Les N
How is a film dated when it is a piece of history
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
03/10/24
Full Review
Audience Member
In between drinking cans of Fosters beer, Australian soldiers tread on a few landmines, and generally experience the war in Vietnam.
stars Graham Kennedy, John Hargreaves, John Jarratt, Bryan Brown, Graeme Blundell, Richard Moir, Ian Gilmour, John Allen and Brandon Burke.
directed by Tom Jeffrey.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
02/24/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Follow up to Jen's review
I see why people would have criticized the casting of Graham Kennedy, but I would not think it was because he was older and fatter, but because he was such a gag-man: his lines often sound rehearsed, like in a comedy show, and he sounds bizarrely unnatural in the midst of the rest of the cast, that is generally good.
As for the low budget: I don't agree with the fact that the reason why we do not see the explosion leading to Rogers (Bryan Brown) having his legs cut off is lack of funds. It actually makes perfect sense in the narrative. The first casualty is Scott, whom we see attentive to his mail, then to the meeting, doing everyting right in the patrol until he is shot. Lots observation in preparation for his disappearance from the group. In the case of Rogers, we first see the men leaving the shooting range joking, and the last line of this scene is Rodgers saying, laughingly, 'who said crime doesn't pay?'. A few seconds later, we discover him lying wounded: he is paying for crimes he didn't do. No need for a lenghty scene like that announcing Scott's death, because the viewer already understands that episodes like these have become the men's daily bread.
Finally, I don't agree that the last scene is peaceful: Bill is clearly disillusioned, doesn't want to talk, can't talk at all, is not happy to be there as he would not be happy if still in Viet Nam. He is broken and Harry's attempts to cheer him up don't convince him.
It's a movie made with intelligence and sensitivity: we see in Jeffrey's camera the love for the actors, and for mankind. Never has Brown looked so likeable in a movie, nor Kennedy so vulnerable. John Hargreaves is crazy in an ebulliant and delightful way. The fight scene between the Americans and the Australians is sheer pleasure.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
02/03/23
Full Review
Audience Member
As soon as the movie intorduced itself with its Dirty Dozen style opening credits, and it's drum n whistle music, i knew this was gonna be a dated war movie. But it was actually quite engaging, with some quite interesting banter amongst the troops. Not long into the movie, i realized this was heavily influenced by M.A.S.H. and the movie reminded me of it. It was great to see a cameo by Alf from Home and Away, and the Scorpion v Spider fight was pretty unique. I knew the Scorpion would win
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
01/28/23
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Audience Member
This is how Aussies go to war ,with all the offbeat humour and sadness that was the conflict in Vietnam.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
01/20/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Great Aussie movie..watch it
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/05/23
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