Thanks for the memories!

n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Her presence. her impecable performance. like beautiful cinematography. and the performances of Michael Caine and Brendan Fraser. as key of a drama who seduce, imprese, surprise, provoke. not only as inspired adaptation. but as an useful reflection about present. not a critic. not a revelation. only a sort of precise conclusion. about people, choices, trust and the way to define the reality. it is one films about Vietnam who gives to you the feeling to discover the essence of that land in centre of war. you feel the land and the air and the rain and the pain of people. grace of cinematography, off course. but not only. because it is a film who shows new manner to see the life. as reflection of yourself and as the fruit of fundamental options. so, more than a good film. maybe, one of real useful.

Thomas Fowler (Michael Caine) the journalist sees a village massacre attributed to the communists and mutters to himself "this doesn't make sense. communists don't kill villagers, it isn't in their interest." The film later implies that the American backed general running as an anti communist was responsible for the massacre. This of course flies in the face of the facts of the conflict. The communists were responsible for horrible massacres of villages of people. A close personal friend who was there for 4 years personally witnessed what the communists did to Vietnamese villagers, the butchery, people skinned alive and stuck to trees with bayonets, bombings and other torturous killings. This is yet one more Hollywood film of revisionist history painting a happy face on communism. Fowler betrays his American friend into communist hands at the end of the movie. He had to know they would kill him though the film portrays Fowler as believing nothing would happen to him. He appears to have second thoughts about having done so; this is the film's way of keeping the pro communist painted as a good guy. But Fowler's second thoughts are not enough to warn him that the communists were about to kidnap him. His American friend winds up dead, killed by the Fowler's communist sympathizing assistant.The film was well made, good acting and a good story, except for the pro communist slant.

Michael Caine may be one of the most imitable actors around today, but you can always rely on him to deliver a class performance. Here, as a newspaper foreign affairs reporter, he risks losing the love of his life to a flash Yank, and being forced to quit the country he loves due to budget cuts, and you can see his understated pain in every syllable. Who'd have thought Brendan Fraser could act so well too... as the titular character, he befriends Caine while stealing his girl right under his nose, at a time when women in Vietnam were valued about as much as cattle. ALWAYS beware of the Quiet ones...We then get an in-depth look at American international political agendas, as they seek to place the people THEY want in charge across the world... and they're prepared to go to any methods to achieve it. The particular attempt noted in this film was a disaster though, and lead to the Vietnam War. Oops. Though this is a fictitious tale, parts are rooted in reality... I'm sure. When will they learn to keep their noses out?! As for the rest, it's a well shot, thought-provoking drama with undertones of tragedy.... But for who? 6/10

I've decided to say very little about this movie, except that it's one of quiet quality - the story, the screenplay, the acting by all and the location work.Like its title, it does not and indeed doesn't need to shout out about its many fine qualities. The story is universal, 'old school' - in that there is actually one to be told and is portrayed in an intelligent manner by director Philip Noyce. Michael Caine's performance remains one his very best - subtle, vulnerable but still commanding and Brendan Fraser, so often type-casted into comedy and action 'matinee' style blockbusters that we are slightly surprised that he rises to this occasion nicely.For a film to teach us about human behaviour, history during a contentious and difficult time for many (Vietnam, of course) but not feel the need to ram actual war down our throats is refreshing. It might not be considered a classic, but good it is and should be on a to-see list if a quality intelligent drama and one that doesn't require endless to-ing and fro-ing and getting lost in over-elaborate plot-lines. Fans of Michael Caine should actually own it, as those who follow the excellent Grahame Greene and his cinematic adaptations.