We Were Soldiers (2002) - Rotten Tomatoes

We Were Soldiers (2002) - Rotten Tomatoes





CRITIC REVIEWS FOR WE WERE SOLDIERS


All Critics (144) | Top Critics (19) | Fresh (91) | Rotten (53) | DVD (12)





Probably the best thing you can say about We Were Soldiers is that it does justice to an awful conflict.


July 20, 2002 | Rating: 3/4





Michael Wilmington


Chicago Tribune


Top Critic





The Vietnam setting looks authentic enough, but the action is as inert and unpersuasive as Gibson's attempt to fashion Bill Mauldin poetry out of his $20-million-plus smirk.


June 1, 2002





Manohla Dargis


L.A. Weekly


Top Critic





By comparison, Oliver Stone's Platoon plays like the experience of a sensibly outraged man worthy of our sympathy.


March 5, 2002





Michael Atkinson


Village Voice


Top Critic





The battle sequences in We Were Soldiers aren't quite as head-spinning as in Black Hawk Down -- but this film does a much better job of establishing the characters before they plunge into battle.


March 4, 2002





Richard Roeper


Ebert & Roeper


Top Critic





... the first film in recent memory that a major studio has chosen to release early in the year with palpable filmmaking passion and production heft.


March 1, 2002 | Rating: 3/4





Mike Clark


USA Today


Top Critic





Goes beyond the familiar.


March 1, 2002 | Rating: 4/5





Desson Thomson


Washington Post


Top Critic





One of the most violent movies ever released.


December 29, 2010 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…





Nell Minow


Common Sense Media





The war genre, vigorously energized with Saving Private Ryan and Black Hawk Down, takes several steps backward with this old-fashioned moralistic saga, a tribute not only to the soldiers in combat in Vietnam but also to the homefront.


December 22, 2006 | Rating: B- | Full Review…





Emanuel Levy


EmanuelLevy.Com





I was impressed by Wallace's emphasis of Moore's faith, but the violence struck me as excessive, taking valuable time that could have been used to develop characters.


December 6, 2004 | Rating: C | Full Review…





Jeffrey Overstreet


Looking Closer





... A fitting tribute to all the men and women who have fought and died for their country -- and for each other.


January 7, 2004 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…





Greg Maki


Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)





Gibson wears a rictus of distaste which seems more suggestive of dodgy on-set catering than the horrors of combat.


October 19, 2003





Tim Robey


Daily Telegraph (UK)





Mais uma patriotada que mostra os americanos matando milhares de vietcongues, mas sendo mais 'humanos' que os inimigos.


July 25, 2003 | Rating: 3/5





Pablo Villaça


Cinema em Cena


View All Critic Reviews (144)
AUDIENCE REVIEWS FOR WE WERE SOLDIERS


½


"We Were Soldiers is a really well made war movie of the Vietnam War. It's really intense. The action never lets up. There is constant chaos and bodies dropping while more are being let off of the helicopter's. The acting is really good in this. I was surprised with how much talent was in one film. Usually you get a movie with some big leads and then some other small known actors. But there was plenty of well known actors which made this film all that much better because of the great performances that were given. I liked that the film showed both sides of the Vietnam War. I also liked how it showed how hard it is for the women waiting at home. It really was one of the better war films I have ever watched. A must see."


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♥˩ƳИИ ƜѲѲƉƧ♥


Super Reviewer





Its just so cliche. The action, music, and acting aren't motivating at all. The montage sequences drone on. Its just not that great.


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paul oh


Super Reviewer





I didn't like this war movie very much. I'm a huge fan of war movies and there has been some truly amazing , brillant war movies but i don't think this one is up to scratch.


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Film Crazy


Super Reviewer


½


We Were Soldiers is quite possibly the best Vietnam war film since Platoon. Based on Colonel Harold Moore's, We Were Soldiers Once... And Young. We Were Soldiers tells a compelling story about the first major engagement during the Vietnam war. Braveheart screenwriter, Randall Wallace directs this film with great accuracy. The film is not flawless, but for the most part, it does a great job at being authentic. The film does a great job at establishing the characters, unlike previous war films where you are shown little character development, We Were Soldiers demonstrates perfect character development and you sympathize when one of the characters are killed in combat. I found We Were Soldier to be very different than any other Vietnam war film because it shows the human side of these soldiers, we are shown the family side of the soldiers, and unlike every other Vietnam war film, we are shown that these soldiers have sympathy and aren't blood thirsty animals who are "baby killers". We Were Soldier an achievement in war films as it shows the carnage of war, and shows us the human side of it as well. Randall Wallace has crafted a phenomenal war film, and the cast he directs give stunning, poignant performances. We Were Soldiers is the best Vietnam war film to come along in a long time, and like I've said before, it's a very different one as well. Of course one of the best parts of this film is that it shows that the soldiers fighting this war weren't monsters, and for me that is a positive thing. The battle scenes are incredible, and very intense and suspenseful. Not flawless, but very close, We Were Soldiers is yet another memorable addition to the war genre. A fine film, and may I add also a misunderstood one at that.


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Alex roy


Super Reviewer


View All Audience Reviews
WE WERE SOLDIERS QUOTES












Lt. Col. Harold G. Moore:

This is where the metal meets the meat.






SGM Basil Plumley:

What are you, the f*cking weatherman.






Major Bruce Crandall:

To save innocent and vulnerable people by any means is not called a"war" between two or more countries its called a genuine and good cause to be there.Americans did not loose a war ,they did not surrender, they showed and left an example for other countries to reach for those in need,any day,anytime any where in any circumstances,despite having any faith.That's a cause.Areason to live .


Major Bruce Crandall:

To save innocent and vulnerable people by any means is not called a 'war' between two or more countries its called a genuine and good cause to be there.Americans did not loose a war, they did not surrender, they showed and left an example for other countries to reach for those in need, any day, any time any where in any circumstances, despite having any faith. That's a cause. A reason to live .






Lt. Col. Nguyen Huu An:

Those who are about to fight and die, I am grateful.







View All Quotes