Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3769 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-03-05
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Box set, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 115 minutes

Synopsis
In PLATOON, Oliver Stone uses his experience as an infantryman in Vietnam to convey the immediacy of guerrilla warfare: the brutal heat of the jungle, the brushes with such wildlife as snakes and leeches, and, most powerfully, the presence of the unseen enemy. Charlie Sheen stars as Chris, a raw recruit, or "new meat," who serves as the film's narrator. At first he wilts under the rigorous conditions of jungle life, freezes up in a firefight, and wonders whether he'll be able to survive. But he gradually adapts and, as time goes by, begins to see that the platoon is divided into two groups. One consists of lifers, juicers, and subintelligent whites, the other of blacks and heads. Sgt. Barnes, a combat-loving burnout (Tom Berenger), is the informal leader of the lifers, and Sgt. Elias, a free spirit (Willem Dafoe), leads the latter group. When the platoon takes some gruesome losses while on an o.p., an enraged Barnes kills some Vietnamese who may or may not have been VC and orders the burning of their village, outraging the temporarily absent Elias. As the conflict between these two reaches its tragic denouncement, Chris must decide what he really values. Widely regarded as one of the finest war films ever made, PLATOON reflects not only the nation's division over Vietnam but it intimately conveys timeless verities of battle: terror, disorientation, exhilaration, and horrible loss.

Customer Reviews

Great war movie
I have watched Platoon more than any other war movie. So much so that I've had to give it a rest over the last few years.
Why is it so good?
Perhaps because it is the most realistic (certainly Vietnam) war movie ever made. Its based on Oliver Stones own experiences in Vietnam. Now I doubt whether there were actually two so clearly good and bad characters, as represented by Willem Dafoe and Tom Beringer in the film, but it is the spark between these two that creates much of the films atmosphere.
There are quite a few scenes in this film, such as when the Charlie Sheen character wakes up in the middle of the night (in the jungle), that are wonderfully done. You really get an idea of just how scary being a soldier might be.
I'm also sure that the film would not not have been as successful as it was, without its marvellous soundtrack. Most noteably Samuel Barbers 'Adagio for Strings'. This piece of music alone adds an extra dimension to the scenes it is used in. A very haunting and sad piece of music.
The ending of the film is perhaps the only weak point, but it is a minor quibble about a very powerful and moving film.

THE HORRORS OF WAR
In this great film Oliver Stone paints a nice but realistic (and therefore sometimes shocking) picture of what the Vietnam War must have been like in those days. In a brilliant way, Stone shows us how the Americans were rather fighting among themselves than against the 'real' enemy out there. He also points out that this must have been one of the main reasons why America didn't win the war. This piece of information is what the film is all about. Besides the actual Vietnam War you can see the development of another 'personal' war that starts with a stupid incident but becomes just as strong and dangerous as the real war. Good men were killed when they could have been saved.

In this film, Charlie Sheen is a young soldier who's just started out in Vietnam. He's caught between two superiors who (as he said so himself) fight for the possession of their souls. There's the morally corrupt, merciless 'killer machine' Sgt. Barnes and the much more humane Sgt. Elias who wants to teach his men a sense of compassion and responsibility.

"Platoon" is a great film, in particular because Oliver Stone creates such a thrilling and realistic atmosphere throughout the entire picture. The camerawork is excellent and original too, since Stone becomes a part of his own film by acting as if he were one of those soldiers. Most of the film takes place in the jungle, but this so-called lack of variation is never boring. The scenes in the jungle are really nerve-wracking, as you never know what could happen next. A brilliant thing about these jungle-scenes is the piece and quiet at one moment where you can literally hear the birds singing and the ear-deafening noise of gunfire and grenades that (to anyone's surprise) follows in the scene hereafter. Because of an interesting story with great acting performances and wonderful camerawork Oliver Stone will keep you attached to the screen for the whole time being. It's a good thing that the film doesn't last any longer than two hours, because after this time you've had it with Vietnam, despite the fact that you've really seen a great film! The acting of both Charlie Sheen and Tom Berenger are good, but it's Willem Dafoe who is simply wonderful as Sgt. Elias. He received an Oscar nomination for his performance, but not an award. Back to Charlie Sheen for a moment: like father like son. His father was in a Vietnam-film as well and he did the voice-over in that film. Well, his son Charlie Sheen does exactly the same as his father did many years ago. Charlie Sheen plays in a Vietnam-film as well and takes care of the voice-over in "Platoon". Both do a great job, but father Martin's voice-over in "Apocalypse now!" is still somewhat better.

All in all, "Platoon" is a very good film that gives the viewer an insightful representation of how the Americans (sorry to say) lost the Vietnam War.

Best Vietnam Movie
No two ways about it, this is a superb film, well worth the money and a must have for any war film collection. If you haven't seen it, buy it - you won't regret it.