pinnacle of war movies

Rating: 10/10 (7 October 2001)

This was such an excellent movie. Extremely well acted with a deep plot that you really get into. The characters are all interesting and not at all stereotypical as some reviewers suggest. I've sat through many war films that claimed to be great,with Hamburger Hill (sad acting),Full Metal Jacket (not bad,but seemed more like two separate stories and dragged on at times),Thin Red Line (great potential but very boring) and Saving Private Ryan (which was good but was certainly no Platoon). Realizing what era Vietnam was during,may help some viewers see that yes drugs were around and used (giving what pressure and confusion amassed during that time period) and the 'unknown enemy' syndrome in 'Nam,you can see how a young soldier would 'lose it' and end up killing innocents;not knowing the difference. Anyone who denies these things needs a wake up call. Not that I condone them! But I don't doubt that they have happened and I see no reason why they shouldn't be in the film;as some reviewers complained about.
My single complaint about the movie at all would have to be that I wish Stone had used more of Johnny Depp in the film,as I think he is not only a great actor,but very under-rated. 9/10