While they are leaving a wounded Elias emerges from the jungle running from a group of North Vietnamese soldiers. BARNES: What the hells matter with you Taylor! He does not, however, prove Barnes crimes in a way that would allow justice to triumph, which lends to his failure to resolve his personal angst. Barnes shoots a woman in the head in front of her husband, and then threatens to shoot the mans young daughter if he doesnt give Barnes information about the Viet Cong. He says "do it". Barnes was very harsh, uncaring and sarcastic towards his troops but he was very charismatic when it came to garnering their loyalty to him. ): Day by day, I struggle to maintain not only my strength, but my sanity. Chris, like Sgt. Promoted to Staff Sergeant (Platoon Sergeant): at end of film.Pvt Rhah (Survives): Given command of Elias's squad and seen waving at film end. He is one of the four dead bodies under ponchos. Barnes senses his chance to kill Elias when the two are alone in the jungle, their eyes meet with Sgt. Aint no time or need for a courtroom out here(Stone, p. 60). This young and naive kid who gave up a bright future in college to join the Army infantry had an interesting time after the war. Sgt. It's possible Francis' tour was close to being over. BARNES: Yall take a good look at this lump of shit! Made of Iron: Barnes had apparently been shot seven times prior to the events of the film and the rest of the platoon think he can't die as a result. That day we loved him(Stone, p. 45) The remaining platoon soldiers were being hauled out by helicopter from the ambush area. THE WEB'S FAVORITE - SINCE 1999. . Tips to avoid the fake and spam followers. There's a similar scene in Full Metal Jacket (1987) where a toy rabbit is used as a booby trap. He volunteers for the war because he wants to experience his own life, not just observe it like other middle-class college boys. There are many times when Barnes views Taylor as a hindrance and liability to the platoon, and he ultimately tries to kill him. What Barnes is really saying to the men is You dont know about death. Why does Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen) call Barnes and Elias his "fathers" during the final monologue. Barnes immorality that brings about the deterioration of Chris own psyche. You fuck up in a fire fight and I goddamn guarantee you a trip out of the bush, in a body bag! In the speech he gives the head, hes basically telling the men to think his way; be part of the machineCause when the machine breaks down, we break down, an occurrence hes not going to allow. The FAQ items below may give away important plot points. The fears the platoon have harbored for the future are made manifest. He volunteers for the war because he wants to experience his own life, not just observe it like other middle-class college boys (Denby 86). Bunny refers to himself as "Audie Murphy". He has become so dehumanized and corrupted by the experiences of the war, he is willing to shoot his own men to prevent them from challenging his way of war. After the final battle in Platoon on Netflix, Stone once again contrasts Taylor's bravery with the questionable decisionsof a fellow soldier. They strike him in the back, after which Elias throws his arms toward the sky. You telling me how much you admired that bastard. During the final battle, he is killing countless VC bare-handed. Death What do yall know bout death? is what Barnes asks Chris and the others of the head when he confronts them about Elias. Karmic Death: Shot three times by Chris in the torso, similar to how Barnes killed Elias. With Barnes clearly aware that he could potentially be court-martialed, he devises a plan that will prevent Elias from making an official statement. Originally uses M16, inherits King's M60 (but we don't see him using it, O'Neil mentions to King to give it to him before he leaves).Pvt Taylor (WIA): Seen leaving on a chopper with Rodriguez at the end of the film.Finally he isn't part of the platoon but for completenessCPT. It leaves us with the ominous impression that this is definitely a war America is losing. Chris is the only one to make a feeble attempt to attack and kill Barnes. The primary objective Barnes is concerned with is being a role model for his troops. Elias enough to attack Sgt. ONeill spits in the dust, a freckled, short red head with a hard worried face, a lifer, 30 going on 60. But in actuality, he doesn't know for sure that Sgt. Why did Taylor drop a grenade after the battle was over? Oh, you wanna kick ass. He is a brutal and extremely violent Sergeant in the US Army, known for his horrifically disfigured face that he gained after surviving seven shooting injuries. Sgt. S.SGT Barnes or Sgt. Best Movies about modern (post-1900) warfare/military. Answer: 3. The platoon gets caught in an enemy ambush, and the Viet Cong causes the platoon to suffer serious casualties. BARNES: Theres the way it oughta be and theres