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Platoon (1986)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer:
Oliver Stone (written by)
Release Date:
24 December 1986 (USA)
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Tagline:
The first casualty of war is innocence.
Plot:
A young recruit in Vietnam faces a moral crisis when confronted with the horrors of war and the duality of man. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Won 4 Oscars.
Another 18 wins
&
9 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(52 articles)
People Unveils Sexist Man Alive - And It's Not RPatty
(From PopStar. 18 November 2009, 11:52 PM, PST)
Taking Woodstock and cinema's love of trippy scenes | Anne Billson
(From The Guardian - Film News. 12 November 2009, 2:30 PM, PST)
(From PopStar. 18 November 2009, 11:52 PM, PST)
Taking Woodstock and cinema's love of trippy scenes | Anne Billson
(From The Guardian - Film News. 12 November 2009, 2:30 PM, PST)
User Comments:
Shows the harsh realities of war very effectively
more (421 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Keith David | ... | King |
 | Forest Whitaker | ... | Big Harold |
| Francesco Quinn | ... | Rhah |
 | Kevin Dillon | ... | Bunny |
 | John C. McGinley | ... | Sgt. O'Neill |
| Reggie Johnson | ... | Junior |
 | Mark Moses | ... | Lt. Wolfe |
| Corey Glover | ... | Francis |
 | Johnny Depp | ... | Lerner |
| Chris Pedersen | ... | Crawford |
| Bob Orwig | ... | Gardner |
| Corkey Ford | ... | Manny |
| David Neidorf | ... | Tex |
 | Tom Berenger | ... | Sgt. Barnes |
 | Willem Dafoe | ... | Sgt. Elias |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
120 min
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Germany:16 |
Canada:PA (Manitoba) |
Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) |
Iceland:16 |
Singapore:NC-16 (cut) |
Australia:MA (Special Edition DVD) |
Brazil:14 |
India:A |
Argentina:18 |
Australia:M |
Canada:13+ (Quebec) |
Chile:18 |
Finland:K-16 |
France:-12 |
Hong Kong:IIB |
Ireland:15 |
Israel:PG |
Japan:PG-12 |
Netherlands:16 |
New Zealand:M (DVD rating) |
New Zealand:R (original rating) |
Norway:18 |
South Korea:15 |
Spain:18 |
Sweden:15 |
UK:15 |
USA:R (PCA #28241) |
Vietnam:(Banned) |
West Germany:16
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Several of the actors wrote messages on their helmets worn throughout the movie. Charlie Sheen's helmet reads, "When I die, bury me upside-down, so the world can kiss my ass", while Johnny Depp's simply reads, "Sherilyn", a tribute to Sherilyn Fenn, whom Depp was dating at the time. Mark Moses (Lt. Wolfe) had on his helmet a drawing of MAD magazine mascot Alfred E. Neuman with the phrase "What, me worry?" and, according to Tom Berenger, this caused Oliver Stone to laugh hysterically once during filming.
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Goofs:
Anachronisms: Set in 1967, features Bunny listening to Merle Haggard's "Okie from Muskogee," not released until 1969.
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Quotes:
[first lines]
Pvt. Gardner: [seeing body bags] Aw, man, is that what I think it is?
Sergeant: All right, you cheese-dicks, welcome to the 'nam! Follow me.
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Pvt. Gardner: [seeing body bags] Aw, man, is that what I think it is?
Sergeant: All right, you cheese-dicks, welcome to the 'nam! Follow me.
more
Movie Connections:
Spoofed in Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993)
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Soundtrack:
OH! SUSANNA
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FAQ
Excluding the WIA's, who is left behind to fight from the Platoon?What happened to the men of the platoon?
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
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more (421 total)
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The Vietnam War has been one of the controversial wars in history and was an unpleasant experience for everyone involved. Oliver Stone harnessed these experiences to make Platoon; a film where he could illustrate to everyone what Vietnam was like from his perspective.
In my opinion, this is the best war movie ever made. The sheer horror of war is captured so well in everyway. The fear of death, compatriots dying, divisions in the platoon, guilt of killing; it's all there and Stone doesn't try to disguise it. Platoon is very honestly written and it is this honesty that makes the film so great. Platoon isn't an anti war movie and it certainly does not glorify war in anyway, it is simply how war is in its entirety. There are some shocking scenes such as the one in the Vietnamese village but there are also more light hearted moments such as where the troops on Dafoe's side are partying and having a good time. On base camp, there is great contrast with the mood but on the forest, it is just fear, aggression and blood, nothing else.
Taylor's (Charlie Sheen) story is very good as he experiencing war at the same time of the audience. Before the war, he was a rich kid who loved his grandma and it is how war changes him that is truly fascinating. The character story that always receives most praise however is that between Barnes (Tom Berenger) and Elias (Willem Dafoe) is very compelling and leads to some great scenes with them and carves an interesting divide within the camp. This film is big on character and explores many relationships but (take note Jarhead) doesn't sacrifice any action time for these scenes. Stone struck a perfect balance between action and story.
Acting from everyone involved is very good. Sheen as the naïve newcomer is very good and after this, should have done much better for himself than he did. Dafoe and Berenger, once again steal the attention off the lead. Their extreme contrasting personalities is brilliantly done and raises the standard of the film. Berenger is truly terrifying, he didn't hold back in this one. Dafoe is much more sympathetic and will speak his mind to anyone. Johnny Depp makes one of his early film appearances with a small, yet memorable role. The way Sheen is wearing Depp's bandana after Lerner (Depp) gets taken by the chopper is discretely done but touching.
Platoon is the best war movie there's ever been. Stone wrote and directed this film with such passion that it couldn't be anything but good. A great mix of characters, a great cast and such well crafted action scenes are all what you need for an exceptional war movie and they're all here. The film ends perfectly as we are given a chance to reflect and take it in before the credits start rolling. Stone, who often misses the point with his films, hit the nail on the head with this one.