Willem-Dafoe Movie Reviews

Those familiar with F.W. Murnau's 1922 classic, Nosferatu (or Werner Herzog's 1979 remake), might get more out of this movie than those unacquainted with these Germanic riffs on Stoker's Dracula. But E. Elias Merhige's Shadow of the Vampire is rich viewing for anyone intrigued by filmmaking that dares to challenge the viewer rather than feed his or her expectations. The premise is that Murnau cast a real vampire in the person of the frightful Max Schreck in his '22 film. John Malkovitch is a brilliant, egomaniacal, obsessed Murnau and Willem Dafoe becomes Shreck (or Orlock) in a sublimely tragi-comic performance. But who, you might find yourself wondering by the end of this meditation on art and immortality, is the real vampire and who the shadow? Orlock? Murnau? The film they are making?

To begin the video is an unforgetable portrayal of the horrors, confusion, and tragedy of war. The thing that sticks out in my mind is the closeness you feel for the common, everyday, and ordinary young men mentioned in the movie. Having talked to many veterans this closeness is exactly what develops during times of war. Not being able to experience war in our classrooms we can get a glimmer of the closeness from the movie. You see the faces, the emotions, the heartache, and for a lack of better words confusion and disilusionment that Vietnam brought to so many different people. The music is fantastic and adds a certain character and time to the experience of watching the video. I'm showing it, you should show it, and most of all reflect upon its message and purpose for being produced. A must show!

I originally saw this film on HBO, and, like another reviewer, recorded it for repeat viewing. My copy has long been unplayable, as I have watched and shown it over and over. I'm thrilled to see it's available here. I think it's the most powerful film I've ever seen - documentary, "indie" or commercial. The work that went into making this film by the Vietnam Veterans' Theatre Group is amazing. They reviewed and edited literally miles and miles of news footage, gathered letters home from families and friends, and in some cases were even able to link up the letter with film of the soldier who wrote it. The eloquence of the young soldiers and nurses will break your heart, and the increasingly haunted look in their eyes as the war wears on will stay with you for a long time. Couldn't I give it 10 stars???

This is an important movie to watch. It is never boring. I have seen this movie several times and I learn something new with each viewing.

What does it take to live when your chances are equal to a zero? What does it mean to survive at the expense of the others? WWII, Greece, Germans, Jews, camps, death... A young, strong boxer has a chance to fight. The SS would have fun betting on it. If he wins, he gets to live a little longer and a loaf of bread. Many people get a piece of this bread but most of all is his father and a brother. They are all he still have. He wins and lives. The looser dies. Every time he wins, he saves whatever left of the family. Every time he wins, he kills the looser. At the end, only he survives. The whole family is dead. All friends are dead. Was he right? Was not it easier to die? Yes, it was easier to die but he selects the difficult way of living being responsible for deaths of other fighters. He was able to prolong lives of the loved ones. He lived to tell the story and to fight another day. His spirit was not broken but triumphed.

This is an outstanding film with an excellent cast and the deepest power I have seen for a while. All I can say is see it for yourself and enjoy the best.

I have just finished viewing this movie and am speechless. First, to have the movie shot on location at Auschwitz with the remains of the camp in use and in view was numbing. To actually see the "mock" selections, assurances of a hot shower and the lie of the "health camp" for children put a touch of realism to some of the Holocaust survivor accounts that I have read. I did not live through the Holocaust but if this movie was one tenth of one percent of what it really was like, may God comfort and be merciful to the survivors and their families. I have never heard of the main character, played by Willem Dafoe, but he must have been a very brave man. I salute you, sir and as a Christian, I ask your forgiveness for what was done to the Jewish people in the name of Jesus Christ. I cautiously recommend this film for any serious student of the Holocaust, and urge that the message therein never be forgotten or repeated. Thank you.

Triumph of the Spirit is probably the most realistic dramatic recreation of the horrors of Auschwitz I've seen. Director Robert Young is a pro at bringing controversial independent films to fruition, and Dafoe gives one of his best performances here. He portrays Salamo Arouch, a Greek Jewish Olympic boxer deported to Auschwitz. This true story was filmed on location at Auschwitz and Birkenau (Auschwitz II) and we are shown the death machine in full operation. Again there is an intensity and realism to this film that makes Schindler's List pale in comparison.

