Probably would have been much more powerful at the time, though it's still very interesting. Davis does an excellent job with the editing, allowing opposing viewpoints to have their say, but never allows them to go unopposed. Some of the footage is very impressive, not just the war and deaths, but the more personal stuff that you'd never expect on film. The fact that the subjects allowed some of this to be filmed says as much about the effects of war as the content itself.
A well-put together and, at times, emotionally unsettling look at the Vietnam War, that unfortunately has lost most of its punch through no fault of its own. The footage that I'm assuming was considered shocking and deeply troubling in 1974 just does not carry the same weight in 2010 when we're all used to seeing hijackings, murders, even war itself on basic cable. That being said, the scene's final 15 minutes documenting the wailing mourners at the Vietnamese funeral still packs quite a punch.
having been filmed during the latter period of the vietnam war, this must have been quite harrowing at the time. today, there are few new insights contained within, but it's still a sad movie. amazing what sort of things these guys managed to capture, some very personal stories, and some seriously evil fuckers too. heavily biased, as it should be.
With all the praise a person can muster, the most anti-war, anti-American film ever made. The truest film about Vietnam on film. The bravest footage put to film.
Westmoreland's a dick, but I knew this already. Worth watching for some of the footage behind a couple of iconic Vietnam War pictures (Loan performing the execution, and the girl running along the road), although that can be obtained elsewhere. Also, there's a veteran/former POW who is pretty caught up in the whole propaganda thing, and watching him delivering his message to school children is amusing, if not a little scary.
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