MovieChat Forums > Heaven & Earth (1994) Discussion > Most Overlooked Vietnam film

Most Overlooked Vietnam film

posted 18 years ago by AndrewWalker747
24 replies | jump to latest

This film does the best job of capturing the Vietnam War in a nutshell: The perspective of the Vietnamese villager, the atrocities by both sides, the ignorance of the American population back home, etc. I think the movies biggest strength is that it shows both sides comitting atrocities. The film does tend to side more with the Vietcong, but it still shows them executing people and raping Le Ly. I think perhaps the ebst scene has got to be her older brotyhers speech at the end where he just bursts forth all of his anger at Le Ly. It really gives the Vietnamese perspective a lot mor elight and shows their cause was a little bit more than some fantastic domino theory.

[–] Konnitiwa_5 18 years ago

I agree.

[–] campbell10dunn 18 years ago

your absoultely right, i cant believe this film has only 6.8 it should deserve an 8 or more. it's one of the best vietnam films ever made.

[–] strongdutchlager 18 years ago

yeah, I was surprised at the low score given this film by IMDB voters, it really moved me (to tears at times) and I thought that it did quite well to condense two decades and carry all of its themes to conclusion without running too long.

[–] neil_mc 18 years ago

The speech by the brother at the end was no doubt a moving one, but the acting was atrocious, he was reading it off a board in the background I think.

"We're making a film here, not a movie."

[–] AndrewWalker747 18 years ago

Well, I think he played it out very realistically. He was some unknown actor, and the cracking tone he gave it in gave it a bigger feel. I will admit it is akward when he first starts talking, but I think that was the tone Oliver Stone wanted to use. When ur that upset and pissed at something, you usually choke on ur own words. I personally think it was very good acting. You want really bad acting, look up "Star Wars Episodes 1-3" and "Hayden Christiansen"

[–] muchaneta1 18 years ago

I agree. It was a great movie

[–] david-1735 17 years ago

It's not as good as "Coming home in a Body Bag" A, *beep* good movie

[–] gonza-peralta 9 years ago

My uncle Roger and my uncle Cliff, both of which were in Nam, saw "Coming Home in a Body Bag" and thought it was the most accurate Vietnam film they'd ever seen

[–] ThatsRightChes 16 years ago

Also mathematically hard to work out why it is 6.6 right now, with 2/3 of the vote 7 or more.

...and we have a new game today, I think, don't we, Mac?

[–] blackcat-26 18 years ago

Writing here as a Viet Nam vet and one who lived among the rural population at that time I have to say that this is my favorite "VN War" movie, the only one I know of that presents a story from the view of the Vietnamese people and showed how it affected them.

Set in southern Thailand, but looking very much like the area where Le Ly Hayslip grew up, near Marble Mtn. and Da Nang, the opening scenes with the rice paddies and mountains really blew me away.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] lusulpher 18 years ago

Who gave this film a bad vote? They might not have a soul.

I regret nothing.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] firewalkwithme18 18 years ago

Highly underrated by IMDb users.
I Can't believe the cinematography wasn't nominated for an Oscar.

[–] m0nkeyonheroin-1 17 years ago

Yeah i thought this film was pretty powerful, definatly over looked because for the war fanatics it lacked action.

However, it was a decent film with a solid, true, story.

[–] craigbenting 17 years ago

Sorry, you don't have a clue. If this movie does not engage you, you are dead.

If you want to watch a movie about the Viet Nam war that reflects what the people of Viet Nam went through, this is it. It gives a great perspective into the war to Americans who otherwise only see the war from the American point of view, which is sadly flawed.

My wife is Vietnamese, from Da Nang, and grew up during the end of the Viet Nam war and the years of aftermath before she escaped. She loves to watch this movie because it is so real and true to life.

I've been to Viet Nam 3 times with my wife, and this movie shows how the country and the people really are. The people have been trapped between two idealistic groups for so long, and are only now emerging from decades of repression by both of them.

The greatest lesson of this movie that should make everyone watch is the evils of idealism. We're all idealistic when we're young, but it's just not the answer to our problems. We're all people with the same needs and wants, and the lessons of this movie are as valid today with Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan as they were years ago.

This movie is the most underrated Viet Nam war movie...

[–] paulparker77 17 years ago

I have to agree with the sentiments on here. I was most surprised by the low score for this brilliant movie.

[–] ian_king 17 years ago

Indeed it was a lovely film, Richardsons cinematography was sumptuous!

[–] hawks-bill 16 years ago

It's a moving film but by far the weakest of Stone's Vietnam trilogy. I was especially surprised by Stone's inept use of flashbacks and voiceovers, mistakes I didn't expect from a director of his caliber. His decision to present the war as a confrontation between tradition and modernity also struck me as sentimental rather than well thought out. In reality, the Vietnam War pitted forms of modernity against each other, nationalism and socialism on the one hand, and the Cold War and capitalism on the other. Still, the film has its moments and is well worth watching.

[–] somepersons 11 years ago

i think it has a little bit of kinda Anti-American is why its got voted so low.. deserves higher

[–] queen_naandi 11 years ago

YES-HIGHLY UNDERRATED! One of my faves. But I agree as far as why the film has such a low rating. It appears to be Anti-American. But I beg to differ. The film is all about perspective and viewers need to be accepting of that. There are many sides to war.

<<Death is whimsical today.>>

[–] Cyclo Rider 11 years ago

I think it got voted low because the male demographic wanted it to be a war movie, but it's a story about a girl's life. While the female demographic voted it low because they disliked the non-traditional relationship of Le Ly and Steve, especially the age difference between the two. Although I'm sure with a more handsome leading man, women would have rated the film higher.

Based on a true story, regardless.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] toninofontana 11 years ago

Oh no, my brother, far and away the best scene is her (Le Ly) dialogue with the Buddhist monk. OMG, I cannot get it out of my head. "A family without a father (Tommy Lee Jones) is like a house without a roof; life is a path, it is not always straight, but crooked and steep; a man who walks on sunny days will never reach his destination; choose well my peach blossom." (sic) I know that it is not a perfect quote, but none-the-less beautiful.