Watch Ride the Thunder - A Vietnam War Story of Victory & Betrayal

"Ride the Thunder - A Vietnam War Story of Victory & Betrayal" is a 2015 war movie that highlights the brutal and tragic Vietnam War. The film tells the incredible story of the US and South Vietnamese collaborators and their fight against the Communists invading from the North. The film is an adaptation of the book "Ride the Thunder: A Vietnam War Story of Honor and Triumph" written by Richard Botkin. The story is told from multiple perspectives, including American soldiers, Vietnamese soldiers, and their families.

The main plot of the movie revolves around two American soldiers - John Ripley (Eric St. John) and Ray Stubbe (Joseph Hieu) - who led a critical battle against the North Vietnamese army during the Easter Offensive of 1972. Their bravery and tactical ingenuity helped turn the tide of the war and kept South Vietnam from being overrun.

The film takes the audience on a journey through the brutal realities of war, including the use of chemical weapons, jungle warfare, and the psychological trauma that soldiers and civilians alike experienced. The camerawork and direction effectively capture the chaos and intensity of the conflict.

The soldiers and their families must deal with different forms of betrayal throughout the film. The US government's decision to withdraw troops and resources from Vietnam meant the South Vietnamese relied heavily on their support. However, when the North Vietnamese army launched a massive invasion, the White House refused to provide any help. This forced the South Vietnamese soldiers and their American counterparts to fight a losing battle with limited resources.

Another form of betrayal featured in the movie was the corrupt South Vietnamese government. The film showcases the struggle of the Vietnamese people to overcome the corruption, nepotism, and favoritism in their society. Their fight for democracy is a central theme in the film.

The film's multi-perspective narrative also explores the devastation the war inflicted on communities and families far beyond the battlefield. The Vietnamese people lived through uncertain times, with families separated and innocent people caught in the crossfire.

The exceptional performances of the cast, particularly Eric St. John and Joseph Hieu, bring the story to life. The ensemble cast also includes Pierre Nguyen as General Thi, a tough, unflinching leader with a deep sense of responsibility for protecting his people.

In terms of cinematic appeal, the filmmakers did an excellent job of making the challenging subject matter compelling. They blended archival footage with new material, transitioning seamlessly between the two. The heart-stopping war scenes were stunningly shot and edited, giving the viewer a sense of the scale and destruction of the war.

The film's themes of betrayal, honor, and sacrifice make it a powerful and thought-provoking movie. It provides an insight into the war beyond the basic facts and figures and gives a voice to the people who were affected by it.

In conclusion, "Ride the Thunder - A Vietnam War Story of Victory & Betrayal" is a must-watch for anyone who's interested in war movies. While it's a deeply emotional film, it's an important piece of history that sheds light on the complexities of the Vietnam War. The film will leave audiences moved and inspired by the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Ride the Thunder - A Vietnam War Story of Victory & Betrayal is a 2015 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 43 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6.