Platoon

Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece
Review: Possibly the most authentic Hollywood film to ever display the horrors of the Vietnam war, Oliver Stone's Platoon is a haunting, violent masterpiece that never lets go of the viewer from beginning to end. Based more or less on Stone's own personal experiences as a soldier in Vietnam, the majority of the film is told from the point of view of young Chris (Charlie Sheen) as he finds his loyalties tested between his two commanding officers (Tom Berenger and Willam Dafoe). Sergeant Elias (Dafoe), a frequent pot smoker, cares for his men. The battle scarred Sergeant Barnes (Berenger) proves to harbor a dark side that it manifested by alcoholism. The ensemble cast (which includes Keith David, Johnny Depp, Forest Whitaker, John C. McGinley, Kevin Dillon, Tony Todd, and Stone himself) is more than memorable, and there are plenty of scenes that are both haunting and unforgettable. Stone would deservingly win Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director, while Dafoe walked away with a much deserved Best Supporting Actor nomination.

Rating:
Summary: Still rocks
Review: I first saw this when I was at a US Army reception station, prior to basic, when I was 17, brought tears to my eyes. Could have been the movie, combined with the Drill Sergeants outside. I am not an Oliver Stone or Sheen fan, but Sheen works well here, and I am sure that Stone had personal experiences in Vietnam that brought out his best. Berenger and Dafoe are spectacular. Quite a movie, you could really feel for those poor soldiers stuck in those human wave attacks, this movie smashes you in the face, then comes back for more with some real shockers. A must have!

Rating:
Summary: Disappointment
Review: I had heard so many great things about this movie. When I finally saw it, however, I could not make much of it.

The film has every Vietnam war film cliche in the book. The new recruit, the crazy commander, the rape, the pillaging, the final showdown where most of the character deaths happen...and I found it predictable in a lot of parts. Not to mention the plenty of inaccuracies found through out - the uniforms, the dialogue, the weaponry, the fact William Defoe gets blown away in equipment that should have protected him, then comes back as if he's OK.

There was one point in the movie that I liked. In the final scene, Oliver Stone put himself in the movie playing a Colonel. Then a suicide soldier of the VietCong throws himself into the HQ and blows himself up, killing everyone inside. That gave me some pleasure...

Rating:
Summary: Good DVD package
Review: A pretty good DVD package, with an unobtrusive menu interface. The making-of documentary was great to watch, and Dale Dye's audio commentary alone is worth the price of admission.

Rating:
Summary: Oh, the horror.
Review: Smoking pot, casually? Now isn't that a slap in the face of Richard Nixon.

Rating:
Summary: Best movie of all time!
Review: This movie is compelling and unbelieveable. Stone is arguably the best director out there. Sheen, Berenger, and Dafoe give five star performances. This movie is a great insight to everyday life of a US soldier in Vietnam.

Rating:
Summary: 4.5 out of 5
Review: PLATOON is one of the greatest and most moving war films you will ever see. It made writer/director Oliver Stone a legend, and remains his greatest film, in my opinion. Charlie Sheen stars as Chris Taylor, a new war recruit assigned to Vietnam, who finds friendship in the form of Sgt. Elias Grodin (Willem Dafoe, just two years before his role in Stone's THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST), while dealing with the ruthless Sgt. Barnes (Tom Berenger, in one of his best roles). The film, which took in four Academy Awards including "Best Picture", is frighteningly realistic, partly due to the fact that it is based on Stone's first-hand experience in Vietnam. Stone's directing is awesome; his script will keep you hooked, if you can take the drama. Sheen is great, and the theme, "Adagio for Strings", is so perfect for the film you'll never forget it. There are few films which can make the horrors of war as depicted in Oliver Stone's masterpiece...PLATOON.

Rating:
Summary: Best war movie ever.
Review: When I was littler I wanted to go to West Point. That was before I saw this movie. It is visually spectacullar. An excellent story. It surpassed my allready high expectations. A must rent, if not own. Oliver Stone is pure genius. Charlie Sheens only good performance is in this movie. Willam Dafoe and Tom Berenger are as always excellent. Go out and rent it now.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Best VietNam Movies Ever
Review: If you enjoyed Saving Private Ryan, or Full Metal Jacket, you will love this very dramatic story. Director Oliver Stone, a VietNam veteran himself has an extremely shocking view of the Modern War. Charlie Sheen delivers one of his best performances, and Tom Berenger leaves me wanting more. If you are a collector of War movies, this one should most certainly be in your collection.

Rating:
Summary: get the point
Review: platoon is definitely a great movie! realize, however, that it's not meant to depict the reality of the u.s. war in vietnam (although it does do this to an extent) as much as it's meant to show the universal human battle between good and evil. what better than a war backdrop affords this opportunity?! a soldier in war has many many chances to act good or evil. sometimes the line is BLURRED. listen to what charlie sheen's character has to say about this dichotomy as he talks of the differences between barnes and elias (particularly the bit about "possession of my soul")...and how he himself, at different times, is pulled in both their directions. and note the ending! charlie picks one over the other.

for what it's worth, seeing how few people have the time to sit down and read lengthy books nowadays, i believe platoon will supplant literary works like moby dick as the premiere dramatic delving into the human struggle between good and evil. the movie is so palpable, so visually and emotionally rich that it's hard to stop thinking about it after it ends. maybe that's the point. good job, oliver!