The Horror of War (Platoon (DVD))

Member Name: TJ-Mackey

Product:	Platoon (DVD)
Date:	22/10/00 (217 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Exhilarating, thought-provoking and unforgettable.

Disadvantages: None I can think of.

I’m not the biggest fan of Oliver Stone, although I do appreciate that he has directed some excellent movies over the years, several of which I’ve found to be exceptional. I therefore can’t really explain why it took me so long to get around to watching 'Platoon', one of the most critically acclaimed movies of the eighties, and the winner of four Academy Awards in 1986, including a Best Director Oscar for Stone. There have been many movies made about the Vietnam War, some of which are very good and some not so good. 'Platoon' definitely falls into the first category.

Although not based on a true story, Oliver Stone does draw on his own experiences in Vietnam to tell the tale of Chris Taylor, a raw recruit shipped out to a war which the Americans were quite clearly losing. It is probably because of this personal insight that the film is considered to be one of the most realistic cinematic portrayals of the conflict. From the outset, we see the often-harrowing images of the struggle between the United States army and the Vietcong militia, as Chris joins a platoon of soldiers whose primary mission involves exploring enemy territory and setting ambushes. Although at first he is rejected because of his rich upbringing, Chris gradually earns the trust and respect of his fellow soldiers as his tour of duty continues. With an excellent performance from Charlie Sheen, we see Chris change from a wide-eyed rookie to a battle hardened veteran over the course of the film.

In addition to Sheen’s impressive performance, there are also strong roles for Willem Dafoe and Tom Berenger as Elias and Barnes, two officers whose constant arguing eventually becomes the turning point in Chris’s story. One scene in particular is particularly disturbing, as we see Dafoe’s character chased through the jungle by dozens of armed Vietcong soldiers, from the viewpoint of a helicopter passing overhead. Sergeant Barnes is probably
one of the most remorseless characters you’ll ever see on screen, and no scene reveals this more than a disturbing raid on a Vietnamese village, where the feelings of the platoon are brought to the fore in the most horrifying way possible.

In fact, Barnes and Elias seem to represent the two different sides of the soldiers fighting in the war – one is full of distrust and built-up rage waiting to boil over, while the other is merely getting on with a job he is there to do. I’m sure that both views were commonplace amongst the American troops in Vietnam, and perhaps the reason they lost the war was not because they were beaten by the enemy, but because they were beaten by themselves.

The most interesting elements of 'Platoon' are whenever Stone reflects on the lives of the individual soldiers, whether this is through Chris’s letters home to his grandmother, or when he and another recruit are remembering their reasons for coming to Vietnam. A particularly revealing scene towards the end of the film shows one soldier deliberately injuring himself so he can be sent home and away from the war.

In my opinion, the most successful aspect of 'Platoon' is the portrayal of the horror of war, not through fighting with the Vietcong, but through the American soldiers battling their own personal demons. As the film progresses, Chris begins to lose the energy to fight and the sanity to keep himself together. Because we are following him on his tour of duty, we too go through the same experiences, and begin to doubt the purpose of the war as much as the recruits do. As is often the case, the war seems to become more and more meaningless as it turns into a seemingly never-ending struggle.

Of special note is the amazing use of music throughout the movie. The evocative 'Adagio for Strings' by Samuel Barber is used very effectively, especially over the beginning and end credits, and is probably one of th
e most famous movie scores ever heard. The rest of the music is also very good though, in particular the Smokey Robinson number, 'Tracks of my Tears'.

This is surely Oliver Stone’s best ever film, and it delivers probably the strongest 'anti-war' message of any war film I have seen. Although harrowing in places, 'Platoon' is ultimately very rewarding, and is definitely worth watching if you’ve never seen it before.

If you’re looking to buy the film, it has recently been released on DVD, and although there is little in the way of extras, it has been given an impressive anamorphic widescreen picture and Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. Well worth buying.

Summary: