Director: Oliver Stone.
Warning: This movie is only streaming until April 1st so act fast!
War movies are never really "fun" to watch. They often deal with subject matter that shows humanity at it's worst. Every once in a while you'll get a movie like Saving Private Ryan that makes you get all teary eyed with the heroism, but for the most part, in the last few decades anyway, you get movies like Platoon that shock and disgust you with how awful war can be. Which isn't a bad thing, it's just a thing.
Because war movies deal with such horrifying content they need to be really good or else it feels like you're just watching some sort of sick snuff film. Platoon, which is director Oliver Stone's Oscar winning take on the Vietnam War is a good war movie. Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe give absolutely incredible performances, easily some of the best ever in a war film. The rest of the supporting cast is excellent as well but the biggest problem I have with the movie is that Charlie Sheen is in the lead role.
Now I hate to get on the man's case after all the recent bulls*** he's been through, especially because it's not really his fault. Charlie Sheen acted his ass off, he's just no Martin Sheen and this ain't no Apocolypse Now. The comparisons with Francis Ford Coppola's classic are unavoidable with this movie and for me, Apocalypse Now is just better. I would have loved to have seen how this movie would have been with a young Johnny Depp or Forest Whittaker (who were both in the supporting cast) in the leading role. With such incredible performances from Berenger and Dafoe the main arc of the story just comes across as being overlooked.
Don't get me wrong, this is a good movie and if you've never seen it before by all means you should watch it. However, this isn't a great movie and if you're going to watch something with such heavy subject matter wouldn't you rather watch the best?
To add this movie to your Netflix queue click here.
According to instantwatcher.com this movie will stream on Netflix until 4/1/11.
The Standard 5:
Why is it in your queue? Look at all the names in the cast, why wouldn't it be?
Is it artsy? No, but it has a clear anti-war message.
What stood out the most to you? Berenger and Dafoe going head to head was incredibly intense.
What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Looking for a good war drama.
What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars.
Now that Charlie Sheen has let me know so much more about him, I'm apt to watch some of his movies I've yet to see. This is one of them. I think I might have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, hello again from http://www.NetflixStreaming.blogspot.com !