Search - We Were Soldiers on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Graphic Violence, Adult Language, War Violence Movie Release: 2002 DVD Release: 08/20/2002 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 18 mins Studio: Paramount Total Copies: 58 Genres: War, War Drama, Combat Films See Also: We Were Soldiers [HD DVD], We Were Soldiers [Blu-ray], We Were Soldiers [Circuit City Exclusive] [Checkpoint]

Screenwriter Randall Wallace, a specialist in sweeping historical epics, steps behind the camera for this fact-based Vietnam War drama that reunites him with his Braveheart (1995) star Mel Gibson. Gibson is Lt. Col. Hal Moore, commander of the First Battalion, Seventh Cavalry, the same regiment fatefully led by George Armstrong Custer. As part of the Pleiku Campaign of late 1965, Moore is assigned to an action at Landing Zone X-Ray in the Drang Valley, an area that would come to be known as the "The Valley of Death." Moore soon finds himself and his men contained to an area about the size of a football field, surrounded by more than 2,000 enemy troops and engaged in the first major battle of the war. Heroism becomes the order of the day as men like Moore, chopper pilot Bruce Crandall (Greg Kinnear), and Lt. Henry Herrick (Marc Blucas) refuse to yield, in spite of heavy losses of life. The film co-stars Madeleine Stowe, Chris Klein, Keri Russell, and Sam Elliott. We Were Soldiers is based on the book -We Were Soldiers Once...and Young by Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore (retired) and UPI reporter Joe Galloway (played in the film by Barry Pepper). ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

Mel Gibson - Lt. Col. Harold G. Moore

Mel Gibson stars in the heroic action film We Were Soldiers. The film is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, and Paramount has done a great job of making sure this transfer is bright, clean, and clear of any defects or imperfections. The colors and black levels are all very well saturated and crisp, making this a very pleasing transfer. The soundtrack is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround EX in English. This is a great surround sound mix that features tons of explosions, gunfire, and other effects rocketing around the viewer's head. Without any distortion or hiss in the mix, fans who own a surround sound system should be very pleased with this 5.1 track. Also included on this disc are English and French subtitles, plus a Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround mix in English. While not chock-full of extra feature, this DVD edition of We Were Soldiers includes a few well produced supplements starting with a commentary track by producer/writer/director Randall Wallace. This is a very insightful commentary track that features stories and anecdotes about the production of this brutal war drama. "Getting it Right" is a nearly half hour featurette about how the filmmakers tried for pure authenticity in the movie. This is a very intelligent and informative look behind-the-scenes of We Were Soldiers. Finally there are ten deleted/extended scenes with optional commentary by the director, each allowing the viewer a rare glimpse at what was cut from the final film. Surprisingly, the theatrical trailer for the film is missing from this disc. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide