The harsh reality of the Viet Nam war (Platoon (DVD))

Member Name: bruffyboy

Product:	Platoon (DVD)
Date:	09/03/09 (61 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: excellent acting

Disadvantages: painful to watch

WHAT IS IT ABOUT:
This powerful war film follows a new recruit to the Viet Nam war who refuses to accept the atrocities that take place there. Starring Charlie Sheen and Johnny Depp, the movie is directed by Oliver Stone.

IS IT ANY GOOD:
In terms of war movies, this is a seminal work. The plot sets out to deliberately showcase the barbarism of the US troops, and it's a harrowing tale. Scenes of troop brutality are commonplace, and some bits are uncomfortable to watch. The tale, therefore, has no 'feel good' factor to it, so don't sit down to watch it for your wife's birthday!

The acting is brilliant, inspired largely by Stone's working conditions; he took the actors on a six week trek through the jungle, living as soliders would have done. When it was over, and they were all worn out and needed a good few days rest, he immediately began shooting the movie, providing a realistic experience of the tiredness real soldiers would have felt. A young Charlie Sheen does a very good job at taking a tough role, and shows the full gamult of emotion in his portrayal of a wet behind the ears soldier.

The film is very emotional, and the scene from the front cover, where Elias (Willem DeFoe) is being chased down, is brilliantly set to Barber's Adagio for Strings, giving one of cinema's most powerful and moving scenes ever.

All in all, this is a powerful war film that will at times sicken you with the evil actions of the soldiers.

IF YOU LIKED IT:
Another good war film, although again difficult to watch, is 'The Pianist', which stars Adrien Brody as a Jew in WW2.

Summary: watch it