The "logic" behind Taylor and Elias

Rating: 7/10 (7 March 2013)

My beef, with this movie is that though it's set in the Vietnam War in '67-68; it doesn't quite jive as an drama with action picture. It seems as though Stone felt obligated to have firefights since NOT having any would be detrimental for audiences and undermine the chaos of war by portraying it as "uneventful". Or, he didn't want to "glorify" any war. The battles seem too meandering. No real outcome is implied or alluded to. Furthermore, Sheen's acting while not underacting, certainly is overdone. Specifically when he snaps in the ville at suspected VC. Alligator tears and wrought brows were probably not character requisites, but Stone's "method directing". If you watch the special features, you'll learn of Stone's madness to "inspire" great acting. The final thing that bothered me, was how Elias and Taylor rationalize. "We're gonna lose this war. We've been kicking other peoples' asses for so long, it's time we got ours kicked." So that's what America failed to see in that quagmire ? "The truth's in the eyes! When you know, you know!" So a gut instinct is substantial enough to warrant a summary execution ? This is ethically flawed judgment at it's worst and apparently, Stone's best. Or, a reflection of Stone's own rationale ?