Good points, but HH was still tedious and cliched

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Posted by Doug Flynn on December 23, 2010 at 11:58:34

In Reply to: I actually liked how the characters dissolved in the story posted by Victor Khomenko on December 23, 2010 at 07:46:47:

If it was a big picture movie, then it should have given us more of the big picture (ie. the strategic importance of the hill, the top brass decision making behind its taking, how the NVA/VC would have been affected by its loss, etc). It wasn't a big picture movie at all because it concerned itself solely with the guys in the platoon who were tasked with taking the hill.

All in all, it was a sloppy screenplay. The Doc death scene was an exercise in cliche, as was the Dear John letter and the brothel scene. You need more depth to a screenplay when basically all you have is a movie about a bunch of guys crawling up a hill under gunfire. HH *could* have been a really great movie, maybe the defining Vietnam war movie. The taking of the hill should have been worked into a larger whole, because without the fighting on the hill there wasn't really anything else in the movie which was noteworthy.

There's no real coda to the movie either, either physical, psychological or metaphysical. Contrast that with Platoon, which resolved many different conflicts in its final act (yes, I know you hated Platoon, but give it some credit).

Anyway, you've got me thinking, so I will watch it again soon (it would make a great Christmas day movie, don't you think).

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Two hell movies - Victor Khomenko 07:21:47 12/21/10 (15)

If you liked North Face, then you will love - Doug Flynn 12:03:36 12/21/10 (4)

Not a good film at all. nt - Victor Khomenko 04:51:57 01/03/11 (0)

Touching the Void is one hell of a good story - amazing - PhilJ 09:36:03 12/24/10 (0)

TTV was not so much a documentary as a re-creation, and yes, excellent!! - Road Warrior 06:20:14 12/23/10 (1)

Yup, I give it a three thumbs up! nt - tinear 09:33:08 12/23/10 (0)

My problem with Hamburger Hill - Doug Flynn 11:57:08 12/21/10 (7)

Yup. H H was as forgettable as it was watch-able. nt - tinear 14:15:30 12/21/10 (6)

Good description, I rather enjoyed it - Road Warrior 06:29:59 12/23/10 (5)

I actually liked how the characters dissolved in the story - Victor Khomenko 07:46:47 12/23/10 (4)

Good points, but HH was still tedious and cliched - Doug Flynn 11:58:34 12/23/10 (1)

"I will watch it again soon" Lemme gues... on that blue thingy? :) - Victor Khomenko 15:16:15 12/23/10 (0)

Well-stated in some respects, Vic, but if we know nothing of the characters, we - tinear 09:35:58 12/23/10 (1)

Different things at work here - Victor Khomenko 11:13:00 12/23/10 (0)

"I am not gonna mention the Cliffhanger. A gripping film that is torture " - volunteer 07:35:00 12/21/10 (1)

Poor composition on my part... :) - Victor Khomenko 07:42:09 12/21/10 (0)

Follow Ups

Good points, but HH was still tedious and cliched - Doug Flynn 11:58:34 12/23/10 (1)

"I will watch it again soon" Lemme gues... on that blue thingy? :) - Victor Khomenko 15:16:15 12/23/10 (0)

Good points, but HH was still tedious and cliched

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