished look back at the experiences of Viet Nam Vets. This group of Marines are forced to relive their experiences on a trip back to Viet Nam many years after the war ended. Intended as a revelation of events that led up to the massacre of innocents, this experience of the hellacious events of this warfare serves as a wakeup call to those who glorify war. This war especially was HELL and this DVD captures the essence of this experience vividly!

The worst vietnam movie ever!!!!!!!!.......2004-03-05

I rented this trash thinking it would be good. I've seen the directors other film"Boys of company C", and it was great. But this movie is done w/cheap recording, crappy acting, and a stupid ending. By far the worst vietnam movie i've ever seen.

Average customer rating:

Although Partially Drawing Upon Actual Incidents, Artificial Treatment Along With Stereotypical Characters Vanquish The Picture.

Going Back

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000CCOGX8

Product Description

A group of Marines return to Vietnam with a news crew to relive their tragic war experiences.

Customer Reviews:

Although Partially Drawing Upon Actual Incidents, Artificial Treatment Along With Stereotypical Characters Vanquish The Picture........2006-12-15

Since the ending of the Vietnam War, two principal styles of feature films have been produced revolving about that baleful event, one that emphasises scenes of frantic combat activity, the second stressing off-center characterization of United States military personnel, most often encumbered with tiresome politicizing anent the evil actions of corrupted American servicemen in contrast with the apparently innate dignity and humanity manifested by Vietnamese people; within this grotesquely melodramatic piece is included the worst aspects of each, with triteness lavishly added for good measure. The film opens with a military reunion organised by cinema documentarian Kathleen Martin (Carrè Otis) who has assembled six veterans from a heavily depleted U. S. Marine Echo Company, bringing about their rendezvous held in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for the purpose of filming their impressions of erstwhile battlefields, and eventually to restage, if all agree, a controversial incident that had occurred during the war, later resulting in a court martial of the Company's leader, Captain Ramsey (Caspar Van Dien). The film wants narrative clarity, indeed even basic credibility, while plot execution is muddled; an altogether plodding and unpersuasive affair with wholesale utilisation of bromidic scenes, one even comprised of slow motion lovemaking by Van Dien and Otis. Stock footage of crowded streets in Ho Chi Minh City provide mild interest, while combat segments are largely effective, and editing is quite successful with flashbacks. However, the depiction of on-scene battle photography is unrealistically presented, and a droning score is of no assistance. It is best for this subject matter if it will be created by individuals who were there.

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