Rambo II re-iterated the fiction that massive POWs were still in Vietnam. Watch the History Channel and you'll see almost no mention of agent orange, and none (that I've seen) would ever use the phrase "chemical warfare". The narrative that the media lost the war for the U.S. at the Tet offensive is pervasive.
Then there's what is omitted. I can't think of a movie/TV show I've seen about Vietnam that mentioned we bombed South Vietnam as well, or that we propped up a dictator that rigged the election and made life so intolerable for the Buddhists that monks were self-immolating in protest.
This I agree with...Hollywood did not put out movies with the full context and nuance.
On the other hand, most of the movies did highlight the horrors of war, highlight the futility of the effort, disillusion of the front line troops, etc.
So, the argument isn't that Hollywood did a terrific job, just that they weren't portraying the war as noble, winnable, etc.
Then there's what is omitted. I can't think of a movie/TV show I've seen about Vietnam that mentioned we bombed South Vietnam as well, or that we propped up a dictator that rigged the election and made life so intolerable for the Buddhists that monks were self-immolating in protest.