Review of Platoon (1986) by Alice V — 15 Nov 2010

Two Vietnam war epics have been made prior to Platoon. Apocalypse Now and The Deer Hunter. Both films showed the chaos and personal cost of war on a soldier. However Oliver Stone's film goes a little deeper than that, as it shows the dehumization of a soldier fighting a misunderstood war.

Platoon is the third greatest film about the Vietnam war. Oliver Stone's vision is unrelenting, raw and brutal. The film has many difficult scenes to watch, but it's all part of showing you the madness of this war.

The film is brilliantly directed by Oliver Stone and is based on his experiences fighting in the war. What I admire most about this film is that it doesn't sugar coat the chaos with typical Hollywood action cliches.

The film shows the cost and horrors of combat as it is. The film isn't a romanticized version of war. The film is very realistic and shows warfare for what it really is. Platoon is an action packed war film with tons of drama, and has many difficult scenes to watch.

Platoon is still relevant after all these years and this is Oliver's greateat achievement, after this film he was fairly hit and miss. The cast that Stone has assembled for Platoon is simply stunning.

Tom Berenger plays Sgt Barnes, a cruel leader with no remorse. Willem Dafoe Plays Sgt Ellias the favoirite of many from the Platoon. Both actors go head to head in the film, and deliver top notch performances.

Charlie Sheen delivers the best performance of his career as Chris Taylor. Platoon is an unrelenting brutal film, and we see how the war slowly changes Chris Taylor as he arrives in Vietnam till after he's seen the cruelty of combat.

Many Vietnam war films examine the chaos of war, but Platoon aside from Apocalypse Now is a film that really dwells into the dehumanization of a young soldier as he he experiences the horror of combat first hand.

Marvelously directed by Oliver Stone, Platoon remains one of the best Vietnam war films ever filmed since Apocalypse Now. Platoon is one of my favorite war films, and if you haven't seen it yet; do yourself a favor and rent it.