Vietnam

I have no idea how I messed this TV series when it was screened in 1987. I am an Australian and a military historian and had never heard of this magnificent Australian TC series until I discovered it on YouTube.

The historical accuracy is amazing. !

It focuses more so on the politics of the time of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam war. What really struck me was the actors cast to play the parts of the Australian politicians of that time... Not only did they look like the real persons, but actually sounded like them as they spoke.

I found everything authentic... the uniforms weapons etc..

The filming sites were obviously in Australia going by the vegetation, but otherwise, accurately depicted the actual landscapes of Vietnam .) I lived in Vietnam a number of years)

Nicole Kidman appears in this series, her earliest film appearances. She was 20 years at the time and perfectly portrayed a typical Australian 15 year old girl as her character was. At the time of this film, she spoke with typical Australian accent... her own... but as years passed her accent now sounds more like a refined British person.

Back to the series... this is very well done. I have no idea how I did not know this series existed until this week. I guess I don't watch that much TV back then..

I highly recommend it for viewing.

9 STARS !!

It's 2.30am and I've just finished watching this again. I was an Australian "grunt" with the 3rd Battalion in Vietnam 1971 and although most of the war was boredom, this is without doubt the most realistic portrayal of the Australian side of the war that you will see. Admittedly, it's the entire 10 year war condensed into one persons life, but if you try to imagine yourself in the shoes of a young 20 year old, you may get a glimpse of what it was like. The politics, clothes, civvy life, emotions, conscription, protests and the war were very accurate. This isn't your usual gung-ho macho shoot'em up Hollywood Rambo movie. It's about as close as you'll get to what it was like during the war. The most amusing part is the fact that Nicole Kidman wasn't even born when we were fighting the war! Yes - it is slow in parts, but this movie isn't about macho heroes. It's about simple 20 year olds like me who never wanted to hurt anyone, but were sent to a place where there were virtually no rules. We were dropped by chopper into a jungle and we could kill anyone who wasn't one of us - no questions asked. If you want to see the real thing, then this is the one to watch - NOT Rambo!!

I recently got this sent from Australia on Region 4 DVD Box Set. Released Aug '05? I remembered it from the mid 80's mini series and was intrigued to watch it again. I would disagree that the opening episodes are slow and boring, it has to be like that to give sufficient time in the story to show the politics of Australia and Australian society. You couldn't just rush into the war footage without the background context (espcially the decision to have conscription). Maybe a fault of TV drama is to gloss over the context in search of a good story, but I don't think that has been done here. There is a young Nicole Kidman playing the lead female role and a capable cast of Aussie actors in support. Most would be familiar to viewers of Aussie soaps and mini-series of the period. Overall a watchable min-series.

This was a great mini series. The actors played extremely well, you get to know all of them and to like them. I was sad when it ended. I do not think I ever will forget this mini series, it really made an impression on me. Such a shame that it cannot be bought on DVD or video anywhere.

I find it a true tragedy that because this is an Australian production that it didn't get a good promotion overseas, that so many unfortunate people will never get to see it.

The direction is absolutely fantastic. With musical and TV clips throughout the show to tell you what time era you were in. You are kept right up to date with the exact year and the atmosphere of that time. Much Australian political, society history surrounding the Vietnam war is told in a way that is pure poetry.

Nicole Kidman SHINES in this show. In fact, although she has been in much bigger INTERNATIONAL successes, this one is possibly her best performance.

The tragedies of the war. The conflicts between the soldiers and those at home. It's all here. I don't know if it will ever come out on DVD. But if it does --- DON'T MISS IT. I give this show a rare 10/10