Thoughtful and poignant demonstration of war

Rating: Null/10 (9 October 2005)

Platoon is a masterclass of how to make a film with a message. The underlying theme of Platoon concerns the ultimate horror and sometimes futility of war. Set in Nam' during the late 60s we follow the war through the eyes of a raw young volunteer (Charlie Sheen). Starting out full of ideology and belief in his cause, his experiences lead him to conclude that war entails enormous and often wasteful sacrifice. At times, Platoon is very sad; scores of young soldiers, often friends, being slain in combat. We witness the internal rivalries that split an army, the cynicism that can develop and the differing methods of coping with battle. Platoon is not a sensationalist war movie. It has a deep statement that many viewers may resonate with. The action scenes are well staged and take place very much from the perspective of the man 'at the front'. The cast does not feature any major stars, but perhaps because of this, Platoon can be viewed without the Hollywood cult of personality. It perfectly suits its' genre; a war film that plays it straight. One for any collection.