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Based on real events
by Erik (movies profile)
Sep 23, 2007
3
of
4 people found this review helpful
It's a pity the synopsis of this movie at yahoo timidly says the CIA "allegedly" did what was depicted. The book of the same name *clearly* documents just what the CIA was up to in Laos (pronounced like the last syllable in 'allow', not lay-ohs). It was, in fact, solely responsible for creating the airline Air America (one of the world's largest) and for prosecuting a covert war in Laos. American military pilots were surrepticiously transferred to Laos to fly Air America's planes. This activity, overseen by the U.S. Ambassador to Laos, was part and parcel of the wider Second Indochina War, or the "Viewnam War" as it is too often called.
Ok, so enough history -- the movie is actually pretty entertaining. It also depicts well (when it attempts to) something of the character of the Lao people. It's not a historical drama, but the people depicted are often real, e.g. Gen. Vang Pao. Still, that doesn't get in the way of this plot-driven movie. See it for entertainment value. |
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