Masterpiece war film is ‘criminally underrated’ – 100% Rotten Tomatoes score | Films | Entertainment

An underrated war film that fans have called perfect, compelling, and a must-watch is available on Amazon Prime. Hamburger Hill, written by James Carabatsos and starring Michael Patrick Boatman, Don Cheadle, and Dylan McDermott, has an astonishing 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where viewers have given the film glowing reviews.

The 1987 film is set during the Battle of Hamburger Hill, which was fought by the US Army and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam against the People’s Army of Vietnam, during the Vietnam War.

The synopsis reads: “Over the course of 10 days in May 1969, an infantry squad led by Lt. Frantz (Dylan McDermott) and composed of both seasoned troops and new recruits, attempts to take a hill during the Vietnam War.

“In between attacks, the squad members deal with the other psychological stresses of the war, including the effect on morale of the antiwar movement back home and flashes of racial hostility between white and African-American soldiers, all mediated by the cool-headed medic, Doc (Courtney B. Vance).”

Both critics and viewers were impressed by the film, which they believed realistically depicted events during the battle and highlighted what the young men who fought went through.

The New York Times said that it is “a well-made Vietnam War film that narrows its attention to the men of a single platoon in a specific operation”.

While Common Sense Media described it as an “unsparing, graphically violent depiction of the Vietnam War”.

Viewers were just as impressed, with one describing it as a “perfect 100”, they added: “I think this is a lesser-known one in the genre, but a worthy watch.”

Another viewer, who shared their uncle fought the battle, stated that the veteran said that “the way the movie showed the battles on the hill was just as real as he was back there fighting”.

He added: “It was too realistic for him. He got a little PTSD from watching it, but he was ok. So if you want to see how the battle for that hill really took place, he said this is it!”

Invested fans even argued that it is one of the best films of its kind, and that it did not get enough recognition despite it being “one of the greatest anti-war films ever made”, “nothing short of a masterpiece” and “no doubt on the same level as Platoon or Full Metal Jacket”.

One person wrote: “To me, this still remains to be one of the best Vietnam War films of all time because rather than the great ‘war is hell’ film like Saving Private Ryan where you root for the soldiers to triumph.”

A second said: “This movie did not get the recognition it deserved because of bigger Vietnam films, but this is still one of the best films on the subject of one of the most unpopular wars ever.”

A third wrote: “One of the most realistic war films ever made. Directed by the talented John Irvin, this film is tragically overshadowed by other Vietnam films of the period.”

Hamburger Hill is available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime.