Platoon (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

My rating is more of a 4.5Thanks for reading!𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒘𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆: '𝑯𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏.'𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆.𝑯𝒆𝒍𝒍.In what used to be described as the longest war in American history, the Vietnam war took place between November 1, 1955 to April 30, 1975; this conflict primarily saw the communist government of North Vietnam at odds with the government of South Vietnam.The United States being one of South Vietnam’s largest allies, over 2,7000,000 Americans served during this point of time, with approximately 58,000 being killed or reported missing in action.Platoon is a 1986 American war film written and directed by Oliver Stone, starring Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Charlie Sheen, Keith David, Kevin Dillon, John C. McGinley, Forest Whitaker, and Johnny Depp.Chris Taylor (Sheen) leaves his university studies to enlist in combat duty in Vietnam in 1967. Once he's on the ground in the middle of battle, his idealism fades. Infighting in his unit between Staff Sergeant Barnes ( Berenger), who believes nearby villagers are harboring Viet Cong soldiers, and Sergeant Elias (Dafoe), who has a more sympathetic view of the locals, ends up pitting the soldiers against each other as well as against the enemy.When pitched an inquiry regarding the nature of making films based on real-life experiences, Stone said it quite simply (and in so many words): that movies, regardless of their success, can be an ideal medium in which director’s can reevaluate their own pasts while preparing for the future.With it being common knowledge that Stone was in the Army during the Vietnam war, his accolades and ambitions in doing so have gone largely unaccounted for. Raised by a father (Louis) hell-bent on instilling a fear of the Soviet Union (Thanks to his own service during World War II), it should come as no surprise that once old enough to do so Stone may be led to follow in Louis’ footsteps.Having been actively enrolled in (and dropping out of) College his particular interest in seeing combat may at first seem counter-intuitive, but in summating his expectations the blueprint for ‘𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒏’ practically begins to write itself:“𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒕; 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒈𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉…..𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒂𝒈𝒆. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒔𝒐 𝑰 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅, '𝑰'𝒗𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒂 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒔𝒕, 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓.”Stone was discharged in November 1968 after the recipient of both a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart, and shortly started writing 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒏’s screenplay to counteract depictions of war (Namely, John Wayne’s 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝑩𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒔 being referred to specifically) that had been previously released.Production efforts, however, were far from being in Stone’s favor.Written circa 1971 and not made until 1986, perhaps we should state the obvious: when initially proposed as a project to a number of production studios the amount of those interested was few and far between.The reasons why are as ironic as they come, with many potential investors expressing disapproval of 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒏’s bleak tone in addition to its uncompromising realism. To make matters worse, production was further complicated by the refusal to be involved in any capacity by the United State’s Department of Defense (DOD) in what would seem like a reversal of roles in retrospect: Stone was asking for ammo in the form of military equipment he could be loaned, and the DOD basically told him to eat [expletive] and die.(Fun fact: This equipment would be loaned by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the ability to film in the Philippines was nearly threatened by a series of public demonstrations that took place during the EDSA Revolution)Constrained by a small budget, 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒏 was disadvantaged by the inaccessibility of special effects technology and easily manipulated lighting……but with a good enough cast such weaknesses can go intermittently unnoticed. Two weeks before shooting started all of the cast members had to endure an especially rigorous course meant to emulate the hardships of basic training, with trusted military advisor Dale Dye overseeing the entire operation. As a consequence of this, actors were burnt out and pushed beyond the limited of their usual ‘to-dos’, and this is reflected in the palpable bits of frustration and exhaustion captured in 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒏’s overarching context.Viewers need not be worried about 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒏’s potential to be shallow or just another notch in the belt that endorses nationalistic ideals. Enough is said naturally in the way that its characters are juxtaposed, with Dafoe and Berenger wavering gracefully between a representation of those that support war and those that are consumed by it.And sure. On one hand the background of certain characters is never revealed when it could be beneficial information to have, but 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒏 is a conspicuous and affective piece of work because of what its characters say, what its characters do, and their own variety-riddled conclusions; moreover, 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒏 uses periods of uncomfortable silence to emphasize the indiscriminately savage nature of war, with Taylor’s ramblings suggestive of the internalized conflict that service members are expected to endure without question.Having absolutely no service experience myself, I can only speak from my lack thereof, I suppose.Struck early on by the introduction of Taylor, earliest impressions suggest an inability to move freely because of a heavy load he lugs around: both literally and symbolically.Chastised and encouraged to throw away items that are situationally unnecessary - items that may be reminiscent of innocence or a more comfortable time - this sudden abandonment of sentimental materials could be a metaphorical implication of what war ultimately necessitates: this being a renunciation of personality traits and little concern for the ramifications of warfare. At no point does ‘𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒏’ point its finger at the powers-that-be or at the entities responsible for committing to conflict, but it does ask for the reevaluation and reformation of a system so strongly dependent on irrefutable authority.Does it work? I guess I can’t say, but about one thing I am certain:People shouldn’t make beds they are unwilling to die in.