Edward James Olmos portrays a gypsy singer who becomes a key ally of Salamo; Gypsy entertains the SS and Salamo boxes for them while they hope for the Russians to come. One relatively minor flaw of the film is that the actors who portray SS and camp guards seem benign, almost nice at times, and I really doubt the actual female guards were as good looking as a few of the Frauleins here.

But a good touch of realism is the languages. The Germans speak German, the Poles speak Polish, and the Russians speak Russian all without subtitles (compare this to Schindler's List). And the make up job was great; the victims really looked like they were on death's door.

If you want to know about the Holocaust this drama is near the top of the list with the best documentaries. And Polanski's "The Piano" should be good too.

Pixar has outdone themselves once again. "Finding Nemo" is the dramatic, sometimes sad & scary, sometimes drop-dead hilarious, tale (or should I say "tail"?) of a Father trying to find his lost son. In this case, the father (voice over by Albert Brooks), Marlin, is a clownfish living in a sea anemone. His son, Nemo, evokes images of Dicken's "Tiny Tim" character with his defective fin.

In light of todays news headlines where children are forcibly kidnapped from their own homes, the opening of the film may be too intense and overwhelming for some sensitive youngsters.

As with its other movies ("Toy Story," "Monsters, Inc.," etc.), the story is so well written, it can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

As someone who has a salt water aquarium at home with a pair of clownfish and a regal tang (the species of Dory, played by Ellen DeGeneres), I know first hand how these fish move through water and interact with other fish in the tank.

It's obvious that the artists involved in animating these characters studied their biology and behavior for hours on end. A few times, the fish are literally out of the water, and as the water on their skin begins to drip off, you can see the subtle highlights in their scales. Magnificent work.

Obviously, the fish are given human-like eyes... a truly necessary component to get you emotionally involved with these characters.

Even Bruce, the Great White shark, is an endearing fellow with an Australian accent. Despite the human-like characteristics, the adherence to physiological details on the rest of these species is incredible.

The lighting has such an effect that you feel like you are under water with the fish. The gentle swaying of the coral and anemones is surreal... just like the real Great Barrier Reef.

In reality, some of these fish would never encounter each other in the wild... and we all know that Starfish do not have eyes or smiley faces... but you do not care about those minor details while watching this film.

Dory is the beautiful blue & yellow regal tang fish who teams up with Marlin to find his son. Her tendency to forget almost everything she hears is a part of the charm of this character. Ellen DeGeneres' voice was perfect for this fish. The facial expressions on the characters, modeled after the actors that did their voices, are also priceless.

This movie is far more than eye-candy. The story and comedic timing are so good, it could be done with stick-figures and still be good.

This movie is an absolute delight. When it is released on DVD, it will immediately be added to my collection - this is a film I could see time and time again.

Pixar has outdone themselves once again. "Finding Nemo" is the dramatic, sometimes sad & scary, sometimes drop-dead hilarious, tale (or should I say "tail"?) of a Father trying to find his lost son. In this case, the father (voice over by Albert Brooks), Marlin, is a clownfish living in a sea anemone. His son, Nemo, evokes images of Dicken's "Tiny Tim" character with his defective fin.

In light of todays news headlines where children are forcibly kidnapped from their own homes, the opening of the film may be too intense and overwhelming for some sensitive youngsters.

As with its other movies ("Toy Story," "Monsters, Inc.," etc.), the story is so well written, it can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

As someone who has a salt water aquarium at home with a pair of clownfish and a regal tang (the species of Dory, played by Ellen DeGeneres), I know first hand how these fish move through water and interact with other fish in the tank.

It's obvious that the artists involved in animating these characters studied their biology and behavior for hours on end. A few times, the fish are literally out of the water, and as the water on their skin begins to drip off, you can see the subtle highlights in their scales. Magnificent work.

Obviously, the fish are given human-like eyes... a truly necessary component to get you emotionally involved with these characters.

Even Bruce, the Great White shark, is an endearing fellow with an Australian accent. Despite the human-like characteristics, the adherence to physiological details on the rest of these species is incredible.

The lighting has such an effect that you feel like you are under water with the fish. The gentle swaying of the coral and anemones is surreal... just like the real Great Barrier Reef.

