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Released by: MGM Limited Edition Collection
Released on: March 21, 2012.
Director: Brian Trenchard-Smith
Cast: R. Lee Ermey, Wings Hauser, Albert Popwell
Year: 1989
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The Movie:
Brian Trenchard-Smith, the Australian wunderkind behind such classics as Escape 2000, Stuntrock and Neon Maniacs, directs this oddball and frequently overlooked Vietnam war film made for Orion Pictures in 1989.
The storyline revolves around two American soldiers on their tour of duty in 1968, Corporal Joseph Di Nardo (Wings Hauser) and Sergeant Major Bill Hafner (R. Lee Ermey). Their platoon has just barely survived a Vietcong attack and they make their way to Firebase Gloria where they hope to restock on some much needed supplies and lay low for a little while. When they arrive they find out that the man in charge of Gloria isn't nearly as interested in helping out soldiers in need so much as he is in checking out skinflicks and getting loaded on the taxpayers' dollars.
As DiNardo and Hafner start to make plans to take over the firebase and run it properly, Chinese New Year, or 'Tet' as the Vietcong call it, comes creeping up and the Vietcong decide that this is all the reason they need to launch an all our offensive on the American base in hopes of taking it out and doing some serious damage to the occupying forces.
Trenchard-Smith cuts right to the chase with this one - War Is Hell and he wants you to see it and to know it. Ermey, as salty as they come and in full on drill sergeant mode, owns pretty much every scene that he's in and this is one of those roles he was born to play. He's just as good here as he is in Full Metal Jacket, probably the film he'll wind up being best remembered for. Hauser, however, is pretty much every part his equal. He doesn't go into over the top sleaze-lord territory here like he does in Vice Squad but he makes an interesting verbal sparring partner for Ermey and holds his own against the elder actor's imposing screen presence.
As the soldiers under their command make their way to the base they're forced to commit atrocities that they know they don't want any part of, but the law of survival dictates that they have no choice in the matter. The movie makes sure we understand the repercussions and while it sticks to the US point of view, this is now flag waving Green Berets style slice of cinematic patriotism but rather a tough, gritty and wholly involving piece of seemingly very realistic moviemaking.
Though it was made with a relatively low budget compared to other war films, there's no shortage of action on display. Lots of stuff blows up, people are constantly shooting at one another and the production values and action choreography are surprisingly strong. It's an intense film and it builds to a sufficiently bleak and entirely appropriate conclusion. Look past the corny cover art MGM slapped on this one and check it out if you have any interest in war movies at all - it's a surprisingly excellent film and one well worth checking out.
Video/Audio/Extras:
The Siege Of Firebase Gloria looks really good in MGM's 1.85.1 anamorphic widescreen. Colors are very nice and with most of the action taking place outside and in well lit conditions, they shine through, the greens in particular. Black levels could have been a bit stronger and detail won't floor you but overall, this movie looks good.
The English language Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo track sounds just fine, offering up clear dialogue without any noticeable background hiss or noise - dig that eighties score. The levels are well balanced, the score sounds good and there are no problems here to complain about.
Extras are nonexistent. The movie is divided into chapters in ten minute intervals.
The Final Word:
A rock solid action movie directed with a great eye for pacing and action set pieces performed incredibly well by an awesome cast? Yeah, that about sums this one up. Great stuff - too bad the disc is completely barebones as it would have been great to hear from Hauser or Ermey about this one, but at least it looks and sounds pretty good.
