Vietnam Films - Help Please!

[Jonny_Darko]

I need some help for something I'm writing - I don't know my vietname films very well and want two good examples from the genre.

One I want to be a total "America Rules, America will over come the evil adversity of the Vietnamese with the power of Good (tm) and Chuck Norris"-type film. The other I want to be something more realistic which, if this is even possible, shows America as perhaps the bad guys. Something which is politically saying the America shouldn't have been there to begin with, that they were basically the bad guys in the war, and that they committed as many atrocities as they suffered.

Can anyone help?

 

[Cthulhu]

Try and dig out John Wayne -The Green Berets. Made at the time of the war
and all gung-ho pro-American Hollywood bullshit.

The new documentary - The Fog Of War supposed to be great. It may still be on general release (though at limited cinemas). Extensive interviews with Robert McNamara (Kennedy - Johnson's Defence Secretary) on why and how
the US became involved.

Plus the usual suspects - Apocalypse Now, Platoon, Full Metal Jacket.

If you want a great book on the subject, try -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos...0873/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_26_1/202-0370940-8805436

heavy stuff, but worth the read...

 

[Jonny_Darko]

Wish I could remember the name of the Chuck Norris one I watched. In one scene he ran over a minefield in slow motion, carrying a fallen comrade and taking out dozens of VC at the same time. Best of all though, as this happened, they superimposed a close up of a golden eagle in mid-flight over the action.

I think I had tears in my eyes at the time.

 

[Mobius]

The other I want to be something more realistic which, if this is even possible, shows America as perhaps the bad guys. Something which is politically saying the America shouldn't have been there to begin with, that they were basically the bad guys in the war, and that they committed as many atrocities as they suffered.

You could try Casualties of War, its got Michael J Fox in it! I thought it was good.

Or, Good Morning Vietnam. with Robin Williams.

 

[nath]

I hear The Quiet American is about exactly what you're looking for Jonny. Try that.

 

[Whipped]

Wish I could remember the name of the Chuck Norris one I watched. In one scene he ran over a minefield in slow motion, carrying a fallen comrade and taking out dozens of VC at the same time. Best of all though, as this happened, they superimposed a close up of a golden eagle in mid-flight over the action.

I think I had tears in my eyes at the time.

Surely one of the many Delta Force films?

 

[Cthulhu]

Surely one of the many Delta Force films?

I thought that, but I caught this gem on Sky a couple of weeks ago -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos...3989/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_10_2/202-0370940-8805436

Witness Chuck single-handedly slaughter half the Vietnamese population!

I think this kick started the whole 80's Stallone - Rambo thing.

 

[mank!]

Missing In Action are the definitive Chuck films aren't they? They're very gung ho pro-Yankee pro-Nam bullshit.

 

[leggy]

I hear The Quiet American is about exactly what you're looking for Jonny. Try that.

Definitely not what he's looking for (either version). It mostly revolves around the complex relationship of three people. Apart from being set in SEA, there is little or nothing about the war.

If this is what you are looking for then I'll stop talking

 

[djpringle]

Definitely not what he's looking for (either version). It mostly revolves around the complex relationship of three people. Apart from being set in SEA, there is little or nothing about the war.

If this is what you are looking for then I'll stop talking

True, it's set in the early fifties so the US was only providing a shed load of cash and advisors at this stage.

The only other anti American one I can think of is Born on the 4th July but iirc that focuses mainly on Cruise's treatment when he returns home afterwards

 

[Blacksoul]

how bout

I still think "Platoon" with Charly Sheen has to be one of the best 'nam movies sofar, altho Full-Metal Jacket is a good runner-up

especialy the end of Platoon always give my goozepops(sp?)

 

[Damini]

As already said, Casualties of War is a very good film which shows how animalistically people can behave in a war environment.

 

[stubbyrulz]

rambo imo thats in vietnam right?

 

[scoop]

Apocalypse Now shows how thick / how much money, the yanks wasted..

Class film to watch if you've not seen it

 

[Yaka]

full metal jacket, as for the pro yanks stuff, that mel gibson one