It must be noted that "Platoon" is based on writer/director Oliver Stone's own experiences as an infantry soldier in the Vietnam War. It was the first film to realistically depict the war on screen-- "The Deer Hunter" and "Apocalypse Now" are not realistic depictions of Vietnam. Chris Taylor, Charlie Sheen's character, is Oliver Stone-- he too dropped outta Harvard to fight in the war. And all the characters are based on people he served with and the most of the situations depicted in the film were based on real experiences. It's considered the most realistic Vietnam War film ever made and many, many veterans consider it the most realistic war movie overall. To date, Oliver Stone is the only director of a Vietnam War film to have actually served in the conflict.
Willem Dafoe once said that to this day he gets big, tough guys that come up to him and tell how Elias' death scene brought them to tears. The reoccurring, melancholic theme is called Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber. Great reaction and insight as always Flix Talk!
William Dafoe was the goat in this movie. I rarely cry while watching movies but that scene when Elias was being chased down as the helicopters were leaving, I simply lost it. Very few scenes ever left that kind of impression on me, Oliver Stone you killed it in this movie...unforgettable. Please, watch "Casualties of War" Michael J. Fox & Sean Penn next.
In the early 90's I started a new job and our engineer was an Army Vietnam Vet who wasn't in the platoon represented here but in another platoon in the same company. He told me the movie is very realistic. I was so glad that when I went in the military it was the Navy. When I was in the Vietnam combat zone, nobody ever shot at me. Thank God.
1986 had my 3 favorite movies ever: Platoon, Aliens, and Top Gun. The acting by Berenger as Barnes was the best, but King, O'Neal, Bunny, and Junior were also superbly portrayed.
In 1987 Willem Dafoe came to Portugal with his theatre company, he walked on stage to a standing ovation every single night. He was so surprised it was a delight to see.
The hardest part of this movie … is we as Americans realize how we are seen as the villains. We were NOT the good guys . The village scene is horrific.
Horrible thing is that war brings worst things out of many people and also some people bacame soldiers because they know that they may be able to kill or rape someone and get away with it in time of war, its hard to imagine what kind of a man one have to be to go for example in civilian buildings, killing and torturing average people for some sick satisfaction
@LaMonica Williams What do you think it was like for those of us who were there, growing up loving and believing in your country, and finding out that your country and leaders had lied to you, your friends were getting killed, and speaking out would get you court-martialed? It should be noted that the VC and NVA also committed terrible atrocities, wiping out entire villages if they backed the South Vietnamese government. Thanks for your comment, it's right on.
Taylor was obeying a direct order with Barnes at the end ("Do it..."). And I remember when this one came out. Probably the most honest film about the war ever made...
I saw this movie in Tucson when it came out, the lines wrapped around the mall to the point that the wait time was longer than the movie's run time. I belive I saw it 3 times the first week.
Bro, just finishing up this reaction, really intense and emotional, you really brought it back to me how intense it was. There's a reason I saw it twice in the theaters, two nights in a row, and never saw it again! I found myself crying right along with you, and this was just an edit of the movie, not even the whole thing. Oliver Stone was one of these grunts, this is very autobiographical, and it's what separates "Platoon" from the other Vietnam movies, and most war movies, in general. PS: Thanks for the "Curb Your Enthusiasm" music! Those were two good moments of levity! GREAT REACTION!
Thank you for enjoying my reaction! Yes the village scenes in full were disturbing and seemed so damn real...as if it was really happening in front of me like a snuff film...thanks for the comment!
FYI the string piece used throughout the film is Adagio for Strings, by composer Samuel Barber written in 1936. The really messed up part of Vietnam was that it was a completely avoidable conflict and a perfect example of creating your own enemy. Ho Chi Mihn was an alley during WW2 and was a great admirer of the US and our constitution, if we had stayed true to our word and not allowed the French to recolonize following WW2, it never would have happened. Unfortunately, we reneged on our promise and supported the French, Ho Chi Mihn found allies in the Soviets and Chinese and took up communism. There are tons of movies revolving around the Vietnam War, the conflict often described or called The Forgotten War is Korea. Casualties of War with Michael J. Fox and Sean Penn, Hamburger Hill with Dylan McDermott, Don Cheadle and Courtney B. Vance, Full Metal Jacket with Matthew Modine and Vincent D'Onofrio, Bat 21 with Gene Hackman and Danny Glover are all excellent films about the Vietnam War, there is also John Waynes pro-war film The Green Berets, which is at the very least, a borderline pro USA propaganda piece.