One of my favorite Vietnam war movies. Oliver Stone did an amazing job

Great movie. It arrived on time and in good condition.

This and the remake of All Quiet on the Western Front are the two best war films ever made.

I don't know how normal it is for a woman who wears bows on her shoes to have watched a movie as many times as I have Platoon, but since its premier it has remained one of my favorites.Setting aside all real life moral and political considerations, and perhaps the veracity of minor details, I find none of the other artistic forays into the Vietnam War as realistic or forceful as Platoon, since unlike the other filmmakers, director Oliver Stone actually served in the war [with distinction ]from 1967-68 with the 25th infantry and then with the First Cavalry. The other reviewers have summarized the plot well, so I'll just add some observations.The first time I saw it, I was blown away by the visceral impact of the action—not only in the battle sequences, but in terms of actually being incountry. Suffering from lack of sleep, eating crap rations, marching while humping heavy loads in the heat, humidity, rains; dealing with insects and snakes- compounded by the frustration of always being so close to an unseen enemy but often unable to engage him are simply mind boggling. Then of course there was the fear: of the unknown, of booby traps, collateral fire, villagers who may have been innocents or sympathizers—and the terror of being wounded or killed.The attention to detail, despite some criticism from other reviewers is remarkable. Is all here: the forest, the village and its people, guys jerking off in full view, misdirected friendly fire, the underground tunnels of the Viet Cong, and in one stunning sequence, as the men get ready to walk out into the field at dusk after they get the order to lock and load, a black man raising his voice in an almost spiritual rendition of O Susanna. There are also self inflicted wounds, racism, cruelty, a lieutenant who is unable to lead, ideological schisms about how to win the war or even if the war is worth fighting, along with malice and murder.What impressed me, and it is rare in American cinema, was to finally see black men portrayed as regular people -not comic relief, kindly helpers, martyrs, victims, criminals or elegant supermen ala Sidney Poitier. The characterizations are stunning in their ordinariness: fast talking black power supporter Junior, young and frightened Francis, bodybuilding party guy Manny, sweet talking Big Hal, heroin addicted Warren, ready to turn a blind eye to moral issues just to survive, – and for me always at the heart of the movie-the wonderful Keith David as the uneducated but incredibly wise and generous King, who, delineating the chasm between black and white, rich and poor, tells the narrator, 'Who ever said we counted for anything? All you have to do is get out of here alive, and the rest of your life will be gravy.'The white guys are no less wonderfully drawn: pragmatic Rhah, brown nosing O'Neill, easy going surfer Crawford, psychotic Bunny, the completely inept Lieutenant Wolfe, the translator, Lerner, the kindly medic who is appalled by violence, and the young man who narrates the story, Chris, a college kid from a well-to -do family who has volunteered for duty. But make no mistake-these aren't types like we saw in most WWII Hollywood fare—but multifaceted and surprising human beings.In a sense the story revolves around Chris [ Charlie Sheen] and the two pivotal characters who will influence and define his maturity: the humane, thoughtful and individualistic Sergeant Elias [ Willem Dafoe] and Sergeant Barnes [ Tom Berenger], the brutal realist who effectively runs the platoon and knows what it takes to keep the men alive and functioning as a unit. In the course of the story, Chris will choose his side, though he will also for better or worse incorporate the characteristics of both men.Berenger and Dafoe give outstanding performances as does Keith David—and I think the then young Charlie Sheen was a wonderful choice for Chris. Not only does he look like a stand in for Oliver Stone but the casting nods to his father, Martin Sheen, who was the lead in Apocalypse Now. And if you are impressed at all with Dafoe, watch Stone's Born on the 4th of July where Dafoe gives one of his greatest performances as the embittered and disabled veteran, Charlie from Chicago.

