Movies typically make us trigger some sort of emotion. They sometimes make us laugh, cry, or get angry. Often there comes a time when a movie is so vivid, it shocks you to your very core. Suspense and horror movies commonly use this tactic, however even factual historic movies have dramatic and shocking moments throughout the film. There are those movies which are more shocking because of their brutal portrayal of reality.

Many movies reach their climax at the end because it culminates in a big reveal or shocking moment. But what about those movies which shock you from beginning to end?

The 2002 movie "We were Soldiers Once" which is based on the book "We Were Soldiers Once . . . And Young" is a movie which possesses many shocking moments. This movie grabs you right from the first moments when you see the fate of the French Mobile 1 in the Ia Drang Valley.

The opening sequence is exceptionally shocking if you have no idea what really happened to this French Army Unit early in the Vietnam War. From the very first scene to the final events of this battle, the movie shocks you with the graphic realism of combat. Since it is based on actual events leading up to a November 1965 battle in Vietnam, the movie is very descriptive, vivid and powerful. This particular scene, however, grabs you because it shows the destruction of an entire army unit. The worst of it is actually when the scene starts to fade to black and you can only hear the barbaric sounds of the North Vietnamese soldiers killing wounded French soldiers and taking no prisoners.

Another shocking moment occurs later in the movie during the 9th Cavalry defense of Landing Zone X-ray. I had never seen a depiction of napalm burning a person before, and this explicit scene which occurs at this location is truly haunting; after watching it, you'll not soon forget this graphic and shocking moment; it will stay with you long after the movie ends.

When I owned the movie, I would fast forward past these napalm scenes every time as they are truly the most brutal and shocking scenes I've ever seen. The part which is the most disturbing is the fact that these are true events and have been taken from the factually based book written by General Hal Moore, who led 1st Battalion 9th Cavalry into Landing Zone X-ray and a reporter by the name of Galloway who witnessed these events. Both authors recounted their horrific experiences with significant and incredible detail.

If you have never served in a combat environment, ""We were Soldiers Once" demonstrates the harsh reality of war. I am a soldier, and this movie and it's graphic and shocking nature even stunned me.

Learn more about this author, Dan Blade.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Shocking movie moments?
We want to hear your view. Write now!