the first casualty of war is innocence (Platoon (DVD))

Member Name: steerpyke

Product:	Platoon (DVD)
Date:	20/01/05 (422 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: action packed, dark and thought provocking

Disadvantages: none

The Vietnam war seems to be one subject in the film world that has thrown up a host of well respected movies. Unlike the glorification and propaganda overtones that are prevalent amongst those that retell the Second World War, by the time directors began to tackle the subject of Vietnam, a very different attitude was in the air and a more realistic and neutral position was taken. Amongst the short list of worthy productions regarding this period of Americas military history is Platoon.

Oliver Stones 1986 film is based around the experiences of a green recruit in 1967 in the jungle and villages of Vietnam, Charlie Sheen makes a good job of this role as Chris, a nervous and bewildered infantryman, with possibly more than a little of Stones own experiences of this war being woven into the part. Chris finds himself in a unit that is divided into basically two factions with their own warring leaders. Tom Berenger is Sergeant Barnes, the dark hero of the unit who leads the career soldiers of the platoon, these men are mainly white, brutal and at home in the surreal, immoral and violent world they find themselves in. Willem Defoe is his opposite number, Sergeant Elias, his followers are a mix of black soldiers, cannabis smokers and short term conscripts. Barnes is a ruthless killer who appears immortal, whereas Elias has a more humane approach towards leadership, both men are combat experienced and are the real leaders of the unit, their lieutenant being as green as some of the newly arrived soldiers, or new meat, themselves. Chris has to decide where he fits in to the rival factions. Are men like Barnes created by such wars as this or is Elias way better?

The trigger point of the story comes when Barnes, in the absence of Elias, leads a revenge attack on a Vietnamese village in response to the death of one of his men at the hand of the Viet Cong. The village experiences brutal treatment and upon his return Elias is enraged to find out what has happened. The rival sergeants become engaged in a war between themselves and control of the unit is the goal. The soldiers that they lead are forced to take a stand on the different methods employed by their superiors, is there room for morals or is the only way to survive to be as brutal and inhumane as everyone else?

Stones film focuses not so much on the tactics and strategies of war, heroics and glory are not the style here, this is an examination of the conflicts amongst the American unit itself. Barnes is trying to be a warrior-god, fighting the war on his own terms, and allowed to do so by the inactivity of his superior officer. Chris as narrator of the piece takes us through the turmoil faced by an innocent young man amongst all of this chaos, as he is slowly drawn into the battle for hearts and minds within his unit. The final scene also highlights the futility and immorality of war when the American camp is over run and a called in napalm strike indiscriminately kills US and Viet Cong troops alike. Willem Dafoe also provides one of the most enduring images from any war film, kneeling down, arms flung in the air, as he succumbs to a hail of enemy bullets in a scene bereft of sound and overlaid with haunting music to give the scene an otherworldly feeling.

Although most of the players in this film were fairly unknown at the time, almost all went on to carve out successful careers and become household names. Berenger, Defoe and Sheen carry the main responsibility in what is basically a three man piece but, Forest Whitaker, Johnny Depp, Willem Dafoe, Francesco Quinn and Kevin Dillon all feature. Although it is an action packed film, the story is based on the acting ability of the main characters and all manage to turn in a first class performance. Even if you are not a fan of war movies, this film is worth watching for a thoughtful and dark insight into the affects of war on young men.

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