More than a few Vietnam War movies were made in the 80's. It seemed like some of those were dedicated to being a tribute to the soldiers that fought in that war. The movies weren't trying to make them saints or heroes, just a means of showing them respect. The Vietnam War was wildly unpopular, as it should have been, but the soldiers didn't start the war and many of them didn't even ask to fight in it, they were just doing what they were told to do. Right or wrong, they were pawns on the chessboard.
Hamburger Hill was one such tributary movie. It largely followed the 3rd Squad, 1st Platoon, a group of men who were thwarted time and time again as they tried to take the hill dubbed Hamburger Hill. The hill itself may have been insignificant in the grand scheme of things but you wouldn't know that watching the movie. Those men may have been a trifle in the big picture, but you wouldn't know that watching the movie. They were men who had a horrible job that they paid dearly for while all they hoped for was to "get back to the world."
There are very few war movies that are not jarring. I can watch one horror movie after the other, see death, dismemberment, pain and suffering and barely flinch. But with a war movie it is totally different. Those may be actors, but real people were killed in these wars-Americans and non-Americans. Both deaths cause me pain. My heart doesn't rest easy at the deaths of non-Americans, particularly innocent people who have the grave misfortune of living in a warzone.
War movies are heavy. Hamburger Hill was heavy. So, if you plan on watching be prepared for a heavy heart.
Hamburger Hill was one such tributary movie. It largely followed the 3rd Squad, 1st Platoon, a group of men who were thwarted time and time again as they tried to take the hill dubbed Hamburger Hill. The hill itself may have been insignificant in the grand scheme of things but you wouldn't know that watching the movie. Those men may have been a trifle in the big picture, but you wouldn't know that watching the movie. They were men who had a horrible job that they paid dearly for while all they hoped for was to "get back to the world."
There are very few war movies that are not jarring. I can watch one horror movie after the other, see death, dismemberment, pain and suffering and barely flinch. But with a war movie it is totally different. Those may be actors, but real people were killed in these wars-Americans and non-Americans. Both deaths cause me pain. My heart doesn't rest easy at the deaths of non-Americans, particularly innocent people who have the grave misfortune of living in a warzone.
War movies are heavy. Hamburger Hill was heavy. So, if you plan on watching be prepared for a heavy heart.