have been a source of entertainment in the film world for decades. Displaying the chaotic conditions of the battlefield while demonstrating the comradery among a group of soldiers comes with a grounding effect that keeps the audience on their toes. Most war films build out extravagantly on events within a vast and complicated war. Every war fought comes with numerous adaptations that emphasize victory. However, the Vietnam War came with horrible casualties and limited victories, which changed the war film genre drastically. Directors have taken some of the stories about the Vietnam War and adapted them to showcase how soldiers fought valiantly while losing their innocence every step of the way.
is “War at its worst. Fought by young men at their best.”
Hamburger Hill Shows the Brutality of War and the Strength of Soldiers Fighting in It
The Film Has No Problem Critiquing It While Honoring Those Who Fought in It
The soldiers fight on the arduous hill numerous times over ten days, making it feel like déjà vu for the soldiers, as Sgt. Adam Frantz grows more bleak with every loss.
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realism for this war film.
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One poignant scene is a little Vietnamese boy crying as his mother lies dead on the ground. Another moment shows a little Vietnamese child on the ground as military vehicles drive behind her. The little girl just looks at the vehicles and isn’t even startled by the towering vehicles behind her. One of the most brutal moments in the film was when the Army helicopters shot and killed their own men unknowingly as soldiers screamed from the ground for them to stop. The film parallels these darker moments with the soldiers enjoying their downtime before returning to the bloody battlefield. As the film continues, moments of recovery for the soldiers grow shorter.
Hamburger Hill Was an Important Battle in the Vietnam War
The Battle of Hamburger Hill Was Considered a Turning Point in the Vietnam War
the soldier’s anticipation to fight on the infamous hill seemed highly matched with outstanding morale. Most of the soldiers seemed eager to see some action. Back in America, however, protests had increased against the Vietnam War. Some protestors went as far as to wish death on American soldiers fighting in the war and celebrated when soldiers died in battle. This didn’t make the battle any less important to the soldiers, though. They knew they had a mission to take Hamburger Hill, and they did so at all costs. With growing protests in America against the war,
We’re airborne. We don’t start fights; we finish ’em.
-Galvan
With protests getting worse in the United States, the Battle of Hamburger Hill brought anti-war sentiment to a new high and had senators like Edward Kennedy speaking out against it. The battle made President Richard Nixon introduce a policy known as the Vietnamization policy, which passed on all operations to the South Vietnamese people while slowly withdrawing American troops from Vietnam. In a twisted way, the Battle of Hamburger Hill saved more lives due to the lives lost during it.
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The Ensemble Cast Was Essential To Displaying the Many Layers of Controversy in the Vietnam War
The Film Stars Numerous Young Actors Like Dylan McDermott and Don Cheadle, Kicking Off Their Careers
It was also the first film for Michael Boatman, Michael A. Nickles, Harry O’Reilly, Tim Quill, and Tegan West.
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Doc was… Everything was about the brothers staying together, and that phrase, “Don’t mean nothin’, not a thing. Gotta keep our minds straight, otherwise we’ll crumble. Don’t mean nothin’, not a thing.” Yeah, I loved him.
Doc and Sergeant Adam Frantz were no longer the same person. Doc died while waiting for a rescue helicopter, while Frantz made it to the top of Hamburger Hill only to stare at it, broken.
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has the same value as any war period breaking down the Vietnam War. The film took the time to introduce such a lively bunch of characters to the audience, each character having a unique backstory. It provided a compelling statement on one of the most complicated wars in history while steering right into the experiences the soldiers dealt with.
is, without a doubt, essential viewing for anyone looking to understand what soldiers had to go through during the Vietnam War.
