This is an awesome movie! It is a realistic depiction of the Vietnam War. It is very gruesome at times. The violence is very extreme, and sometimes shown in slow-motion. Lots of blood and gore, limbs blown apart, bayonet stabbings, artillery strikes often showing both sides being blown to pieces (literally!) . Long extended scenes involving medical surgery upon wounds. Not much language, about 4 F-Words and a few uses of S**t. This movie should be fine for most OLDER teens.
We Were Soldiers
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
One of the most violent movies ever released.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 16–18
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of We Were Soldiers was written by Nell Minow
Parents need to know that this is one of the most brutally violent movies ever released, with up-close, graphic, and relentless violence and the deaths of many characters. There is some strong language and a mild sexual situation.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about how we decide to risk American lives in a war, and how, knowing that lives will be lost, we prepare and motivate our armed forces. They may want to discuss their own views on the war in Viet Nam and the treatment of veterans.
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More on We Were Soldiers
What’s the Story?
WE WERE SOLDIERS is based on the book by Lt. Colonel Harold G. Moore, a devout Catholic who is as devoted a commander as he is a father. Moore was asked to develop the "air cavalry," a system for using helicopters in combat. He led the Americans into their first major engagement in Viet Nam. They were hopelessly outmanned, with just 400 soldiers to 2000 Vietnamese. They fought bravely and did their best to look out for each other. And most of them were killed or wounded. Mel Gibson, as Moore, is the man we would all want to lead us into battle, a true hero who promises his men that he will always be the first on the field and the last to leave, and that men may die, but none will be left behind. He trains his men to learn the tasks of the man above and teach their own tasks to the man below, and directs them, above all, to take care of each other, he gives them a purpose and a dignity that, sadly, the conflict they were sent to fight and the politicians who sent them there never could.
Is It Any Good?
We Were Soldiers spends half an hour making us care about each of the characters and the rest of the movie blowing them up. There have been thousands of war movies, and dozens of movies about the Viet Nam war, but this is one of the few to truly honor the men who fought and the women they loved. This is not a movie about politicians (though there are some digs at those who sent these men into battle without adequate resources) and it is not a movie about whether the US involvement stemmed from imperialism or a commitment to freedom. This is a movie about those who put their lives on the line not for their country but for each other.
The movie has some weaknesses that, in context, work very well. The battle action is often hard to follow, though perhaps that is a good way to replicate the relentlessness and disorientation of war. The characters and dialogue are clichéd, even corny. But in the context of the movie, they become paradigms. We Were Soldiers also takes the unusual step of treating the soldiers on the other side with dignity as well, making them human beings with ability, honor – and wives left behind to mourn them.
Movie Details
Studio: Paramount Pictures, Director: Randall Wallace
Run time: 138 minutes
Theatrical release: 3/1/2002, DVD release: 8/20/2002
MPAA Rating: R for extreme and graphic battle violence
Run time: 138 minutes
Theatrical release: 3/1/2002, DVD release: 8/20/2002
MPAA Rating: R for extreme and graphic battle violence
Our Members Say
See 10 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title off for age 16 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
The best Vietnam War movie of all time!
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I rate this title on for age 17 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
THE VIETNAM WAR WAS VERY GROSOM.IT SHOWS HOW IT WAS LIKE.
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I rate this title off for age 14 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Crap film, ok for teens
Personaly thought it was an awfull film. There is much blood and gore and film is extremly violent although deaths are usually quick and painless. There is very little swearing or sex for the genre. Whille this is a violent film, there are far more innapropiate and more disturbing Vietnam films out there
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I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
Very gripping and sometimes sad.
This helps explain what happened over there and point out mistakes that america made. This gave me upmost pride in these soldiers.
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I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it
Decent War Drama
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