the way it is. How many days you short? Instead of finding something to be proud of, Chris leaves Vietnam having become dehumanized and morally corrupt. The film closes with hundreds of dead bodies fallen everywhere, with no particular organization, and no body bags. Barnes eyes: Elias runs up to him. The 1986 Vietnam War classic follows the experiences of volunteer soldier Chris Taylor, who quickly learns about the politics of navigating his platoon. Yeah. Like everybody else. He was cruel and willing to kill those he was tasked with protecting. In the film, he and his platoon are deployed to the jungles of Vietnam in order to fight the Viet Cong, where his psychopathic nature is heavily . That didn't make much sense to most of his fellow soldiers, frankly . Since not all the squibs exploded as planned, Dafoe ended up throwing the detonator to the side during the take that made the final cut. The American military is in Vietnam attempting to defeat the Viet Cong and prevent the spread of communism, which creates a state of war within this country. He is played by an Assistant Technical Adviser Mark Ebonhoch. In this case, however, the power dynamics are significantly different. Johnny Depp Learned An Entire Language For His Role In Platoon. Barnes. The morale in the men is low - a civil war in the platoon, half the men with Elias, half with Barnes. Barnes approaches what he sees as the problem of inadequacies, by taking the direction of letting everyone know what is acceptable. They are the internal moral pillars all humans have that determine whether man's innate capacity for evil is realized or not. Hundreds of dead American and Viet Cong soldiers bodies are strewn all about the compound and nearby jungle floor. Forums. By the end of the film, the platoon and several other military companies are completely overrun at their base by the enemy. CHRIS: Yever get caught in a mistake King and you just cant get out of it? Elias tells Barnes that they don't know anything, and they are probably going to run into something. Elias' death negatively impacts the overall spirit of Taylor's platoon but they are forced to push forward with a new mission and try to prevent a looming attack from the NVA. ELIAS: In 65 - yeah. His wounds deprived him of his biggest dream which was going to West Point, so instead he became an actor. He is stoic, cold and brutal, doesn't care for any others than himself - and that includes his own soldiers and country. At 20:13 In The Dead Of Night Deep In The Jungle How Is The Enemy Silhouetted? Chris proves to himself he can soldier as well as any man; what he doesnt bargain on is the experience of killing in cold blood. People like Elias get wasted and people like Barnes just go on making up rules any way they want and what do we do, we just sit around in the middle and suck on it! In his rage, he even tries to kill Taylor. Do my share for my country. When Elias is betrayed by Barnes, he still greets him with a smile, as if satisfied with his ability to operate on optimism despite the tragedies of warthat surround him, and his demise being brought on not by the enemy of war, but the enemy of morality. Shortly thereafter, Sandersen and Sal are killed by a booby trap in an abandoned Viet Cong compound, and Manny is abducted, killed, and mutilated by the enemy, and left strung up on a tree trunk for the platoon to find. Remember what it looks like. They seek direction and guidance for the way they need to function in order to stay alive in Vietnam. He totters slightly as he circles the outer edge of the hutch. During the run, however, some went off, while others failed, although viewers were unaware of this. RHAH: I remember you first came in here Taylor. But he also learned that he could throw a mean fastball. One of the dead under ponchos at battle's end, seen carried to chopper at end. When Barnes condemns the men by saying, I shit on all of you! he is basically telling Chris and the others they are worthless. Elias. Just keep your pecker up and your powder dry, things change. New posts New media New media comments New resources Latest activity. Car-15. I have mixed feelings about the movie Platoon. A requirement of the Past also applies to the cherries, or newly arriving infantry men who must deal with the unfortunate circumstance of having no past combat experiences in the jungles of Vietnam. They are quickly acquainted with the day to day rigors of the platoon, and the many tasks they must perform such as: going on point, getting up at 5 a.m., hiking all day, digging foxholes, putting out an all night ambush or a 3-man listening post in the jungle. Grabbing a loose stick, crudely drawing out their position in the dirt and tracing it out for the Lieutenant. For Barnes, conflict will decrease between the two as soon as Chris can prove himself to be more like a soldier willing to set his morals aside while fighting in Vietnam. Sgt. When Chris