| Overall Grade: |
A+ |
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| Story: |
A |
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| Acting: |
A+ |
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| Direction: |
A |
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| Visuals: |
A |
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Beautifully Terrifying
by Mark (movies profile)
Jun 21, 2007
4
of
5 people found this review helpful
Platoon is not your traditional war movie. Other great war movies such as Black Hawk Down and Full Metal Jacket we're more focused to the battle in the war itself. Platoon goes much further beyond the enemy. It take an in-depth look at the psychological toll waged by the war. Charlie Sheen stars as Chris Taylor the new guy in the platoon. He dropped out of college and volunteered for the war "why should the poor kids go to war and the rich kids get away with it?" he reasoned. He arrives in Vietnam smack in the middle of the Vietnam War. In this platoon there is a Lieutenant, but it is clear that Sgt. Barnes (a fantastic Tom Berenger) and Sgt. Elias (an equally fantastic Willem Dafoe) are in firm control of the platoon. We best notice this when the lieutenant says "i think in front of the men it's necessary for me to give the orders" and Barnes just looks at him as if he's making a joke. Right away we notice how the platoon is split in two. Half the men with Barnes, half with Elias. The two sergeants do not like each other, says Barnes "Elias is a water-walker, he's like those damn politicians in Washington trying to fight this war with one hand tied behind their back". Elias takes the more solemn approach "Barnes believes in what he's doing...in '65 i did too, now....no". As the movie continues tensions mount within the platoon, the sides are being more clearly drawn every second. The lines are blurred between right and wrong, until the unthinkable climax (which i wont spoil). Besides the aforementioned, i notice the way the battles are portrayed are much different. Most war movies there are two sides, here's the enemy and shoot them. In Platoon, everyone is everywhere. The Viet-Cong are all over the place, especially in the final battle, a refreshing change from the traditional. If you've never seen this movie, go out and rent it right now, because it is a classic and no one should never see it. A truly beautiful piece of film making, covering one of the ugliest marks in american history. |
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