There Are Some Movies Which Are Worth Staying Up Past Midnight For.

Sadly. That is not one of them.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danger_Close:_The_Battle_of_Long_Tan

As you can probably tell from that Wikipedia page. It tells a version of the 1966 Battle of Long Tan. Fought between the Australian New Zealand Army Corp (ANZAC) and the combined forces of the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army (PAVN) during the Second Indo-China or; "Vietnam" War.

The way it is portrayed in the movie there's this big concert/dance party happening on the ANZAC base. Apparently; "Col Joye and the Joy Boys Ft. Little Pattie" were a real popular music act at the time. However the movie version reminded me of; "The Seekers" a more successful Australian act of the era.

Those scenes also reminded me of an episode of the US TV show; "The Unit." Season 3, Episode 6; "M.P's." Although that episode will always hold a special place in my P.M.S.D.

One Company, 108 men, aren't able to enjoy the dance party. As they have to go out on patrol. They make contact with the enemy who then just keep coming at them. Wikipedia puts the enemy strength at over 2,500 men.

The first platoon of the ANZAC company are quickly overrun. Forcing them to call in artillery strikes on their own position. Despite the artillery batteries warning that they are calling in strikes; "Danger Close!"

The rest of the movie is then a long argument between the rest of the Company and their commanders at the base. Over whether reserves can be called up to help rescue/recover the dead from that first platoon. Or whether those reserves need to be kept on the base. In case it is a trap. An attempt to draw them into a battle while other enemy forces attack the undefended base.

The Company defy orders to withdraw and fight a long battle. Down to the last bullet and bayonet. They're helped by a helicopter crew who also defy orders to resupply them with ammunition. Finally they're rescued by armoured vehicle crews who, apparently, also defied orders.

I channel-surfed into the early part of the movie late on the night of October 2nd (2/10). So I recorded the rest of it. Still clinging on to the dream that I'd ever have time to watch TV again.

Obviously in the early, hungover hours of October 8th (8/10). I felt it vitally important to watch the rest of the movie. Apparently only so I could conclude;

"Nope! Just a complete coincidence!"

In their defence. The Australian TV & Movie industry is absolutely tiny. Smaller even than the UK TV & Movie industry. So much, much smaller than the US TV & Movie industry.

Perhaps betraying their Irish roots. They just get super overexcited if it turns out you've even heard of them.

The entire production seems to be a discussion regarding the 2002 Movie; "We Were Soldiers." Which is pretty much the exact same thing. Only telling of a similar battle fought by US troops during the Second Indo-China War. It stars famous Australian actor Mel Gibson.

Despite Mel Gibson's very Christian views. Bordering on American-AME Christian views. We Were Soldiers is an, annoyingly, good movie. It was one of those ones I stumbled across on late-night TV. Then, suddenly, it was two hours later.

It was originally scheduled for release in September 2001. Despite its release being pushed back until March 2002. It turns out that still absolutely no-one was in the mood for a war movie. So it's a big budget movie that very few people have actually heard of.

Another Australian actor some people might have actually heard of is Eric Bana. His superfans might even be aware of his breakout role in the 2000 Australian Movie; "Chopper." Worryingly Mark "Chopper" Read was a real person. Apparently they had to tone him all the way down. In order for the movie to be allowed to be shown in cinemas, let alone on TV.

At the risk of anyone getting too excited. Some people might have heard of the iconic 1979-1986 Australian TV show; "Prisoner." In its 2013-2021 remake; "Wentworth" the Francesca "Franky" Doyle is an absolutely iconic character. Amongst a certain type of woman.

Stepping away from the Australian TV & Movie industry, for a moment.

Did you know that prior to Andy Murray and Dunblane getting all prissy. The UK used to let children play with Uzi submachine guns, General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) - "Gimpy" to his friends - and SLR's. You didn't even need to be in the Cadets. Although you did have to be over 15 to be let loose on a Browning M2, insurance.

The S.L.R or; "Self-Loading Rifle" being the British variant of the FN FAL. So the most expensive, longest, heaviest, least accurate, slowest firing version of the FN FAL. The FN FAL being the lesser known NATO equivalent of the famous Soviet AK-47.

During all those bloody Neo-Colonial battles across the African chessboard during that 'Cold War.' You could quickly tell which team someone was on by which rifle they were using.

The 1982 Falklands War was a bit of a strange one. Both teams had FN FAL's. It's actually quite surprising the team with the ones made in Birmingham managed to win.

Of course it was in Libya in 2011, when all teams were using both FN FAL's and AK-47's. Some of us were able to realise that things were about to get really f'cking nasty.

Meanwhile.

Did I even tell you about that time I got a not-at-all serious Fungal skin infection on my chest. While living in a hedge?!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-XjUvFk_mQ&pp (A Walk In The Light Green, Vagabond Crew, Lines, Audio, Topic).