Around January to August 1987 three Vietnam movies came out.

One film had a huge name director and some well known actors.
Another film had a huge name director and made some well known actors.
They both had huge budgets, and are very well known.

One had a much smaller budget.
It is not spoken of as often.
Was it too much of a recreated documentary instead of a political statement?

But,
I recently watched Hamburger Hill for the first time in decades.

You can feel the suck of the steep terrain. You know the oh shit of a buddy just getting hit. You can sense the moment that last dry square inch at the top of your ass is finally soaked in The rain. Of not having dry socks in days.

It made no dramatic heroes, set up no huge outlandish scenarios,
Is this why it has had so little cultural impact?