1968 Tunnel Rats is the latest film directed by 'infamous director' Uwe Boll. The film was originally titled Tunnel Rats. The film was screened at film festivals in Canada and Germany and had a limited theatrical run in Los Angeles at the Downtown Independent Theater on December 20th, 2008. The 'official' release date for the film in the U.S. was supposed to be March 13th, 2009, however that release date got pushed back, despite being released elsewhere in the world on DVD. The U.S. DVD was released on Jun 30, 2009.
Like usual, there is a lot to criticize in the film, though the film itself has mixed reviews (some reviewers actually think Boll is getting better(!)) But there was not a lot of thought put into the costuming and gear for the film. Being filmed in South Africa (standing in for Vietnam), American soldiers wear green South African Cotton uniforms (as seen in Red Scorpion in the guise of Russian and Cuban Soldiers), their shoulder patches are bright and not subdued (subdued insignia was common by 1968) and the helmet covers are Woodland BDU, not the Nam leaf pattern which is correct for Vietnam.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingColt Sporter II Carbine with 20 round magazine. Colt model #R-6420. Colt still insisted on using the SP1 style lower receiver so any rifle that looks like this but has the ribbing around the magazine release button is not a Colt rifle. Variants of this rifle have both the round and tear drop forward assist buttons, however, most of the early years of production had the tear drop button, like this rifle in the photo - - 5.56x45mmError creating thumbnail: File missingCpl. Dan Green (Wilson Bethel) carries a Colt AR-15 Sporter Carbine as he greets the new arrivals.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSgt. Mike Heaney (Brad Schmidt) gives the order to saddle up, holding his Sporter Carbine.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSgt. Heaney aims his Sporter Carbine down a tunnel.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA US Soldier fires his Sporter Carbine during the NVA attack.
M16
The original model M16 are used at the beginning of the film during the chopper disembarkation by Pvt. Terence Verano (Rocky Marquette) and other soldiers. As with the other rifles in the film, it can be seen on occasion with anachronistic 30-round magazines.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe original M16, the first version, firing in a 20-round magazine, adopted in large numbers by the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam. This has the original 3-prong flash hider. It would later be replaced by the upgraded M16A1 - 5.56x45mmError creating thumbnail: File missingPvt. Terence Verano (Rocky Marquette) with an M16 during the Chopper ride. This gives a good shot of the ALICE suspenders, that are used by many soldiers in the movie, and that are obviously wrong for the period depictedError creating thumbnail: File missingA US soldier hauling a body bag carries an M16.
During the scene where a captured NVA soldier is hung, a soldier can be seen with an anachronistic M16A2 rifles, identified by the heavy barrel. M16A2 did not entered service until 1989.
NVA soldiers use what appear to be at first glance AK-47 rifles. However, based on their 5.56 magazines and angled Valmet-style receiver design, these rifles are actually Vektor R5 rifles modified to resemble Kalashnikovs. Similar weapons have appeared in other movies made in South Africa, such as District 9 or Chris Ryan's Strike Back.
Vektor R5, 5.56x45mm
AK-47
Most NVA soldiers, including Vo Mai (Jane Le), Huy Tran (Scott Ly) and Nguyen Van Chien (John Wynn) use R5s modified to look like the AK-47.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingMosin Nagant M38 Carbine. This is the version issued during most of World War 2, the M44 would not be fielded until the last six months of the war. Note slightly shorter barrel, lack of brass reinforcements in the Sling holes and lack of bayonet notch in the stock - 7.62x54RError creating thumbnail: File missingA Mosin Nagant M38 Carbine sits against a wall in Vo Mai's (Jane Le) dugout.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAnother shot of the M38 Carbine against the wall.
Machine Guns
M60 Machine Gun
The M60 Machine Gun is used by Pvt. Jim Lidford (Nate Parker) and Pvt. Dean Garraty (Adrian Collins). A soldier uses one during the NVA attack on the base camp. Note that every operator fires it one handed - a difficult feat.
A Browning M2HB is seen mounted in the camp perimeter. The gunner is killed before he can use it.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingBrowning M2HB on vehicle mount - .50 BMGError creating thumbnail: File missingA US Soldier loading a Browning M2HB.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA Soldier manning the M2HB as his comrade's brains are blown out behind him. Apparently he doesn't notice this, or the raging firefight around him. According to Vietnam War Movie logic, he's probably high. He certainly looks it.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe unmanned M2HB swings from its mount as Nguyen Van Chien (John Wynn) decides the soldier isn't dead enough, and proceeds to posthumously dismember him. One would hate to think what would happen to the poor bastard if Nguyen got him alive.Error creating thumbnail: File missingNguyen, in overkill mode, fires his Norinco Type 84S next to the M2HB.
Pvt. Jonathon Porterson (Garikayi Mutambirwa) uses a M79 grenade launcher during patrol; he switches to a Colt M1911A1 for the rest of the movie, which he spends in the tunnels.
Lt. Vic Hollowborn (Michael Paré), Pvt. Peter Harris (Mitch Eakins), Pvt. Carl Johnson (Erik Eidem), Pvt. Jonathon Porterson (Garikayi Mutambirwa) and Pvt. Jim Lidford (Nate Parker) all carry or use the M26 Hand Grenade at various points in the film. An M26 Grenade is also seen as part of an NVA booby trap in the tunnels.
The M7 CS Gas Grenade is used by the US Tunnel Rats to clear the way for their entry in the tunnel systems. Sporting and using the M7 are Cpl. Dan Green (Wilson Bethel), Pvt. Peter Harris (Mitch Eakins), Pvt. Carl Johnson (Erik Eidem) and Pvt. Terence Verano (Rocky Marquette).