In reality, some of these fish would never encounter each other in the wild... and we all know that Starfish do not have eyes or smiley faces... but you do not care about those minor details while watching this film.

Dory is the beautiful blue & yellow regal tang fish who teams up with Marlin to find his son. Her tendency to forget almost everything she hears is a part of the charm of this character. Ellen DeGeneres' voice was perfect for this fish. The facial expressions on the characters, modeled after the actors that did their voices, are also priceless.

This movie is far more than eye-candy. The story and comedic timing are so good, it could be done with stick-figures and still be good.

This movie is an absolute delight. When it is released on DVD, it will immediately be added to my collection - this is a film I could see time and time again.

Finding Nemo is a GREAT movie for all ages. It's is very funny and entertaining. I think it is the best Disney Movie that has ever been released. I highly suggested buying this movie.

Pixar has outdone themselves once again. "Finding Nemo" is the dramatic, sometimes sad & scary, sometimes drop-dead hilarious, tale (or should I say "tail"?) of a Father trying to find his lost son. In this case, the father (voice over by Albert Brooks), Marlin, is a clownfish living in a sea anemone. His son, Nemo, evokes images of Dicken's "Tiny Tim" character with his defective fin.

In light of todays news headlines where children are forcibly kidnapped from their own homes, the opening of the film may be too intense and overwhelming for some sensitive youngsters.

As with its other movies ("Toy Story," "Monsters, Inc.," etc.), the story is so well written, it can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

As someone who has a salt water aquarium at home with a pair of clownfish and a regal tang (the species of Dory, played by Ellen DeGeneres), I know first hand how these fish move through water and interact with other fish in the tank.

It's obvious that the artists involved in animating these characters studied their biology and behavior for hours on end. A few times, the fish are literally out of the water, and as the water on their skin begins to drip off, you can see the subtle highlights in their scales. Magnificent work.

Obviously, the fish are given human-like eyes... a truly necessary component to get you emotionally involved with these characters.

Even Bruce, the Great White shark, is an endearing fellow with an Australian accent. Despite the human-like characteristics, the adherence to physiological details on the rest of these species is incredible.

The lighting has such an effect that you feel like you are under water with the fish. The gentle swaying of the coral and anemones is surreal... just like the real Great Barrier Reef.

In reality, some of these fish would never encounter each other in the wild... and we all know that Starfish do not have eyes or smiley faces... but you do not care about those minor details while watching this film.

Dory is the beautiful blue & yellow regal tang fish who teams up with Marlin to find his son. Her tendency to forget almost everything she hears is a part of the charm of this character. Ellen DeGeneres' voice was perfect for this fish. The facial expressions on the characters, modeled after the actors that did their voices, are also priceless.

This movie is far more than eye-candy. The story and comedic timing are so good, it could be done with stick-figures and still be good.

This movie is an absolute delight. When it is released on DVD, it will immediately be added to my collection - this is a film I could see time and time again.

Pixar has outdone themselves once again. "Finding Nemo" is the dramatic, sometimes sad & scary, sometimes drop-dead hilarious, tale (or should I say "tail"?) of a Father trying to find his lost son. In this case, the father (voice over by Albert Brooks), Marlin, is a clownfish living in a sea anemone. His son, Nemo, evokes images of Dicken's "Tiny Tim" character with his defective fin.

In light of todays news headlines where children are forcibly kidnapped from their own homes, the opening of the film may be too intense and overwhelming for some sensitive youngsters.

As with its other movies ("Toy Story," "Monsters, Inc.," etc.), the story is so well written, it can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

As someone who has a salt water aquarium at home with a pair of clownfish and a regal tang (the species of Dory, played by Ellen DeGeneres), I know first hand how these fish move through water and interact with other fish in the tank.

It's obvious that the artists involved in animating these characters studied their biology and behavior for hours on end. A few times, the fish are literally out of the water, and as the water on their skin begins to drip off, you can see the subtle highlights in their scales. Magnificent work.

Obviously, the fish are given human-like eyes... a truly necessary component to get you emotionally involved with these characters.

Even Bruce, the Great White shark, is an endearing fellow with an Australian accent. Despite the human-like characteristics, the adherence to physiological details on the rest of these species is incredible.

