Maybe a masterpiece.

Rating: Null/10 (14 August 2004)

Maybe? Well... Vietnam is a personal war, or more to the point, a personal opinion of that particular war. Like the American Civil War a hundred years earlier historians will never be able to stamp a definable image on that conflict. Platoon is a movie about Oliver Stone's Vietnam. He may have hit the nail right on the head or he may be wandering around out in left field somewhere. Only he and the closest few around him would have a better idea of which image is which. The rest of us simply watch the movie and think about it afterward. The combat sequences are without a doubt some of, if not the best ever shot. This aspect of the film is brutally real. So is the interplay between the individuals themselves. Through this fascinating maze of characters and story is woven the moral tale of an everyday All American Boy Next Door who is figuring out that he has made one of the worst mistakes in his life so far. And now he doesn't know if he'll even live long enough to make any more. This thread-morality play-is what makes Platoon a very personal movie. A real masterpiece is for everyone. Platoon is not for everyone. A common soldier is presented in an unmistakable image of the Christ. Gut wrenching? Yes. Moving? Yes. Real? That depends a lot on who is watching and taking it all in. One vet says "There it is!" Another says "What a load of crap." The only thing the rest of us can do is wonder about it and try to piece second hand facts together. Is this a good war movie? Without a doubt, one of the best ever. Is it a good movie in general? Definitely! Is it a masterpiece? I don't know, I wasn't there. I whole heartedly thank all the poor bastards who were there regardless of personal politics at the time, and I thank Mr. Stone for both his services to me when he was young and in uniform and for becoming such a brilliant and personally honest film maker. I love this film even though it is difficult for me to watch at times.