Excellent **spoilers**

Rating: 10/10 (19 May 2002)

Platoon is one of the finest films ever made, war or otherwise. Platoon has several excellent performances (Tom Berenger as Sgt. Barnes, Willem Dafoe as Sgt. Elias, Kevin Dillon as Bunny, and, dare I say, even Charlie Sheen turns in a fine performance as Taylor), a gripping storyline, and some of the best dialogue I've ever heard in a movie. Oliver Stone successfully shows what war is really like: exhausting (both mentally and physically), confusing, and mad.
As previously stated, Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe are great as Sgt. Barnes and Elias, respectively. Barnes is tough and cold, whereas Elias is compassionate and caring (as far as soldiers go). Sheen's line `.I fell like a child, born of these two fathers,' conveys the tone of the entire movie. At times, the soldiers feel like Barnes, full of rage and hate, willing to take it out on anybody that should be in their path. At other times, the common sense and compassion of Elias shines through. During the village massacre scene, the soldiers shared in Barnes' ruthlessness; after all, they killed some of ours, so let's kill theirs. It's not until Elias shows up that they realize what Barnes is doing is wrong. Viewing this scene, I feel like the soldiers: wanting revenge, but ultimately regretting what I've just seen. That is just one part of this extraordinary movie.

Platoon is a classic, plain and simple.
10/10