Rescue Dawn

Rescue Dawn is a 2006 American Epic-War Drama film written and directed by Werner Herzog, based on the true story of Vietnam War pilot Dieter Dengler, and his struggles to survive in a Vietcong prison.

Plot
During a classified mission to bomb targets in Laos, Dieter Dengler is shot down and captured by the Vietcong, given an indefinite sentence in a brutal makeshift prison. Desperate to escape, he struggles to convince his fellow prisoners to embark on a dangerous quest to freedom.

Why it Rocks

 * 1) Great acting all around, especially from Christian Bale as Dieter and Steve Zahn as Duane, both of whom also did most of their own stunts (even a dangerous one where they go through rapids on a makeshift raft). Most of the actors also lost weight to make it more realistic, prompting the director to also lose weight out of solidarity.
 * 2) Great cinematography, with most scenes actually being shot in Thailand for added authenticity, and a great set for the prison, convincing the viewer that it is a terrible place with awful living conditions.
 * 3) Great directing from Werner Herzog, who focuses almost entirely on little moments, there's very few parts with action or shooting as it takes time to build up the tension of a scene and the atmosphere of being trapped in the inhospitable jungle. He also follows a lot of events from that time almost to a tee.
 * 4) Excellent musical score when it's used, with plenty of intense and emotionally impactful tracks.
 * 5) It doesn't glorify war, instead choosing to show how horrific it can be when you're a prisoner of an army that doesn't show much compassion and doesn't speak the same language. It also shows some hypocrisy on the American side of that war.
 * 6) Plenty of emotionally intense scenes, especially in the latter half where Dieter and Duane try to survive without good clothing (since their prison clothing is old and ripped), food, and against the elements of nature.
 * 7) It also deals with themes of isolation from others and fear of the unknown in the latter part.
 * 8) Though there's not a lot of special effects (choosing to have practical ones for the most part) the ones it does have are very good.
 * 9) A satisfying ending that talks about the other impressive achievements Dengler made afterwards.

Bad Qualities

 * 1) The portrayal of Gene DeBruin has come under controversy as he's depicted as a coward throughout, despite accounts from Dengler himself and fellow escapee Phisit Intharathat calling him one of the bravest people they ever met and devoted.
 * 2) Some gross-out parts (not humor) like where Dieter and Duane complain of defecating themselves, even if this is meant to be more realistic.