There's a good documentary about the making of 'Platoon' where it's said that the scene in the village where Barnes was holding his pistol to the little girl's head, nearly started a fist-fight among the crew. Some of the crew thought the guys directing the scene were pushing it too far, because the girl was being traumatized, and they were going to intervene, but calm heads prevailed and they got the scene.
NVA is North Vietnamese army. The official army of North Vietnam. VC is Viet Cong. A civilian "militia" who assisted the NVA by storing food and weapons in villages. And there lies the problem. When they found the weapons and rice in the village, the Americans naturally assumed the vilagers were VC, but it is entirely possible that the villagers weren't VC, but the VC strongarmed the village into storing the weapons and rice there.
This film was especially accurate in its depiction of village "shakedowns" during the war. Our military approach to such incidents often included the massacre of entire villages including children! We have yet to fully pay back the Karma that is way overdue!
From what I've heard Vietnam is a NASTY place even without a war going on. Hot and humid af, mosquitos the size of ping pong balls, and lots and lots of rain. Can't remember if you've seen FORREST GUMP, so all I'll say is there's a scene when they're talking about how important it was to take care of your feet. Apparently the humidity's so bad that, with those heavy boots and carrying all that weight, your toes could literally start rotting off before you even felt it. Unfortunately for Junior he was putting bug spray on his feet, which might've bee the only way to protect them while he was airing them out or changing his socks, but only made things worse. Barnes apparently thought he was doing it on purpose to catch a ride home. Knowing Junior, I wouldn't really doubt it. Still a fd up situation though.
I saw this the week it opened......and then I went back and saw it the next night......and I've never seen it since! At the time, all of these actors were unknown! I can't believe Johnny Depp was in this, I definitely know who he was back then. Great reaction. "Apocalypse Now", "The Deer Hunter" and "Platoon", those are holy trinity of Vietnam movies (although in the 70s, you would have listed "Coming Home", but that takes place back home, not in the war zone itself.) If you see those three movies, you'll get half the visual jokes in "Tropic Thunder"! lol.
I've seen this movie more times than I can imagine. Its nice to see your genuine reaction with not much talking. A lot of "reaction youtubers" just exaggerate their emotions and thoughts for views. Thank you.
Thanks for the reaction. I found this movie so powerful back in 1986 that I could only watch it the one time I saw it in the theatre. If you haven’t done so already, I’d also reco a reaction to Born on the Fourth of July.
Tom Berenger and Charlie Sheen appear together again in Major League ;-) ...for another Willem Dafoe movie, I'd suggest Mississippi Burning. Vietnam gut-punch? Casualties Of War Vietnam ala Stanley Kubrick? Full Metal Jacket Little-known war gut-punch? Savior starring Dennis Quaid
Fun movie fact- Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber, the main soundtrack theme, was placed into the film at the last moment by Oliver Stone. A French composer had completed an original score for Platoon but Stone fell in love with Barber's classic 1936 piece when it was applied as a temp track during early editing. The French composer did not learn his score had been dropped until attending the movie premiere, with his family alongside him, and the film began. Ouch.
"Born on the 4th of July" is definitely one of Tom Cruise's best work. Also, "Casualties of War" is another vietnam film you should check out that stars Sean Penn and Michael J Fox
I watched this in theaters with my mom. I was born in 78' so I was about 9 years old. 🤷 Trauma. I vividly remember, luck, we my mom and I she ran into a cousin of hers after the movie ended there in the cinema place, who had served in Vietnam. I was little but I remember him saying that the movie depicted the war accurately
It may be the greatest war movie ever… It’s certainly the greatest anti-war movie ever made.. The crowning achievement of a very interesting filmmaker.. BTW, I love Keith David, too.. When is he not fantastic?..
My dad served infantry in the Army in Vietnam in 68/69. He said he never saw any of the stuff in this movie happen around him. He did see a lot of young American boys get blown to bits by mines and trigger devices. A lot in this movie was exaggerated but that doesn't mean there weren't incidents.