The lighting has such an effect that you feel like you are under water with the fish. The gentle swaying of the coral and anemones is surreal... just like the real Great Barrier Reef.

In reality, some of these fish would never encounter each other in the wild... and we all know that Starfish do not have eyes or smiley faces... but you do not care about those minor details while watching this film.

Dory is the beautiful blue & yellow regal tang fish who teams up with Marlin to find his son. Her tendency to forget almost everything she hears is a part of the charm of this character. Ellen DeGeneres' voice was perfect for this fish. The facial expressions on the characters, modeled after the actors that did their voices, are also priceless.

This movie is far more than eye-candy. The story and comedic timing are so good, it could be done with stick-figures and still be good.

This movie is an absolute delight. When it is released on DVD, it will immediately be added to my collection - this is a film I could see time and time again.

Finding Nemo is a GREAT movie for all ages. It's is very funny and entertaining. I think it is the best Disney Movie that has ever been released. I highly suggested buying this movie.

I had seen this movie in the movie theatre as a teenager and it Rocked!! That started my enjoyment of Johnny Depp films. I never watched 21 Jump Street until this movie. The cast is so funny. The TV version I seen added parts that I had not seen in the theatre but cut out parts that were extremely funny. Now I have a copy of the TV version plus the video version which was what I seen in at the movies. It would be really great to get on DVD with both versions together (played together or both on one disc). To this day I can sing every song (I had the soundtrack before the videos) and say most of the words with everyone. It is a funny movie that just won't get old watching over and over!! In fact I watched it today. I just can't say enough about how hilarious this movie. It is the "bad boy" falling in love with the "good girl" just like "Grease" and other great movies like that. I think they did a great job at making it look like the 50s in the movie. It has been my favorite movie since I seen it.

Crybaby is one of those rare movies that makes you laugh. It's supposed to be a terrible movie and that's what makes it so great. I saw some reviews saying that this is a Johnny Depp movie. Please. This isn't a Johnny Depp movie, it's a John Waters movie. Probably one of his best and funniest. The fact that it's a musical makes it even better. Waters can just surprise you with something new in every one of his films. Buy this movie. It's something to cherish for years to come!

This movie is wonderful, if you like Johnny Depp, John Waters, or just plain good movies. The sound track is good too, in fact, most people are fooled into thinking that Johnny is the one doing the singing, but alas, he is not. But the voice is so close to his that you truly believe it is him. And with a supporting cast that includes Ricki Lake, Iggy Pop and Traci Lords, you cannot go wrong!

If you're a fan of Tarantino and Guy Ritchie...dont go anywhere near this film. Whats the point of watching a blatant ripoff that isn't 1/10 of the movies its imitating? One of the problems with this movie is it can't decide whether it's a cold, intense action movie or a more lighthearted one along the lines of "Snatch".

I'm sure you already know the premise-after killing some mafia guys in self defense, 2 guys with bad Irish accents decide to start killing people in the name of God. They are inspired into this decison by...the newspaper story calling them saints? Are you serious?

The movie is painfully formulaic-first a scene where the saints decide to kill somebody, followed by a investigation scene in which an obnoxious Defoe prances around with a grin spouting awful one-liners.

Late in the movie you will enjoy the worst shoot-out scene in movie history (where 3 accomplished killers stand in the open 20 feet apart and shoot at least 100 rounds at each other without a hit), followed by a plot twist so ridiculous you should be personally offended when you see it.

I'm still trying to figure out what anybody likes about this movie, but my head hurts....

A friend of mine told me about this movie and guaranteed I'd love it. While the "Boondock Saints" isn't revolutionary, it is a great movie on its own. Sean Patrick Flanery (Powder) and Norman Reedus (Blade 2) play two Irish brothers who believe themselves to be ordained by God to be vigilantes. Both begin killing members of the Russian mafia the police can't touch while gay FBI agent Willem Dafoe tracks them down, but feels what they are doing is right. Flanery and Reedus both shine and give the best performances of their young careers, while Dafoe proves he is an extremely versatile actor (just see him in Shadow of the Vampire), and he gives one of his best performances as well (the exchange between him and his lover was so funny I fell out of my chair laughing). "Boondock Saints" is a rather violent movie that fans of Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs will enjoy, even though the storyline and plot are a bit thin, but this is a rather good movie that is a lot better than a lot of the current big budget films in theaters now. I just feel sorry for that poor cat.

