Wow

Rating: 8/10 (28 July 2007)

Platoon is as gritty, intense and devastating as any war film you're likely to find, in any language. Without a profound stance against the pro-war characters, like Apocalypse Now! does, it presents the realities of Vietnam. The drug use, the individualistic conflicts, the tension within the army and the varying degrees of commitment within platoons. Charlie Sheen, surprisingly, is excellent, but his performance does not compare with the Oscar worthy performances of Tom Berringer and Willem Dafoe. They are both spectacular, bringing the harsh kill or be killed mentality of Vietnam to life, on both sides of the Vietnam debate. The film is gritty, there are no frills about the look of the picture, the grainy, washed out palettes illuminate the destitute nature of the soldiers, while simultaneously bringing out the majesty of the natural side of Vietnam. Oliver Stone provides an excellent counterpoint to most other Vietnam movies. There are no winners here, all of the characters find themselves suffering for the sake of political strife at large. Oliver Stone's film is heavy to its core, bringing the soldiers, and the civilians, sacrifice in war to poignant stand still as the staggering numbers of war causalities become people you've watched struggle through personal loss and moral marginalization. Truly one of the best war films ever made.