Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan

Went to the first public screening at the Sydney Film Festival tonight with members of my family and sat in the front row in a packed cinema. Director Kriv Stenders has taken a big undertaking in telling this highly recognised Australian and New Zealand battle of the Vietnam War that has however been long overdue in getting a major screen treatment. He has succeeded brilliantly. The film's relentless action and attention to detail are mixed in with moving scenes of young conscripts and volunteer soldiers grappling to stay alive in order to return to their loved ones at home. Much like Peter Weir's Gallipoli the mateship ethos shines in this movie. However, unlike that film, most of Danger Close concentrates on the battle itself, and what a technically amazing film it is in presenting and creating a visceral and tense atmosphere for the audience.The performances are excellent all round but particular mention must go to Daniel Webber as Private Paul Large, his moving portrayal of a young conscript struggling and battling courageously to help his mates and himself survive, while looking forward to returning home to his fiance and family is brilliant. As noted earlier the action in this film is relentless, from start to finish, however it never ignores the humanity and futility of war through the loss of life of many young soldiers. The roll call of ANZAC soldiers who died in the battle, noted at the end of the film with their ages, makes that abundantly clear. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

The movie took a little while to get to the action, making the beginning a little boring; they also didn't add in any background story to the main characters in the film, which down graded it a little more. But Once the movie picked up and you got to the battle scenes it turned into a good war film. It was very intriguing to know that this was based off of a true event that happened. Knowing that it was true made it worth while to watch. The filming was great and the actors were extremely believable. The war scenes were greatly filmed and action packed as the explosions and gun fire looked extremely real. It's defiantly worth a watch if you like war movies.

As movies about real battles go, this one holds its own.

If I have a criticism it would be what director Kriv Stenders himself was worried about when he showed the film to the real Harry Smith and veterans of the battle. Stenders was concerned "... that a cinematic interpretation of the film, overdramatizing some moments and fictionalizing others, would be an issue with veterans of the battle".

Although Harry Smith told Stenders he thought the film was great, I feel those scenes, especially the exchanges between Major Smith (Travis Fimmel) and Private Large (Daniel Webber), the stereotypical "Hollywood" stuff, do sound a false note. However, the film is a technical triumph with a superb score and, for the most part, seems honest to events.

The film is similar to Mel Gibson's "We Were Soldiers": the unexpected enemy force; the cut-off platoon; helicopter pilots defying orders to provide aid and impressive firepower that doesn't overshadow the discipline and guts of the troops on the ground. Both were straightforward battles without civilians caught in the crossfire.

As an Australian, I'm not sure how non-Australian audiences will view "Danger Close". The accents could be challenging and the look of the Australians and New Zealanders is noticeably different to the helmeted U.S. Army and Marines familiar from documentaries and newsreels. Ever since the war, the respective tactics of the allies have been dissected in books and back-and-forth sessions on military history blogs. The Diggers of that era actually looked like the U.S. Army LRRPs or even the VC; styled for jungle warfare.

Another thought, a great victory is only in proportion to the toughness of the enemy. All accounts I've read also acknowledge the bravery of the Vietnamese. You do see it in the film, but it could have been stated.

Despite the rights and wrongs of Australia's involvement, Long Tan has emerged as one of our most iconic battles. Maybe it's partly guilt over the way Vietnam veterans were neglected for so long. Maybe it's also because not much was expected of the "Baby Boomers", but they stood up nonetheless.

Like Peter Weir's "Gallipoli", "Danger Close" will probably be how future generations will know this battle. With that in mind, the filmmakers and the stars, despite the odd flaw, have left us with a powerful and affecting experience.

I volunteered on 28 Oct 66 and did not make Vietnam until 1967-68. I only saw a hand full of Diggers.

During the battle of Long Tran, 108 Australian and New Zealand soldiers held off a North Vietnamese force of over 2000. 18 Australians and an estimated 245 Vietnamese lost their lives.

The terrain and the artillery pieces looked quite different as they are shown in the movie. Filming Locations: Village Roadshow Studios, Oxenford, Queensland, Australia. The SLR rifles looked real, but the M16s were not E-1s or E-2s; actually, the 16 rifles were not introduced to the Australian Army until 1967. You could use the flash suppressor of the E1 to break the bands on "c-ration" cases. I still have an AR15.

However, this is a movie, and it does not have to be factual. It is the people integration that makes or breaks this movie for the viewer. Oh, yes and there is a lot of action for those that like a lot of action.

Talking about action, we get an APC charge that looks like Tarzan and the elephants at the last minute. The only problem with that is that no one would be caught in an APC. We always rode on top (usually including the driver) as one good RPG shot would burn a good two-inch hole in the aluminum hull on its way through. I had to clean up body parts from an RPG that went through the driver and into the engine compartment taking a lot of drivers with it.

The U. S. military was not as professional at the time, but they were disciplined and not arrogant as the soldiers in this movie are portrayed.

You get to hear "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" Artist: Nancy Sinatra Release year: 1966

"He's my Blond-Headed, Stompie-Wompie, Real Gone Surfer Boy" (1964) Emmy Dougall played the singer Little Pattie

Also, you get to hear "I was only 19 (a Walk in the Light Green)" by John Schumann.

In memory of those members of D COY and 3TP IACP Sqn who gave their lives during the Battle of Long Tan on 18th August 1966.

To make the movie entertaining they added fictional characters and incidents.

Be sure to watch the credits.

Up front I love history and know this story quite well. So for me I felt I was flicking in and out of a documentary verses a movie. Normally this is ideal for me but while still impressed I felt it stopped short of all time great.

I will be watching again mainly to figure out what was missing but still a great film for anyone who loves reasonably accurate and terrifying historical situations. The battle scenes were incredible and the linking of the NZ artillery was exceptional.

I don't view historical films as a statement on the rights and wrongs of the time so it felt real to me from the perspective from which it was told.