The best war movie since Full Metal Jacket...

Rating: Null/10 (1 January 2001)

Oliver Stone`s masterpiece. Ranks with Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket. This movie shows the human side of the Vietnam war, focusing on the experiences of a raw recruit played by Charlie Sheen. Two feuding officers, Elias (Willelm Dafoe) and Barnes (Tom Berenger) characterise two kinds of soldier - Dafoes the more caring - and Taylor (Sheen) must choose which path to follow. Elias`s ethos finally wins and Taylor finally becomes the monster he tries to avoid while avenging him. Unflinching in showing the brutality of the conflict Platoon far from glorifies this war. The final battle scene is amazing, but this film is far from just an action film. In my view Dafoe is the star. Highly recommended.