Rating:
Review: "Platoon is an awesome movie that is a very exciting action movie as well as compelling drama. Very hard hitting images that really bring intensity to the movie and a lot of suspense as well."
How it misses the point: Oliver Stone's "Platoon" presents a grueling grunt's-eye view of the Vietnam War. He eschews war movie convention by having ambiguous characters, confusing battles, and no heroics. Through his trademark camera work, Stone draws no clear battle lines; he abandons suspense for confusion. The result is horrifying, emotionally draining experience.
Action movies glamorize violence, or give visceral thrills. The above reviewer misses the point because "Platoon" is simply not an action movie. Because we have no clear sense of Charlie's position or the platoon's strategy, our uncertainty does not provoke excitement. Instead we are given chaos. Moreover, "Platoon" lacks a villain. We vaguely understand the enemy is in the jungle. The enemy, however, is not a "bad guy" with dastardly motivations. He is a faceless death that Stone makes no attempt to understand. If action movies are meant to get hearts racing, "Platoon" is meant to induce nausea.
Since the reviewer had such a fun time watching "Platoon," he probably would have loved to join our forces in Vietnam. I'm sure that within two weeks Barnes would have molded him into a sociopath.
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