Taylor first arrives in Vietnam, he is basically a naive, idealistic, young man who has dropped out of college to enlist in the militaryhes signed up for infantry and combat. When you know you know. Another important point relating to the range is the fact that the U.S. military is continually losing soldiers to the Viet Cong, and unable to successfully counteract the Viet Congs strategies. Elias, a free spirit (Willem Dafoe), leads the latter group. He had some trouble with the law, his vision went to sh*t, and he changed his name to Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn. Barnes focuses on others inadequacies, and this in particular makes problems for Chris. (Stone, p. 87) Through voiceover narration, Taylor explains his experiences through letters home to his grandmother and eventually proves himself to be the most morally righteous of the main characters. I know he did. ): Course Mom and Dad didnt want me to come, they wanted me to be just like themrespectable, hard-working, making $200 a week, a little house, a family. Oliver Stones 1986 film Platoon is considered one of the greatest war films ever made. Conversely, Lt. Wolfe, who doesnt have past experience in the war has nothing from which to draw on in situations where it is a necessity. Barnes has shot and murdered Sgt. Answer: 7. This sight directly contradicts Sgt. M79. Throughout the film, we see how Chris is thematically focused on the events he experiences and sees, and is able to pull out the really relevant and meaningful parts which gives him wisdom beyond his years. | In fact, Stone shot the entire movie in the Philippines and had plenty of trouble doing so. After Taylor fires off three shots, hepauses and looks at his surroundings, with the grey of the smoking gun contrasting with the lush green jungle. Why did Sgt Barnes shoots Elias? The platoon pillages and destroys a small Vietnamese village it discovers has been harboring weapons for the Viet Cong. When Sgt. In an alternate reality, "Platoon" may have starred Jim. (concluding) An example is the scene where Lieutenant Wolfe calls in the wrong coordinates and mistakenly attacks his own platoon with air support. All gave some during the Vietnam War, and some gave all. Elias' decision to report Barnes' criminal conduct at the village precipitates a rift between the members in the platoon (some siding with Barnes and others siding with Elias), and ultimately causes Barnes to kill Elias. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. From the crowded canvas, large figures emerge: Barnes ( Tom Berenger ), the veteran sergeant with the scarred face, the survivor of so many hits that his men believe he cannot be killed. Barnes challenges Chris to, Do it!to shoot him while Chris has a rifle trained on him and his finger on the trigger. (Stone, p. 3) A nineteen-year-old college drop-out who has volunteered for military service and signed up for combat in Vietnam. RHAH: Wrong? Now streaming on Netflix, Platoon ends withviolence, betrayal, andretribution within a United States Army infantry unit. Tonight. Lyrics here.playing when Chris smokes marijuana with Elias and his crew in their bunker? CRAWFORD: Sounds like it. The events quickly become moments in the past that produce extreme tension and frustration within the platoon. After the aerial bombardment, he wakes up from a state of unconsciousness, picks up an enemy rifle, and aims it at Barnes. This also means it has been incorporated into the Dramatica Story Expert application itself as an easily referenced contextual example. In the film Barnes clearly represents the darkness and evil while Elias is the light and goodness. CHRIS (V.0. RHAH: (puffing on his bowl) How do you know the dinks didnt get him. By the end of the film, Chris moral integrity has deteriorated to the point where he is able to kill Sgt. Why did Barnes shoots Elias? He is on a quest to find something of which to be proud. Despite all the signs that they are losing the war, the platoon, as well as the American military, are operating under the delusion they are in some way actually gaining control of the war and have a chance to win. They all look at each other. At this point, Chris is beginning to develop a stronger sense of moral conviction in reaction to the shocking and appalling actions of his fellow platoon members. Live up to what Grandpa did in the First War and Dad the Second. Chris is driven to prove himself as a valuable member of the military, and therefore of society: Confronting Chris, he moves on, taunting them all. After Elias death, Barnes confronts Chris and the others in the heads hutch about Elias, and Barnes is able to provoke Chris to attack him. Barnes shoots a villager he sees running away in the back when they approach the villagea case of shoot first ask questions later. The soldiers with a past have an intimate knowledge about the ways of fighting in Vietnam, and they must be able to