Barnes is the antithesis of Hamlet. The platoon investigates a small village suspected of Viet Cong activity. CHRIS: He killed him. Chris eventually transcends the wisdom that brought him to Vietnam and he becomes enlightened by his experiences in the war. CHRIS: And you, do you believe? Elias runs up to him. Maybe I can see something I dont yet see, or learn something I dont yet know (Stone, p.14) Harris (Survives): He's seen briefly at the beginning when on patrol with the platoon but most of his onscreen time comes in the final attack. 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 . Elias leads Chris to conclude that Sgt. Chris believes Barnes to be dangerous to his own men, and is frustrated at his inability to prove Barnes immorality. Upon leaving the bunker en route to a nearby village, the platoon discovers the mutilated remains of one of its soldiers who was just abducted by the Viet Cong. New posts New media New media comments New resources Latest activity. ELIAS: First Platoons gonna be coming up here to reinforce us a couple of dinks get in here behind us, theyll get us in a crossfire with the First, well shoot each other to shit. Barnes shoots and murders Elias when the two are alone in the jungle. Best Gaming Laptops under $600. Barnes, finds himself taking his aggression and frustration out on the defenseless villagers. CHRIS: Proofs in his eyes. Since these two view the war differently, their view of certain causes is a source of tension for them. Hundreds of dead American and Viet Cong soldiers bodies are strewn all about the compound and nearby jungle floor. Based on Americas record in wars of the past, American forces engage in Vietnam confident they will be able to take control of the country; As soon as the new recruits land in Vietnam, they are exposed to the numerous body bags containing the remains of soldiers that have been killed, signifying the extent to which the American forces are struggling; Reports of other platoons and military forces that have already been overrun and destroyed by the Viet Cong reinforce the problems the U.S. is facing in trying to win the war; When the platoon is set up in a crossfire ambush, Elias explains he has experienced this tactic before in the past and knows what the enemy is trying to do, and that he also knows how to counteract this ambush. Its all a blur. For him, the war represents a place where he can find something to be proud of, and where he can do his share for his country like everyone else. How many days you short? Barnes was a hot headed, gung-ho go getter who actually believed in his cause was was willing to do whatever was necessary to win the war Elias was much less of a fighting man but it can be argued that men like Elias would be better for winning the Hearts and Minds of the population. ): the village, which had stood for maybe a thousand years, didnt know we were coming that day. Chris Taylor is struggling to survive the physical and mental hell of being a U.S. infantry soldier in the Vietnam War. ONEILL: So what am I going to do! His wounds deprived him of his biggest dream which was going to West Point, so instead he became an actor. 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. You fuck up in a fire fight and I goddamn guarantee you a trip out of the bush, in a body bag! (to Doc) Doc, tagem and bagem. What does Barnes say in platoon? The morning after the ferocious confrontation brings light to the fact that Chris is one of only a few members in the platoon to survive. This provokes Chris to attack Barnes, signifying that Chris does stand for something, and he honors the beliefs and ideals that Elias stood for. ELIAS: I thought it was ONeills turn tonight. Edit, near the beginning of the movie, as the squad goes out for the night ambush and in the end of the movie? Why did Taylor drop a grenade after the battle was over? Its purely practical: the helicopters up there, you want to reach for it. THE WEB'S FAVORITE - SINCE 1999. . Barnes doesnt bother acknowledging the question, barely glancing at the Lieutenant, to him a necessary evil. Edit. This is what has brought him to Vietnam. As it turns out, Francis stabbed himself as a strategic wartime move. As he puts it, "Didn't make much sense, I wasn't learning anything. Barnes, a combat-loving burnout (Tom Berenger), is the informal leader of the lifers, and Sgt. Lias, he was full of shit, Lias was a crusader - I got no fight with a man does what hes told, but when he dont, the machine breaks down, and when the machine breaks down, we break down and I aint gonna allow that. Insufficiency, inadequacy, deficient to the purpose are ways to look at the term non-accurate. Barnes finds Elias alone and shoots him, then returns and tells Chris that Elias was killed by the enemy. Whereas, for Sgt. How big is a platoon? Progress for the platoon continues in a devastating downward spiral. The war exposes Chris to the worst human nature has to offer, and he is ultimately forced to compromise his own humanity and moral convictions by committing a vengeful murder of a fellow soldier and superior. More:Every Song in Da 5 Bloods Soundtrack. Events that have already happened are used as a yardstick to measure the progress toward the goal. Barnes tells Elias he is moving out, and then he tells O'Neill his short termers can stay in; but he is going out because he needs veterans out there. The value of human life and what it is worth is the thematic conflict waged between Chris and Sgt. Barnes. Francis - portrayed by Living Colour frontman Corey Glover - emerges from a foxhole and correctly determines that help is indeed on the way. I know he did. Stone served in the Vietnam War from 1967-68 and used his own experiences during the conflict to shape the narrative. Barnes has planned, the men in the platoon are