Before I give you my opinion on this movie, I have to preface it by saying that I am a huge fan of Sean Patrick Flanery. He's the reason I bought the movie. (I tried renting it, but it seems video stores were having trouble with people not returning this particular title.) He's the reason I watched it in the first place. I sat down to watch this movie with low expectations, because while I adore Sean, and think he's a talented actor, some of the films he's chosen to make are little... how shall I say this... different?!?

OK, all of that said, here's my review... I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. It was stylistic, darkly comic, angry, lighthearted, charming, brutal, violent, intelligent... I know, I know, those seem like a bunch of contradictions. They are. So was this film. Just one contradiction after another. You've read the plot synopsis by now, I'm sure. Two brothers believing they are called by God to rid the world, or at least Boston, of the scum walking around in human form, set out on their mission to exterminate them all. That, in and of itself, is a contradiction. Getting rid of the bad guys by killing them makes the McManus brothers better people how exactly? This is the same delima faced by Willem Dafoe's character - he was WONDERFUL, by the way... what a performance! - as the facts of each of the murders fall into place and it is discovered that the targets of these murders are 'bad guys' only.

But I digress. Let's get to the root of things. The cast was great, plain and simple. Every one of them. I would have to say Willem Dafoe was my favorite, Sean Patrick was a close second (I'm a bit biased, but he really was good). And everyone else is tied for third. There was a startling lack of women in this movie. Like, aside from some extras in a few scenes, the news reporter, and the 'interviews' at the end, there weren't any. That's fine with me, because as a rule, I would say this is more of a guys' film anyway. My reason for that statement - and I didn't say it just get a rise out of the feminists of the world; after all I'm a woman, and I loved this movie - is that this an incredibly violent film. Lots, and I mean LOTS of blood and dying are involved.

Ok, I know I got off the subject more than once. Sorry about that. I loved the style of this movie, the flashbacks and the reconstruction of the second to last major gun battle being my favorite parts. I thought the news reports, and interviews with the public were a nice touch. And there's a little surpise toward the end that I never saw coming... possibly because by then I was wrapped up in the story, and the action.

If violence and language don't offend you, see this movie. Try it... You'll like it!

Platoon is by no means a bad movie. In fact I rather liked it, but it just wasn't all that great. Charlie Sheen is fine for a nice cheesy comedy, but not really the right actor for something as weighty as this wants to be. And there's the other problem, this film thinks way too much of itself. *Gasp* violence! *Gasp* drugs! *Gasp* insanity! The viewer is told exactly what they are supposed to feel/think in this movie, rather than being given the opportunity to do so themselves. If you take something like Apocalypse Now, or Full Metal Jacket (also good but overrated in my opinion), the sense of insanity, of "off-ness", is simply there, not being lit up with neon signs. If you're looking for a good representation of the Vietnam War, or a political commentary on it, you can do better. Again, I did like it, but I strongly recommend renting this one before plunking down your dough.

Oliver Stone's "Platoon" is one of the best and most powerful of all war pictures. It is the best movie ever made about the Vietnam war. Stone's film is gritty, frighteningly realistic and incredibly powerful. Stone doesn't just show us the Vietnam war, he takes into the Vietnam war. The screenplay is brilliant and doesn't fall into the trap that other war films fall into, where the violence turns into a fun experience and fighting seems "cool." This is a movie that truly shows the horrors of war realistically and with great effect. The cinematography by Robert Richardson (JFK, Natural Born Killers) is rich and gritty, giving more feeling to already great material. The characters are believable and convincing. It's great work because Stone himself went to Vietnam, so he has a better idea of what happened than Francis Ford Coppola when he made "Apocalypse Now" (which is also a great movie). "Platoon" is mesmerizing, powerful, effective, disturbing and even philosophical. It is one of Stone's greatest works. He ignites the screen with passion. The music is incredibly moving. No other director has made better films about Vietnam than Stone, who's "Born On The Fourth Of July" and "Heaven And Earth" followed "Platoon," and opened our eyes to greater clarity. I was never less than spellbound by this work. "Platoon" vibrates with realism and energy. A very special motion picture

This 1986 Academy Award winning film is based on writer/director Oliver Stone's experiences in Vietnam. It's raw and gritty. And it doesn't preach. It just shows in living color what war was like for a specific platoon. Basically, it was about trying to survive and just get through it all.

