Guerilla filmmaking

There was no event more divisive in America during the last 50 years than the Vietnam War. While everyone seemed to have an opinion on the rights and wrongs of the war, the men who actually fought were often ignored or forgotten. Oliver Stone's "Platoon" was a breakthrough in that it told the story of the Vietnam War through the eyes of the common enlisted soldier, and did so without glossing over the harsh realities of the war.\nIt helped that Stone served in Vietnam in 1967-68, as his script and direction take on a real air of authenticity. Most of the events and characters in the movie are based upon what Stone actually encountered during his time there.\n"Platoon" essentially chronicles Stone's experiences through the character of Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen), who arrives in Vietnam wide-eyed and naïve, having volunteered to serve his country. Almost immediately though, Chris's preconceptions are shattered as he cannot make sense of the confusion around him. To Chris and his fellow men, Vietnam becomes Hell, an inescapable pit of death, rape, heat and bugs. Their only release comes in getting high and singing Motown in their downtime.\nThe rest of the film is centered on an ideological battle for the soldiers' minds manifested in the characters of Sgt. Barnes (a brutal Tom Berenger) and Sgt. Elias (Willem Dafoe, at his most compassionate). Barnes and his followers are hawks in the strictest sense, with their hatred for the Vietnamese prevailing over everything else. Elias serves with a more benevolent hand, questioning the Army's involvement and actions in the war. \nThis new two-disc set is worth having just for the special features alone. Along with the usual fare of commentaries, deleted scenes and trailers, there are six documentaries included that range from the historical aspects of the war, to the difficulties of filming in the Philippines, to an emotional Q&A with real veterans after a screening of the film. \nThe most interesting \ndocumentary centered on the cast's experience prior to and during filming. Stone, wanting his actors to understand just what Vietnam was like, put them through two weeks of simulated army duty in the Philippine jungle. Although most of the cast came to detest Stone for his brazen and authoritarian tactics, he was clearly able to coax some of the best performances of their careers. \n"Platoon" should be mandatory viewing for anyone who wants to understand the true nature of war. War is glorious only in hindsight, and is not about political leadership or brilliant-minded generals, but about the men who fight on their behalf.