Quintessential Kubrick, much better than "Platoon"

Rating: 10/10 (1 July 2002)

This film is primarily about the dual nature of man: the primal instinct to be destructive and nihilistic versus the social instinct to desire peace. The destructive and creative forces of man pitted against each other is a theme common to many of Kubrick's films particularly "A Clockwork Orange". I rank this film above the grossly overrated "Platoon" simply because Kubrick says more about war than the trite cliche of 'war is hell'. Many people criticized Kubrick for opting to shoot the film on a sound stage in England. This issue is irrelevant to the message and content of the film. Kubrick dodged the typical depictions of the Vietnam war such as the drug use and the jungle warfare. Kubrick chose to focus on the city patrols. Matthew Modine is brilliant as the confused hero certainly more interesting and convincing than CHARLIE SHEEN in "Platoon". Most notable is the brilliant use of music in the film as well as the stellar camera work typical to all Kubrick epics. Lee Ermey is amazingly realistic as the hard drill sergeant. See this Vietnam film and this one only. Unless of course you want to rent "Platoon" and "The Green Berets" and cry your eyes out with laughter.