remember and draw from their past experiences in order to be effective in the fight they are currently engaged in. After Sgt. When the platoon takes some gruesome losses, an enraged Barnes kills some Vietnamese and orders the burning of their village, outraging the temporarily absent Elias. Platoon -The 1986 Drama movie featuring Charlie Sheen and Willem Dafoe at the award winning 80s Movies Rewind. Taylor picked up the grenade, but once one of the other soldiers made their way to him, he probably felt it was better to live and get shipped home to be with the ones he loved. And the next son of a bitch I catch coppin Z in the bush, Im personally going to take an interest in seein suffer. Platoon, principal subdivision of a military company . On the final patrol Chris flips into heroism or psychosis, wipes out a nest of North Vietnamese and confronts the demon he has almost become. Barnes orders the rest of the platoon to retreat and goes back into the jungle to find Elias's group. Black guy seen combing hair in night ambush.Pvt Moorhouse (KIA): Killed by short round, while using M60. These actions are undertaken with the constant fear the enemy could possibly attack at any moment, and unfortunately, the new recruits, fresh meat, have an entire year of this to endure. "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane.at the end of the movie? Platoon is a 1986 film about a young recruit in Vietnam who faces a moral crisis when confronted with the horrors of war and the duality of man. First Cavalry (Stone, p. 72) He is a stern, fierce leader with practices that make others question his morality. Dye stands with actors Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, and Mark Moses on the set of Platoon,deep in the jungle in the Philippines (Image from Orion Pictures). However, what makes thefinal narration especially impactfulis that Taylorsuggests he'll figuratively remain on the battlefield for the rest of his days, and imagines Eliasdoing the same while battling Barnes for the possession ofhis [Taylor's] soul. Hes definitely obligated to his country, but theres nothing moral about his obligation. (Stone, p. 4), When the all night ambush goes awry, Sgt. And so Taylor kills him; putting an end to his torment. Elias argument to Sgt. Barnes is a callous soldier, hardened from several tours of duty in the Nam. Horrible scars carved into his face physically suggest the experiences he has seen. What's with the booby trap that kills Sal and Sanderson? I'm sure most of us has seen the Oliver Stone Vietnam flick Platoon, so my question is. Performing a patriotic service for your country, the chance to take rage and frustration out on the enemy that has caused it, doing drugsthese are types of dividends the men can reap in the platoon. CHRIS: He killed him. Chris finally obtains a strong aptitude for the war. Remember what it looks like. The value of human life and what it is worth is the thematic conflict waged between Chris and Sgt. Huh. ELIAS: (to Barnes) They dont know shit Barnes, and chances are theyre gonna run into something. In one scene, Barnes is bathed in red light, symbolizing the evil within. Elias condemns Barnes' actions and a fight breaks out between the two. Barnes. Barnes doesnt bother acknowledging the question, barely glancing at the Lieutenant, to him a necessary evil. "Adagio for strings", composed by Samuel Barber and performed by the New Zealand Symphony. (Stone, p. 21). Noting Barnes' anxious manner, Taylor realizes that he was responsible. First, and most importantly, Taylor kills Barnes. Why does Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen) call Barnes and Elias his "fathers" during the final monologue. You were there Rhah - I know what you were thinking. Even though Lieutenant Wolfe is the highest ranking officer in the platoon, he is young, inexperienced, and has only recently come to Vietnam. In an alternate reality, "Platoon" may have starred Jim . The consequence of not making progress in the war is the men will have to keep fighting, subjected to the inhumane preconscious responses they have developed in order to stay alive. (Film). Barnes finds Elias alone and shoots him, then returns and tells Chris that Elias was killed by the enemy. This is of note due to the ideals he represented. I have no energy to write. He later wrote in his biography, Chasing the Light, No cooperation was possible; in fact, they put out an advisory in the Philippines at the Clark and Subic Bay bases against US troops participating in any filming activity. Thematically, the final war sequence is designed to parallel the Elias shooting scene. You are one simple son-of-a-bitch! These lines obviously reference the internal conflict amongst his unit, and Taylor statesthat the Vietnam War will always be with him. The following analysis reveals a comprehensive look at the Storyform for Platoon. 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