My uncle served in it. He said he lives his life by what King told Taylor before the final fight. "Just make it out of here and everyday the rest of your life will be gravy"
Being in Vietnam was Hell on Earth. The movie for the most part depicts the war and my experiences as a 19 year old draftees. NVA is the Regular North Vietnam Army vs the Viet Cong . JMW 1Cav Division 1970-71
Oliver Stone wrote the script based upon his own experiences in Vietnam. During his time, 1/2 of the time was under a leader like Barnes and the other 1/2 was under a leader like Elias. The two conflicting personality approach to leadership was a good overall 'story" of how the conflict of war actually conflicted with personality types. The main conflict between Elias and Barnes DID NOT happen in real life. But their different personalities going up against each other makes one of the most compelling "in-unit" stories ever told of any war movie made. The personalities, the factions, the philosophy... BOTH of them were needed in order to survive and maintain a sense of sanity in an insane situation. Yet, with just a slight push towards the 'extremes' made a physical conflict inevitable. Especially when viewed by Sheen's (Stone) point of view and trying to make sense of it all while being lead by 2 different mindsets of leaders.
Barnes upset so many people who watched this film, but tend not to give Tom Berenger credit for an outstanding performance, for which he justifiably received an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor, as did Willem Dafoe. Michael Caine beat them to the statue. That aside I thoroughly enjoyed your reaction to this masterpiece of a film. Just the right amount of pauses, and excellent insightful comments. I look forward to some more videos from you
good thing that you are watching Platoon ...want a good cast Willem Dafoe, Charlie Sheen it's is a must watch for every movie buff ...perfect Vietnam movie you can see the parts that were pareded in Tropic Thunder
best war movie a must watch it doesn't sugar coat war gives a glimpse into how brutal war is, at least what the average citizen imagines is a "glimpse"
Junior was spraying mosquito repellant on his feet, he said he couldn't walk and wanted to get on the chopper with King. He was scared like most of them were back then and a lot were drafted in and didn't want to be there in the first place.
Junior was saying something was wrong with his feet because he was trying to get sent to the hospital. He doesn't want to get killed. That's also why he was ok with being court-martialed.
we were all sobbing in the theater when we saw elias get shot and then running for his life again coming out of the jungle. i would’ve shot barnes’ ass for sure. SIDEBAR: tom berenger’s accent (“barnes”) was the inspiration for tom hardy’s accent in “The Revenant”.
In a place called me lay a platoon of army soldiers did execute an entire village. Nothing was done about it for a couple years. They did finally prosecute 1 Lt. He got a fairly light sentence.
I went to Vietnam, and did a trip to the tunnels. Went in and boy they are small. We had a chance to go far with exits every 25 yards, I bailed on the first one. Amazing place amazing people. There was no way the USA was going to defeat them. They had just beaten France. Amazing people. So friendly I really need to go back.
My First Husband served in Viet Nam!😢… This is what he said actually happened there… Soldiers DID Kill some of their Commanders because they were in essence fighting each other like Gang Members!😢
The time span of the story is about six weeks. Chris was wounded on his first night in the bush and would have been treated for a few days. On his first day back, at the shit-burning detail King says his tour ends in 40 days, but he is sent home a few days early on the eve of the final fight.
At 11:53 you got it, two groups of soldiers is what the war turned on, there was fundamental tension between the "lifers" like Sgt. Barnes and the guys didn't question the morality of the war, who drank, and the "heads" like Sgt. Elias who smoked grass and thought the war was BS and wrong. This division led to madness and murder, they say about 800 names on the Vietnam Memorial were killed by "fragging", this reflected the stark divisions in the US, war protestors vs. the "Silent Majority". America blamed the war on the veterans ordered to fight, we became the scapegoats for Americas' criminal war in Asia, the divisions caused by the lies of JFK, LBJ, Nixon, and Gen. Westmoreland have never healed and America has been in a death spiral every since. How can you fight a war when you can't tell the difference between the civilians and the enemy? The war was about Vietnam trying to free itself from foreign domination, we never should have been there. And we repeated Vietnam in Iraq, with worse results.
I would recommend the film "The Anderson Platoon" (Marc Levy Cut) as the best depiction of Vietnam. It was mad by a French film maker who also fought for France in the 50s vs. The Viet-Minh. Truly a great and heart-wrenching film.
This and Full Metal Jacket are two of the most realistic, top tier Nam movies made. Other greats that are just a bit under top tier in my opinion are; We Were Solders, Hamburger Hill, The Deer Hunter, Casualties of War. Apocalypse Now is the most unrealistic. It was not an accurate portrayal of Vietnam war, at least not from many Vietnam Vet’s viewpoint. There was nothing there that came close to real experiences in Vietnam. It was a drug induced fantasy story with silly combat scenes.
