In August 1966, in a Vietnamese rubber plantation called Long Tan, 108 young and inexperienced Australian and New Zealand soldiers are fighting for their lives against 2500 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong soldiers.

Director Kriv Stenders assumes a major responsibility in telling the story of a brave group of young Australian soldiers who stepped out onto the firing line and faced down the brutality of war close-up. With an innovative eye placed to his cinematography and a strong concentration on the narrative that he is capturing, Stenders creates a truly immersive film experience here and puts his audience right into the heart of the battle. Visceral in the images that are captured up on the big screen, Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan hits hard quickly and your adrenal gland will be pumping at the end of this one.

Taking on the lead in Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan is Travis Fimmel and this Hollywood hunk makes for a terrific presence as the film’s lead. Starring as Major Harry ‘The Ratcatcher’ Smith, a former commando and Special Forces soldier who is placed in charge of a group of inexperienced young soldiers who he demands the highest standards from. While Fimmel’s Smith comes across as a strict disciplinarian, he’s a man who deeply cares for the welfare of his men, and his standards and discipline are there to make sure they survive. Fimmel brings a tremendous level of soul to the part of Major Harry Smith, and through the events of the film you feel that he’s able to open up as a character and let down the shield that exists between himself and his men, and his fight to stand with them to the end is a real testament to his character.

Standing next to Fimmel is Aussie heartthrob Luke Bracey as Sergeant Bob Buick, a tough and determined Staff Sergeant who makes things happen and is right at the very front of the action here with Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan. Buick is Smith’s right-hand man and he’s exacting in his professionalism and discipline and when it all kicks off he’s right in there. It’s a great change of pace for Bracey who has so far made a career portraying care-free pretty boys and here he gets to change things up as a tough-as-nails soldier who will tolerate no less than excellence and who is tested in his resolve when the led starts spewing thanks to the Viet Cong. Bracey really shows off his ability for dramatics here and I’m certain we’ll be seeing him a lot more demanding roles for him because he’s definitely got the talent for them.

Finally, bringing a sense of cocky youth and a rebellious attitude to Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan is hotshot rising star Daniel Webber as Private Paul Large and Webber is a revelation here. Brash and disrespectful of the rules at every turn and harbouring fierce independence he stirs both the wrath of Travel’s Major Smith, along with his respect when Smith sees how close he’s willing to put himself into the killing fields in order to get the job done. As a performance, Webber goes for it here and he showcases why he’s one of the most in-demand young actors around. The actor brings a great sense of youth and gallantry to the role of Private Paul Large and alongside Fimmel and Bracey he’s an incredible part to the makeup of Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan.

The action of Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan kicks with the power of an M16 on full auto and this is a war movie that really sprays forth the led. The action doesn’t let up here for a moment and this is one incredible war film that ranks alongside the great Vietnam films of cinema history next to Platoon and We Were Soldiers. It’s a visceral watch from beginning to end, and the suspense ramps up as D Company faces down a horde of committed Vet Cong troops. As a testament to the ANZAC spirit, Stenders and his cast give there all to the production and the result is an incredibly gripping piece of cinema.

They don’t get more intense than Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan, and this is one war film that you need to see up on the big screen. A testament to a group of soldiers who would not give up in the face of adversity and who held true to the ANZAC spirit, Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan is a riveting tribute to those men who fought and died on the field of Vietnam and to the brotherhood that bounds all of them together forever.

Image: Transmission Films

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Here’s the official synopsis:

One late afternoon in 1966, in the pouring rain, amid the mud and shattered trees of a Vietnamese rubber plantation called Long Tan, Major Harry Smith (Travis Fimmel) and his dispersed company of 108 young and mostly inexperienced Australian and New Zealand soldiers are fighting for their lives. They’re holding off an overwhelming enemy force of 2,500 battle-hardened Viet Cong and North Vietnamese soldiers. This is their untold story.

Watch the full trailer here:

Vikings star Travis Fimmel takes the lead here in this intense and visceral Vietnam War era film that focuses in on a group of courageous young Australian and New Zealand soldiers who held their ground against the Viet Cong in an aggressive battle that tested them to the core.

Fimmel takes the lead and is backed up by an exceptional young cast who include the likes of Luke Bracey (Point Break, Hacksaw Ridge), Daniel Webber (The Punisher, The Dirt), Nicholas Hamilton (IT), Stephen Peacocke (Hercules, Me Before You), and veteran Australian actor Richard Roxburgh (Van Helsing, Mission: Impossible 2), and things do get intense here.

Get ready to experience this ultimate tale of heroism under fire when Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan arrives in cinemas on August 8.

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Rising directing star Duncan Jones brings the epic scope of World of Warcraft to the big screen in bold visuals with impressive digital effects. A long time fan of the massively popular video game franchise, Jones draws on his considerable passion for this world, building a cinematic experience that both old and new fans will get lost in.

With a massive universe of characters, Jones gets his leads right with Travis Fimmel and Toby Kebbell. With old school swashbuckling charm and a talent for the blade, Fimmel makes for a compelling leading man as Sir Anduin Lothar, hero of the Alliance, and a man who sees the bigger picture. Fimmel brings a certain devil may care attitude to Lothar, which is normally not present in fantasy leads, and while his character is classically stoic, he also injects a healthy dose of wit where appropriate.

Facing him is Kebbell as noble Orc war chieftain Durotan, who seeks nothing more than a new home for his wife, son and clan, but who is forced to pick up the axe. Kebbell brings a deep sense of self-sacrifice and steadfast nobleness to Durotan, and his performance as a mo-cap actor really shines through on-screen where he is transformed into the colossal Orc.

Paula Patton brings a strong independence and strength to the role of halfbreed Orc Garona, who has suffered years of abuse at the hands of the Horde, and breaks free with the help of the Alliance to take her revenge. Full prosthetic make-up doesn’t hold her back from the film’s intense battle scenes where she gets to let loose with a broadsword to devastating effect. Rob Kazinsky realises a dream come true as Orc anti-hero Orgrim Doomhammer, who is the film’s all-round bruiser, while Ben Schnetzer makes a big impression as the over-eager mage Khadgar, and is a seriously strong talent to keep an eye on.

Fans of fantasy combat will get their fill with Warcraft: The Beginning, which also boasts some truly epic battle scenes that take up every inch of the big screen, with Lothar’s duel against Clancy Brown’s Blackhand being a truly memorable watch. But it is the visual effect artisans who are the true heroes of this movie, and the work they have done is equally thrilling and powerful.

Fans of the fantasy genre will eat up Warcraft: The Beginning, and it’s no doubt thanks to the passionate crew who worked on this project.

Image source: Paramount Pictures

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