'Perfect' war film hailed as 'masterpiece' with 100% Rotten Tomatoes score

Hamburger Hill, released in 1987 and starring Dylan McDermott and Don Cheadle, has been praised by fans as an underrated Vietnam War masterpiece available on Amazon Prime

A highly underrated war film that audiences have praised as perfect, compelling, and essential viewing is now streaming on Amazon Prime. Hamburger Hill, penned by James Carabatsos and featuring Michael Patrick Boatman, Don Cheadle, and Dylan McDermott, boasts a remarkable 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with viewers heaping praise on the production.

The 1987 movie centers on the Battle of Hamburger Hill, a conflict between US Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam forces 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)."

Critics and audiences alike have lauded the film for its authentic portrayal of the battle and its powerful depiction of what these young soldiers endured, reports the Express.

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".

Whilst Common Sense Media described it as an "unsparing, graphically violent depiction of the Vietnam War". Viewers were equally captivated, with one labeling it a "perfect 100", and adding: "I think this is a lesser-known one in the genre, but a worthy watch."the-mirror-icon_entertainment_movies_amazon-prime

Another viewer, whose uncle was a veteran of the battle, shared that the old soldier felt that "the way the movie showed the battles on the hill was just as real as he was back there fighting".

He further noted: "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!"

Passionate fans even debated that it's one of the finest films of its type, and that it didn't receive enough acclaim despite 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 individual commented: "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."

Another opined: "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 stated: "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 for purchase or rental on Amazon Prime.