Riveting

Rating: 8/10 (31 December 2008)

A look at a few months in the life of a group of marines from boot camp to the battle front in Vietnam. Kubrick's depiction of basic training is riveting, perhaps the best ever put on film, as the tension builds slowly but surely. In fact, these camp scenes are so good that once the action shifts to the war zone, it is somewhat of a letdown, as the film flounders aimlessly for a while. However, it then finishes with a bang. Kubrick's presentation of platoon life is far more interesting than what Oliver Stone offered in "Platoon" the previous year. Modine heads a good cast of young actors. Ermey is excellent as the drill instructor.