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

Member Name: giksy21

Product:	Platoon (DVD)
Date:	12/08/08 (133 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: gritty and realistic

Disadvantages: brutal

Platoon. Film review only.


Directed by Oliver Stone
Produced by Arnold Kopelson
Written by Oliver stone
Starring, amongst others Charlie sheen, willem Defoe, and Tom Berenger.


Released first in 1986, Platoon received a rather mixed reception. The strange thing is, that it was both praised and criticised for exactly the same reason. Quite simply it was seen as being too realistic.

Platoon is, in essence, a gritty and truthful vision of war. A lot of people thought that it went too far. However, I think that it was high time that a film was made that did not try and sugar coat war.

Unfortunately, all too many people on this planet know the truths of war. I myself have recently lost a member of my family, through the act of war.

Criticism, or not, the film won four academy awards, including best picture in 1986. Wow - 1986. Hard to believe that this film is 22 years old. It still plays well amongst modern day war films, despite their higher budgets, and better special effects. Just goes to show you that, money, and fancy pants effects don't necessarily make a movie good. They need to have a story that can be felt by all. Platoon certainly does have that. And its realism is added to, by the fact that its director was using life experience to base his direction, not the views of others. Neither was he basing the movie on what other directors had done before him. Feelings for him were raw, and this shone through in the film itself.


The film is harrowing. The film is convincing. Quite frankly, the film is brutal. In my opinion, though that makes it perfect to remember all those that have died to save us and others throughout the world.

In brief, the film follows the relationships of a platoon of soldiers in Vietnam. They have their good times, they have their bad times. It concentrates on how these soldiers interact, and how war maddens them, and sets them off on each other. It promotes the thought that the only enemy is war itself.
When the platoon are set upon by the Vietcong, after a senior officer falls asleep, the new boy gets the blame, and arguments start in the camp. Then, on a routine sweep, the platoon is ambushed. The belief is held that one of the platoon is passing information to the other side. Thereafter, there is as much hatred inside the platoon itself, as there is for the other side.
In the climactic scenes, two of the officers are about to kill themselves, only to be knocked unconscious be a napalm strike. On waking up together in the hospital, they continue and one is shot. Final scenes include the surviving officer flying away, looking down at the destruction, and crying.

Excellent performances throughout, but for me this film was the making of sheen, who plays the young college student, who give that up for the lure of war. I think that he is the personification of the films tagline. The first casualty of war is innocence. This is never as true as in his case. We follow him on his journey from young boy, to a man in leave of his senses. Truly gripping stuff throughout.

Coincidentally, this film was one of the first ever performances for a young Jonny Depp. We may remember his first films as being Edward scissorhands, and what's eating Gilbert grape. But before all that he had roles in the first nightmare on Elm Street, and platoon.

For me, this film is one of those films that changes history. It paved the way for other films in the genre to follow. Graphic, brutal, but most of all honest. For those who haven't seen it, do so now. For those who have, do so again. And when you're watching, remember those who have gone before.

Recommended. G

Summary: one of the best war films ever.