Charlie Sheen stars as the raw recruit. At first we see him as the young boy who wrote daily to his grandmother about the bugs and the blisters and the constant fatigue. Later, we see join the camaraderie of the platoon. And still later, we watch him make some hard choices of his own. Tom Berenger is cast as the scar-faced sergeant with the kind of cruel streak that doesn't stop at murder. And Willem Dafoe is cast as an equally experienced soldier who deplores the cruelty and is willing to stand up for his views.

The film focuses only on the experience in the jungle. There are no flashbacks to childhood or stateside relations. There is no mention of the anti-war movement or the plans of the generals. It is all about just humping through the jungle, in constant fear for their lives and lots of macho swaggering to keep up their courage. There are constant ambushes, horrible injuries, lots of death. But the most awful scene of all is when the platoon, overtired and angry because of recent horrific casualties, goes into a village. Here, all the pent up emotion is unleashed on the innocent villagers. This is the moral center of the film, where there are choices between right and wrong. Here is the part of the film where I burst into tears myself. War sure is ugly.

This is a great film and it makes most the other war films I've seen pale by comparison. I give it my highest recommendation.

The film brought me right into reality of what its like for the soldiers fearing for their lives and the civilians who happen to get in their way. I have no illusions. Such it is. Such it has always been. And such it will always be.

Platoon is by no means a bad movie. In fact I rather liked it, but it just wasn't all that great. Charlie Sheen is fine for a nice cheesy comedy, but not really the right actor for something as weighty as this wants to be. And there's the other problem, this film thinks way too much of itself. *Gasp* violence! *Gasp* drugs! *Gasp* insanity! The viewer is told exactly what they are supposed to feel/think in this movie, rather than being given the opportunity to do so themselves. If you take something like Apocalypse Now, or Full Metal Jacket (also good but overrated in my opinion), the sense of insanity, of "off-ness", is simply there, not being lit up with neon signs. If you're looking for a good representation of the Vietnam War, or a political commentary on it, you can do better. Again, I did like it, but I strongly recommend renting this one before plunking down your dough.

Oliver Stone's "Platoon" is one of the best and most powerful of all war pictures. It is the best movie ever made about the Vietnam war. Stone's film is gritty, frighteningly realistic and incredibly powerful. Stone doesn't just show us the Vietnam war, he takes into the Vietnam war. The screenplay is brilliant and doesn't fall into the trap that other war films fall into, where the violence turns into a fun experience and fighting seems "cool." This is a movie that truly shows the horrors of war realistically and with great effect. The cinematography by Robert Richardson (JFK, Natural Born Killers) is rich and gritty, giving more feeling to already great material. The characters are believable and convincing. It's great work because Stone himself went to Vietnam, so he has a better idea of what happened than Francis Ford Coppola when he made "Apocalypse Now" (which is also a great movie). "Platoon" is mesmerizing, powerful, effective, disturbing and even philosophical. It is one of Stone's greatest works. He ignites the screen with passion. The music is incredibly moving. No other director has made better films about Vietnam than Stone, who's "Born On The Fourth Of July" and "Heaven And Earth" followed "Platoon," and opened our eyes to greater clarity. I was never less than spellbound by this work. "Platoon" vibrates with realism and energy. A very special motion picture

This 1986 Academy Award winning film is based on writer/director Oliver Stone's experiences in Vietnam. It's raw and gritty. And it doesn't preach. It just shows in living color what war was like for a specific platoon. Basically, it was about trying to survive and just get through it all.

Charlie Sheen stars as the raw recruit. At first we see him as the young boy who wrote daily to his grandmother about the bugs and the blisters and the constant fatigue. Later, we see join the camaraderie of the platoon. And still later, we watch him make some hard choices of his own. Tom Berenger is cast as the scar-faced sergeant with the kind of cruel streak that doesn't stop at murder. And Willem Dafoe is cast as an equally experienced soldier who deplores the cruelty and is willing to stand up for his views.