Platoon is a 1986 American war film written and directed by Oliver Stone, starring Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Charlie Sheen, Keith David, Kevin Dillon, John C. McGinley, Forest Whitaker, and Johnny Depp. It is the first film of a trilogy of Vietnam War films directed by Stone, followed by Born on the Fourth of July (1989) and Heaven & Earth (1993). The film, based on Stone's experience from the war, follows a U.S. Army volunteer (Sheen) fighting in the war while his two sergeants (Berenger and Dafoe) argue over the leadership of the platoon.Stone wrote the screenplay based upon his experiences as a U.S. infantryman in Vietnam, to counter the vision of the war portrayed in John Wayne's The Green Berets. Although having written films such as Midnight Express and Scarface, Stone struggled to get the film developed until Hemdale Film Corporation acquired the project along with Salvador. Filming took place in the Philippines in February 1986 and lasted 54 days. Platoon was the first Hollywood film to be written and directed by a veteran of the Vietnam War.Upon its release, Platoon received critical acclaim for Stone's directing and screenplay, the performances, cinematography, battle sequences and realism. The film was a box office success upon its release, grossing $138.5 million domestically against its $6 million budget. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards at the 59th Academy Awards and won four including Best Picture, Best Director for Stone, Best Sound and Best Film Editing. In 1998, the American Film Institute placed Platoon at #83 in their "AFI's 100 Years ... 100 Movies" poll. In 2019, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".One of my favourite war movies and must watch for any war movie fan.

What is with the sound in this release! I purchased on its initial release some years back, and I’m still reading reviews from last year saying the the DTS-5.1 and 4 English tracks have no surround sound! How after all this time has this not been picked up by the distributor. If I want surround sound, I have to watch the foreign language soundtracks! Pretty ridiculous! I’ve looked all Over google and found nothing in reviews mentioning it, is this an issue that only seems to appear on random discs or are they all like it? I was hoping to Repurchase in the hope it may be fixed, but alas it appears the problem is still out there

War is hell they say, the film certainly seems to agree.Charlie Sheen stars as our main protagonist a young man who finds himself completely out of his depth in the jungles of Vietnam. His company quickly fragments into two hostile camps as the stress of war begins to take it's tool on the men. The environment they find themselves in is one whether moral thresholds are crossed, there is little accountability and attitudes towards death become casual and uncaring.Charlie Sheen does a fine job in his role though I'd say that William Defoe steals the show with his performance. The film is brutual in it's realism, limbs are blown off, soliders bleed to death and even the elements conspire against our team with constant rain and mosquitoes at war with them.The tone is dark and meancing, danger lurks not just outside the group but within, it's the kind of situation where everybody needs someone to watch their back. The film score is made of up tragic harrowing music. If the director does not have sympathy with the war objectives then you can see that he does at least with the men brought in to fight the war. The day and night-time scenes are well lit for a murky jungle and the cast really throw themselves physically into the role.There's lots of character development for Sheen's character, his a raw idealistic youth confronted with the shock of real combat and savage soldiers out of control. The pacing of the film never lets up and I was surprised this was made for just $6 million, even the non combat scenes are full of conflict. I don't think you can really improve on this film as one of the greatest in the war genera.The Blu Ray also offers superb picture and sound quality.

I have owned this film in dvd for years so thought I’d purchase the Blu-ray as an upgrade.Remembering this is a film from the 80’s it was never going to be HD quality but they have done a good job in improving the picture quality overall.The soundtrack has been improved but it is also where things suddenly fall flat. Neither the DTS-HD or 4.0 surround English tracks have any surround, the rear speakers are just silent, even when I try to force surround rather than playing the original source. All the other language tracks both DTS and surround on the disc provide surround sound. Very disappointing

I think this film is the most accurate portrayal of a platoon's experience in Vietnam around. There's not some Hollywood star with the rank of a colonel leading a platoon as I've seen in some films - just an inexperienced (2nd) lieutenant undermined by a more experienced NCO (Staff Sgt Barnes, played by Tom Berenger). Even the little details are there - such as Sgt Elias (played by Willem Dafoe) wearing a Cav patch on his right sleeve and making references to Ia Drang (I've obviously watched this too many times).I'm not sure if all the events portrayed happened to Oliver Stone as there are similar events in the book "Nam" by Mark Baker and the famous death scene on the cover is very similar to one in the book "Platoon Leader" by James R. McDonough, both of which pre-date this film.The film is an achievement and it's worth getting a version with the extras. The commentaries are interesting, especially Dale Dye's, who was the military adviser on the film and also fought in the Marines in Vietnam - and is featured briefly in the book "Dispatches" by Michael Herr.The best extra is the "making of" called "Return to the Inferno" (I think) which features a lot of the cast, Oliver Stone and Dale Dye describing the experience of making the film. Highly recommended - when is it out on blu-ray?