Best of several truly great! Vietnam War movies

Rating: 10/10 (29 December 2006)

I watched Platoon for about the third time tonight and it is still a stunner. I guess I agree with an apparent consensus that "Saving Private Ryan" is the definitive WW II film.
For intensity, IMO, "The Deer Hunter" is it's only rival. My partner watched the entire movie for the first time and her reaction was, "oh my god, oh my god."
I am Vietnam age but squeaked by with a middle lottery number. However I did spent about 200 hours in Washington in 1985-1986 as a US Park Service Volunteer at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. I saw Vietnam reflected in the moist eyes of visitors every day. How on earth could we possibly
blunder into Iraq after the lessons of Vietnam? Well, I guess we know how.
If ever there was an example of the accuracy of the phrase, "those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it," we now have it. Platoon is must viewing for every one of us, but especially those who think there is anything glorious about war. If great art succeeds, it changes us, makes us think and act differently and better. THIS is great art, Mr. Stone. Thank you, thank you.