The film focuses only on the experience in the jungle. There are no flashbacks to childhood or stateside relations. There is no mention of the anti-war movement or the plans of the generals. It is all about just humping through the jungle, in constant fear for their lives and lots of macho swaggering to keep up their courage. There are constant ambushes, horrible injuries, lots of death. But the most awful scene of all is when the platoon, overtired and angry because of recent horrific casualties, goes into a village. Here, all the pent up emotion is unleashed on the innocent villagers. This is the moral center of the film, where there are choices between right and wrong. Here is the part of the film where I burst into tears myself. War sure is ugly.

This is a great film and it makes most the other war films I've seen pale by comparison. I give it my highest recommendation.

The film brought me right into reality of what its like for the soldiers fearing for their lives and the civilians who happen to get in their way. I have no illusions. Such it is. Such it has always been. And such it will always be.

Platoon is by no means a bad movie. In fact I rather liked it, but it just wasn't all that great. Charlie Sheen is fine for a nice cheesy comedy, but not really the right actor for something as weighty as this wants to be. And there's the other problem, this film thinks way too much of itself. *Gasp* violence! *Gasp* drugs! *Gasp* insanity! The viewer is told exactly what they are supposed to feel/think in this movie, rather than being given the opportunity to do so themselves. If you take something like Apocalypse Now, or Full Metal Jacket (also good but overrated in my opinion), the sense of insanity, of "off-ness", is simply there, not being lit up with neon signs. If you're looking for a good representation of the Vietnam War, or a political commentary on it, you can do better. Again, I did like it, but I strongly recommend renting this one before plunking down your dough.

Oliver Stone's "Platoon" is one of the best and most powerful of all war pictures. It is the best movie ever made about the Vietnam war. Stone's film is gritty, frighteningly realistic and incredibly powerful. Stone doesn't just show us the Vietnam war, he takes into the Vietnam war. The screenplay is brilliant and doesn't fall into the trap that other war films fall into, where the violence turns into a fun experience and fighting seems "cool." This is a movie that truly shows the horrors of war realistically and with great effect. The cinematography by Robert Richardson (JFK, Natural Born Killers) is rich and gritty, giving more feeling to already great material. The characters are believable and convincing. It's great work because Stone himself went to Vietnam, so he has a better idea of what happened than Francis Ford Coppola when he made "Apocalypse Now" (which is also a great movie). "Platoon" is mesmerizing, powerful, effective, disturbing and even philosophical. It is one of Stone's greatest works. He ignites the screen with passion. The music is incredibly moving. No other director has made better films about Vietnam than Stone, who's "Born On The Fourth Of July" and "Heaven And Earth" followed "Platoon," and opened our eyes to greater clarity. I was never less than spellbound by this work. "Platoon" vibrates with realism and energy. A very special motion picture

This 1986 Academy Award winning film is based on writer/director Oliver Stone's experiences in Vietnam. It's raw and gritty. And it doesn't preach. It just shows in living color what war was like for a specific platoon. Basically, it was about trying to survive and just get through it all.

Charlie Sheen stars as the raw recruit. At first we see him as the young boy who wrote daily to his grandmother about the bugs and the blisters and the constant fatigue. Later, we see join the camaraderie of the platoon. And still later, we watch him make some hard choices of his own. Tom Berenger is cast as the scar-faced sergeant with the kind of cruel streak that doesn't stop at murder. And Willem Dafoe is cast as an equally experienced soldier who deplores the cruelty and is willing to stand up for his views.

The film focuses only on the experience in the jungle. There are no flashbacks to childhood or stateside relations. There is no mention of the anti-war movement or the plans of the generals. It is all about just humping through the jungle, in constant fear for their lives and lots of macho swaggering to keep up their courage. There are constant ambushes, horrible injuries, lots of death. But the most awful scene of all is when the platoon, overtired and angry because of recent horrific casualties, goes into a village. Here, all the pent up emotion is unleashed on the innocent villagers. This is the moral center of the film, where there are choices between right and wrong. Here is the part of the film where I burst into tears myself. War sure is ugly.

This is a great film and it makes most the other war films I've seen pale by comparison. I give it my highest recommendation.

The film brought me right into reality of what its like for the soldiers fearing for their lives and the civilians who happen to get in their way. I have no illusions. Such it is. Such it has always been. And such it will always be.