You are not wrong! Comparing it to "Apocalypse Now" or even "Private Ryan": I would say as cinema and as scripts are concerned, those two movies ARE better. I'd definitely say Coppolla and Spielberg are better directors than Stone. But like you said: once the village stuff goes down, then Elias, and we go into that third act...the movie definitely elevates. I'd say "Private Ryan" makes me feel like I'm in a WWII battle, and this movie puts me in Vietnam. ("The Deer Hunter" puts you in a POW camp in Vietnam, which is a whole other cage of rats.....lol). ("Full Metal Jacket" puts you in boot camp! The Vietnam section of the movie isn't great, but the boot camp section is the best of all time).
Great reaction. How did Charlie Sheen's character turn so hard and fast? Because he comes from a world that never sees that. So it hits him harder and faster than the others. Because the others come from rough hoods and are more acclimated to the violence. I totally get Sheen's character. And your bit about 'bro code'... Yeah, I see it all the time. Every day.
The scene where Sheen throws the grenade RIGHT into the enemy bunker was actually an ACCIDENT. The effect was meant for there, but he wasn't actually trying to get the prop grenade into the bunker. He had played baseball in HS and was familiar with the motions. But when he actually tossed it into the bunker on his 1st try, the reaction of mouthing the words 'holy sh**" were REAL because he was actually surprised he had gotten it into the bunker.
The village scene is based on real events in Nam war. Read about the My Lai m*ss*cre. There is a memorial today. I am from India. What the Western powers and Israel are doing in Palestine comes as no surprise to us Asians. Liked your reaction.
Sheen’s character didn’t do the various things he did due to bravery or in the case of the impaired boy in the village because of evil. Almost everything “Chris” did was because he was out of his mind terrified. The one time he did be heroic was when he stepped in to prevent the rape of the villagers. That took serious guts. Any one of those guys could decide at any time to kill Chris just like Barnes did Elias. People get “accidentally” shot in battle if they make the wrong enemies.
The scene at the end where Raah grabs a white sack from a dead VC shirt pocket is Opium, as the VC used as a pain killer, to touch on the Opium problem among the US troops
You should watch Brian De Palma's "Casualties of War" that's a really tough Vietnam War movie to watch. And also another Oliver Stone movie called "Born on the Fourth of July" which is awesome.
One aspect of the Vietnam war that is rarely mentioned is the following. The world is lucky the Warsaw Pact and NATO never came to blows directly. Instead, the Cold War was fought through proxies. The Cold War could have transpired in many ways, but it didn't go in the worst directions. Could have been a land war in Europe, land war in China, limited nuclear exchange in Korea, Europe, Cuba, or the Middle East. Limited strategic exchange or full scale. The total destruction in proxy wars prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall was as low as could be reasonably expected. While I like the thought expressed by Charlie Sheen's character (sorry I forgot his name) at the end of the movie, it is of little value, which I know sounds heartless. But Oliver Stone was interviewed and asked about the Ukraine war and was at a loss for what to do. He was able to put together an emotional masterpiece that will last for a hundred years, but has no recommendations for what to do while watching a similar situation unfolding in the real world.
Dude-Charlie Sheens’s character as well as a lot of other characters were not “ Murderers”- they did what they had to do to survive! I’m NOT talking about the “bad” characters-there’s always some unsavory people in a crowd…
'Hell in the Pacific' is a great movie by John Boorman right on YT. DaFoe is great in this. Oliver Stone has many axes to grind, which he sells in his movies. He is willing to get history wrong. My problem is, when it's done, it's propaganda.
NVA- North Vietnamese Army [communists/foe]. U nailed this rev. cuz', exactly what O.Stone [a 'Nam vet] was trying 2portray- the dynamics o/an infantry platoon during combat. Check out 'FURY' -savage! +Great cast. Army are some crazy MoFos >all my USMC buds who were getting kicked off [4dumb sht]- went Army, fearless +u couldn't put a leash on 'em.
the dynamics were a microcosm of the war, some were believers and some thought it was criminal, and people died over those divisions, which were the reflections of a nation divided on the home front.
Omg you should react to another Vietnam War movie that not a lot of people know about. It’s called Casualties of War, and it is based on a true story. It was first published in a New York Times article in 1969, and then later adapted into a movie.
