Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan

By turns viscerally exciting and predictably formulaic - and, quite often, both at once - "Danger Close" is an efficiently crafted and consistently involving old-school war movie propelled by matter-of-fact professionalism on both sides of the cameras.

Anyone interested in the complexities and controversies surrounding Australia and New Zealand's involvement in Vietnam may find "Danger Close" disappointing. But the movie actually works OK as one long fight scene.

Stenders and cinematographer Ben Nott stage the battle scenes with impressive hyper-realism, and editor Veronika Jenet's work is, once again, outstanding. Made on location in Queensland, the film feels thoroughly authentic.

If it's not the most character-driven of Australian war movies, it's certainly one of the most intense.

Orchestrated on an impressive scale, the movie nonetheless feels both familiar and diffuse, with thinly sketched variations on a bronzed theme rather than characters...

Put it down to the fog of war if you're feeling generous, but either way this is a heartfelt and, at times, gruesome reminder of an often overlooked chapter in history.

That lingering whiff of unquestioning patriotism is an ugly scratch on its shiny livery but for relentless, meat-and-potatoes action you could do a whole lot worse.

Danger Close fends off sentimentality with a pacy narrative which keeps the action sequences fierce and involving.

It's skilfully shot and grippingly well-edited, with a superbly engaging cast.

It offers more to genre enthusiasts but is a good watch.