Dramas, Action, Vietnam, Good Vs. Evil, Jungle, Recommended, Military, Disturbing, Theatrical Release, Vietnam War, Essential Cinema
Description
In PLATOON, Oliver Stone draws on his experience as an infantryman in Vietnam to convey the brutality of guerrilla warfare: the 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 fire fight, 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, an enraged Barnes kills some Vietnamese and orders the burning of their village, outraging the temporarily absent Elias. As the conflict between these two reaches its tragic climax, Chris must decide what he really values. Widely regarded as one of the finest war films ever made, PLATOON reflects not only the United States' division over Vietnam but the timeless truths of battle: terror, disorientation, exhilaration, and horrible loss.
DVD Features
Region 1 NTSC Keep Case Special Edition Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85 Letterbox - 1.85 Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 - English Dolby Digital Mono - Spanish Dolby Digital Stereo - English, French Additional Release Material: Documentary: "Tour of the Inferno" Audio Commentary: 1. Oliver Stone - Director 2. Capt. Dale Dye - Military Supervisor Trailers: 1. Original Theatrical Trailer 2. TV Spots Text/Photo Galleries: Stills/Photos
Related Items
People who purchased Platoon Special Edition; Single Disc Version DVD also purchased:
ALL MEN ARE CONSIDERED EQUALS - EXCEPT WHEN IT COMES TO WAR - True? Or False? Thank you, Director OLIVER STONE, For Setting The Record Straight On This Question. So, it would seem that PLATOON is the... Read the whole review at MatchFlick
Posted on August 22, 2008
Reviewed by: Chris
A gritty and emotional look at the lives of a platoon of American soldiers as they patrol, fight and die in the jungles of Vietnam as seen through the perspective of a young recruit. Two veteran... Read the whole review at MatchFlick
Posted on July 15, 2007
Reviewed by: Jarrod
'Platoon' presents a very unflattering view of war, based on the personal experiences and memories of its director, Oliver Stone, who might, like so many veterans, take what he saw with him to the... Read the whole review at MatchFlick
Posted on January 14, 2009