@36:55 _Why is there that (Nazi) flag waving?_ Dale Dye, who waas the movie's Military Advisor was asked about it by The Atlantic in 2010: Dye: For the same reason that soldiers had flags with the skull-and-cross bones image on it. We carried state flags as well. Atlantic: Did you see that when you were there? Dye: Sure. But all that didn't mean that much to us at 19. We were young, rebellious kids. We weren't making political statements. We were making a military statement: We're Stormtroopers, we'll tear your ass apart. We also put horrible graffiti on our helmets and flak jackets.
dude!! never insert fuckin comedy into a real life situation. Schwarzenegger films? FINE! HERE!? NO!! I HAVE THE SICKEST SENSE OF HUMOR OF ALL TIME and i found that piss poor in a movie i adore. OTHER THAN THAT!! GREAT REACTION DUDE!! You were really into this movie and your fear felt real! Your compassion felt real!! I was born in 1970 and have this abnormal connection to Vietnam Vets and that lie of a war. I am quick to tears over this war and the movies that give us that experience...almost as if i died there in my previous life. I have had 2 Vietnam Vets in my life in the last 5 years, and both have given me the greatest compliment i could ever imagine as we sit there smokin a joint together and listening to classic tunes.... They both said, not knowing one another, to me.... "You make me feel like i did before NAM." My chest caved in and hurt from the squeeze it was feeling!!! I was sssso fuckin humbled yet, as proud as i have ever felt!! i knew what that meant!! WE WERE BUDDIES!! POSSIBLY FROM CHILDHOOD!! THOSE BOYS YOU GREW UP IN HIGHSCHOOL TOGETHER!! and those moments of INNOCENCE... YOUR LAST MOMENTS OF INNOCENCE. THAT COMPLIMENT WILL CARRY ME ALLLLL THE WAY THROUGH LIFE!! it means everything to me.
how did i get here? Your reaction to one of my faves, WHAT ABOUT BOB? I loved your skeptical, safe approach to this Bill Murray laugh fest that had you rollin 3 minutes in!! DUDE!! TRUST ME OBKB? COMEDY/BILL MURRAY If you count out the GIVENS, STRIPES & CADDYSHACK, next comes, THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO LITTLE!! OMFG!! and for the kidz LARGER THAN LIFE Bill with an elephant!! Others you might enjoy if you love the classic stumblebums... MARTIN SHORT & DANNY GLOVER in PURE LUCK!!!! PURE LUCK!!! PURE LUCK!! SSSSSO DERN FUNNY!!!! MARTIN SHORT & KURT RUSSEL in CAPTAIN RON HARRISON FORD & whats her face. Anne Hesch!! in 6 DAYS SEVEN NIGHTS THE FIRST 2 ORIGINAL BAD NEWS BEARS!! BAD NEWS BEARS original & BREAKING TRAINING!! As for my sick sense of humor that with this movie has tightened up quite a bit, but when i was 16&+ moving forward, the humor in this movie came from the following, "Guy's here 3 years thinks he's jesus fuckin christ or sumthin!" - O'Neal "Yeah, but i still like a piece a pussy!! Aint nuthin like a piece a pussy!!!! Except maybe the Indy500!!" - Bunny "Get that stupid look off your face!!" Francis (AKA Lead singer for black rock group LIVING COLOUR - GLOVER) Not so funny as you watch with EMPATHY.
For the role that certainly got DaFoe his role in PLATOON, watch TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. (1985) which sparked the career of a young Balls to the Wall actor named William Peterson. (CSI FLAGSTAFF or whatever CSI it is)
Watch Ray Liotta in No Escape. An A.bstract I.nversion of Platoon. Another film depicting young, unstable, homosexual or predatory soldiers. Just the way Hellywood wants them. Less disrespectful to Vietnam victims on both side. I own both dvd's and over the years, missed MANY key indicators. BTW: This film confirms that Ledger's Joker has a military backstory.
This was a great movie and I think you should watch Casualties of War which stars Micheal j fox and is a true story. So many other stars too. It's really worth a watch it was so over shadowed by this platoon and so many other that came out at the same time.
Amongst pot smokers that's known as getting a shotgun. In Vietnam it was quite literally a shotgun. Nowadays they have somewhat safer ways of getting the same effect.
Why didn’t you know about it? Because, this movie was so impactful that it changed the minds of people in regards to war and vindicated what soldiers said happened when they came home. Movies like this shut down the military war machine and the money flowing to arms dealers - that’s why. They don’t make movies like this anymore, because they’re told purposely not to. While this came out in the 80s, military sign ups were massively love and during the 80s and into the 90s, there was a massive attempt to change the image of the military and clean it up. You probably remember the Marines advertisements that were everywhere, which are all a massive lie about what it’s really like in the military. That was part of it. Unfortunately, it worked, as signup for the Afghanistan/Iraq war was massive and everyone fell for the lies of the government. The only ones who could smell the bullshit were veterans, ones that served in actual combat, and their families.
