Hamburger Hill | | Cast : | Philip Glass, Anthony Barrile, Michael Boatman, Don Cheadle | | Director : | John Irvin | | Studio : | Artisan Entertainment | | Format : | Color, Widescreen, Dolby | | Released Date : | August 28, 1987 | | DVD Released Date : | October 21, 2003 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | July 07, 2005 | | Summary | Overrated | Content
 | This movie has been praised for it's technical depictions, and indeed the guns, uniforms and sounds of battle are quite realistic.
The problem is that everything that goes into making a movie; dialog, plotting, pace, acting, and especially directing, are all terrible. This makes the film seem quite unrealistic, with dialog composed with authentic slang, but with the atmosphere of a profane elementary school play from 1969.
I would also note that beyond the problems created by the lack of moviemaking skill plentifully in evidence, the movie tries to draw a heroic message not just from the men, but from a war that scarcely deserves it. |
| Rating | | | Date | April 23, 2005 | | Summary | ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz | Content
| I love war movies, but this one bored the hell out of me!
Full Metal Jacket was a million times better than this dud! |
| Rating | | | Date | April 12, 2005 | | Summary | Pass | Content
| I watched many Vietnam War movies that came out when this one did. I passed at the time and glad that I did. Not that it is bad, it is just too melodramatic. Sure, a couple blood-and-guts scenes (a bit much then, run-for-the-mill now). But, they don't add anything and we really don't get into the parts. Just too detached. |
| Rating | | | Date | March 14, 2005 | | Summary | Most accurate of the Vietnam movies | Content
| As Full Metal Jacket was the most accurate portrayal of Marine Corps boot camp i've seen on film, Hamburger Hill was the most accurate depiction I've seen of small unit combat in Vietnam.
Those of us who were there appreciate this movie for what it is and more importantly, for what it isnt. It isn't a jingoistic flag waver (The Green Berets), a bad acid trip (Apocalypse Now), or an over reaching shakespearian melodrama in elephant grass (Platoon). It is simply an attempt to give a grunts eye view of a squad of soldiers during a single 10 day battle. In my view, it does so superbly. The sights, sounds (especially the crump of exploding mortar rounds) and chaotic confusion of combat are very well portrayed. I tend to believe this is why veterans generally like this movie and non veterans dont. Cinematically this movie perhaps isnt as compelling as the aforementioned films, but Hamburger Hill captures the "feel" of Vietnam far better than the others.
R. Hopkins
USMC Vietnam 1971 |
| Rating | | | Date | January 16, 2005 | | Summary | A second look reveals some shortcomings | Content
| When I saw this movie back in the late 1980s I remember thinking that it was an outstanding portrayal of the Vietnam War. Nearly 20 years later, after seeing it again on DVD and having a chance to reconsider it, I'm afraid I've had to lower my review of it considerably. For starters, this movie takes a long time to get going. Most of the pre-battle scenes are pointless, as they fail to do much in the way of character development or add anything to the story. Then when we finally do get to the battle for "Hamburger Hill" the action scenes are short and the scenes in between fighting do almost nothing to enrich the story. I bought this thinking it was a movie that I'd watch several more times, but after seeing it again I have to say that I'm ulikely to ever pull this one off the shelf again. |
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