First of all I have to say, that I was completely aware that this is not a movie that will (only) show the war in Vietnam but that it's more about the characters who go there. Nevertheless, I was quite disappointed. In my opinion the movie is just too long. The beginning was quite promising: You see that the friends don't know how serious and dangerous this war is, they consider it more as an "adventure" and are actually looking forward to it. But the only "helpful" or meaningful scenes at the wedding (which I found almost boring) were the scene with the returning soldier from Vietnam and the proposal by Nick to Linda. Also the hunting scenes could have been shorter. The part in Vietnam is really great. I don't have to say much about that, it's really breathtaking and shocking and when Nick is questioned at the hospital his traumas are intensely shown. The third part has its strength and its weaknesses. The beginning is quite good, we see that Michael wants to avoid what seems to the others his "old, normal" life. But still, to me Michaels problems stayed superficial, maybe I expected too much. The last encounter between Michael and Nike is very moving and intense, I don't think there is much to discuss about that. So all in all I'd say the movie consist of a much too long "introduction" I was completely aware that they don't take the war serious enough and of their "normal" American life after 20 minutes) a great second part in Vietnam and a good third part with some lengths which could be forgiven if the movie wasn't three hours long. But I won't understand what makes this movie to a masterpiece. Could the time when it came out have an effect on that? The Deer Hunter was one of the first movies that characterized the senselessness and insanity of that war and made you think about it. Still, I think that the absurdity of violence and war as well as posttraumatic stress disorder have been better illustrated in other movies by now.