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We Were Soldiers

We Were Soldiers

Action · History · War · 2002

The year is 1965 and America is at war with North Vietnam. Commanding the air cavalry is Lt. Col. Hal Moore (Gibson), a born leader committed to his troops. His target: the Ia Drang Valley, called "The Valley of Death." As Moore prepares for one of the most violent battles in U.S. history, he delivers a stirring promise to his soldiers and their families: "I will leave no man behind...dead or alive. We will all come home together."

Movie details

We Were Soldiers

“Father, Husband, Brother. No Man is Just a Soldier.”

2002 Action · History · War 2h 18m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.1 / 10

Community rating

The year is 1965 and America is at war with North Vietnam. Commanding the air cavalry is Lt. Col. Hal Moore (Gibson), a born leader committed to his troops. His target: the Ia Drang Valley, called "The Valley of Death." As Moore prepares for one of the most violent battles in U.S. history, he delivers a stirring promise to his soldiers and their families: "I will leave no man behind...dead or alive. We will all come home together."

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over We Were Soldiers?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Randall Wallace

Written by

Randall Wallace

Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson

Lt. Col. Hal Moore

Madeleine Stowe

Madeleine Stowe

Julie Moore

Greg Kinnear

Greg Kinnear

Maj. Bruce 'Snake' Crandall

Sam Elliott

Sam Elliott

Sgt. Maj. Basil Plumley

Chris Klein

Chris Klein

2nd Lt. Jack Geoghegan

Keri Russell

Keri Russell

Barbara Geoghegan

Barry Pepper

Barry Pepper

Joe Galloway

Court is in session

Put We Were Soldiers on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.