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 | August 29, 2005 | | Summary | The final scene shows the futility and insanity of war...period. | Content
 | Perhaps not the best movie in moviemaking terms but the final half hour crawling up a frikking hill with people blasting away at each just hammers home the true ridiculousness and utter insanity of war. And apparently people STILL don't get it. |
| Rating | | | Date | August 26, 2005 | | Summary | Made Sense to Me | Content
| I think the thing I loved about this movie was that it was actually about a small unit trying desperately to cope with the stresses of combat in a war that was quickly becoming unpopular at home. "Platoon" and "Full Metal Jacket," which were arguably better movies, both tried (and largely succeeded) to make bigger, grander statements.
This movie has a different agenda. The dialogue is often unconvincing and one occassionally tires of the constant need in moviemaking to use each charachter as an archetype. And yet, much of it rang true to me from my own limited experience as a combat infantry soldier. I loved the character who was constantly worried about all the stuff he was supposed to remember (OK, that was me to a degree, though my biggest worry was, get this, that I wouldn't have enough boot laces). The fact that the medic, who otherwise was of the same rank as everybody else, took an important leadership role in the platoon was spot on. It was also amazing to see Steven Webber, the doofus from "Wings," playing a serious role and doing it well.
In the post-"Saving Private Ryan" period, it is hard for any movie's battle scenes to measure up to the standard set by Spielberg in the opening scence of that movie. But I saw this movie for the first time before I saw "Ryan" and obviously after having seen "Ryan." The battle scenes still pain me and make me glad, ultimately, that I never saw combat during my time in uniform.
If you want art in your war movies, see "Platoon" and "Full Metal Jacket." If you want to get a taste of what it's like in a small unit, see this one. |
| Rating | | | Date | August 17, 2005 | | Summary | Pretty Good War Movie | Content
| This film is very underrated. It was released between two very big Vietnam War films Platoon and Full Metal Jacket, so it didn't get as much attention. It has some great action scenes in it, along with some great acting in it. Dylan McDermott (The Practice) must lead a squad to capture a hill during the Vietnam. The squad is played well by actors including Academy Award Nominee Don Cheadle and Courtney B. Vance. Steven Weber of Wings plays McDermott's friend who pulls him in to command. Really good movie. Recommended. |
| Rating | | | Date | August 11, 2005 | | Summary | SLEEPER! | Content
| I don't see what people like about this movie. I found it
to be very boring. I liked Full Metal Jacket, Pearl Harbor,
and Saving Private Ryan, a whole lot more than this dud! |
| 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. |
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