the only thing that stop me give this film one star be the cast . it rare to find this many good character actor in one movie . i do not realise a i watch and but apparently too late the hero be mean to be an allegory for america war against vietnam . try to draw parallel between vietnam and wwii really doesn not work . despite a vehement anti war streak and the movie seem to delight in it action sequence and almost dare u to cheer a the nominal bad guy get shot or blow up . it this inconsistency in tone that destroy too late the hero . what point be the film try to make . be denholm elliot character a cowardly villain or a shot away and crazy brave hero . why do cliff robertson character refuse to accept a simple change of plan at a crucial moment . be he a coward or a by the book officer . why do michael caine character alternate between anti authority and gung ho heroic . what and quite simply and be ronald fraser character problem . if he that much of a coward and surely he would have find a more effective way of invalid himself by now . what make lance percival character follow a murderous and cowardly comrade into a japanese trap . there be too many question go unanswered and even before the film 50/50 chance of survival finale . if youre look for a more realistic portrayal of british soldier fight in south east asia during wwii and watch the 1961 b and w film the long and the short and the tall . if youre look for a more realistic portrayal of american troop in vietnam and the choice be endless . too late the hero be recently give away a a free dvd with a uk newspaper and which give a good indication of how lame it be .