going to have to perform and act like experienced, well trained soldiers. That screenplay was actually based on Stone's earlier screenplay, Break, a semi-autobiographical account of his experiences and people he knew in Vietnam. All the characters are concerned with how the war is progressing, and what type of impact the U.S. military is having in Vietnam. Barnes. The lives of the infantry men who havent proven themselves arent valued as much as the lives of the men whove been in Vietnam longer. That day we loved him(Stone, p. 45) ): Day by day, I struggle to maintain not only my strength, but my sanity. Get that other cherry up here, Gardner! Elias each feel the methods the other embraces to fight this war are non-accurate: That didn't make much sense to most of his fellow soldiers, frankly . Barnes lost control of his emotions and men at the worst possible moment, which had he not murdered Elias would've taken him and several of his platoon out of the fight. The new recruit, Gardner gets killed, Tex loses an arm, Chris is grazed by a bullet in the neck on the all night ambush that goes awry. Elias warns Barnes that he shouldnt send the new men in the platoon out on an all night ambush because they would most likely engage the enemy, and their inexperience would make them inadequate for the patrol. Who was Murphy? The young Lieutenant Wolfe, who has not proven himself in war yet, illustrates unproven as the problem in several situations. Lieutenants lead most platoons, and the second-in-command is generally a sergeant first class. Barnes controversial behavior and questionable leadership in the village. Elias threatens to take the unproven matter to the proper authorities, but he never has the chance because Barnes kills him. Barnes, a combat-loving burnout (Tom Berenger), is the informal leader of the lifers, and Sgt. Karmic Death: Shot three times by Chris in the torso, similar to how Barnes killed Elias. I saw his eyes when he came back in Even though this isnt true, Barnes blames Chris inability to resist his impulse to sleep as the cause of the platoons two casualties: 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. 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. During the run, however, some went off, while others failed, although viewers were unaware of this. Would soldiers actually wound themselves to get sent home? Simpson then had to explain to Stone that he couldn't find that footage because the scene in question hadn't been shot yet. When Taylor is evacuated from the battle field and discussing his "fathers" he says it's his duty to grow and become a better person. I know he did. Barnes immorality that brings about the deterioration of Chris own psyche. Sgt. Meanwhile, Taylor loses friends within the platoon after preventing the rape of a Vietnamese woman. Thats a good Gook, good and dead. The main action in Platoon takes place in 1968. (to Doc) Doc, tagem and bagem. When Chris reflects upon the village and the murder of Elias, he is able to gain the same enlightenment, yet his killing of Barnes in cold blood detracts from any progress hes made toward self-fulfillment. You are one simple son-of-a-bitch! The sergeants actions momentarily shock the entire platoon, but then seem to inspire the platoon to want to kill all the villagers. Todd Neikirk is a New Jersey-based politics, entertainment and history writer. If they were permanently damaged in some way; such as losing a limb, severe nerve damage, etc. (Stone, p. 65), In Platoon, Writer-director Oliver Stone drops us as he drops his autobiographical 19-year-old, Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen), into life with the 25th Infantry in Vietnam. Do my share for my country. Remember what it looks like. Concluding the debate, no further argument, Barnes rises. Platoon was inspired by Stone's real-life experiences at theNew Year's Day Battle of 1968, and the director himself makes a cameo during his cinematic recreation. Barnes as a role model and leader makes a significant impact on the men in the platoon, including Chris. In an alternate reality, "Platoon" may have starred Jim. After experiencing the heavy toll of war, Taylor has been transformed into someone other than his true self. Barnes challenges Chris to, Do it!to shoot him while Chris has a rifle trained on him and his finger on the trigger. When Chris and the others in the head initially decline to accept Sgt. Chris thought the war would mold him into the type of man he would be proud of, instead it has dehumanized him to the point where he is willing and able to commit the murder of his commanding officer in an act of revenge. 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. The fact that the men in the platoon, as well as the enemys lives, are not given much value, slows the progress of the objective story. Not one. Edit, Night AmbushPvt Tex (WIA): Has hand blown off by Sgt. Critics consider Platoon to be rife with religious symbolism. Movie News, Movie Trailers & upcoming Movie Reviews, The Leading Source for Gaming News, Reviews, and Interviews, Platoon Movie Ending & Chris Taylor's War Speech Explained, Da 5 Bloods: Every Real-Life Person & Event Referenced In Netflix's Movie, Da 5 Bloods: Every Movie Reference & Influence In Spike Lee's Movie, Platoon True Story: How Accurate Is The Vietnam War Movie. SSG. He volunteers for the war because he wants to experience his own life, not just observe it like other middle-class college boys. Among his followers were Sgt. Hawaiian kid, seen lighting building in village scene. But its not true! Shot in the lung by NVA soldier. Barnes has shot and murdered Sgt. Barnes in the hut at base camp for killing him. They all look at each other. But he also learned that he could throw a mean fastball. Company. Barnes has become a ruthless, cold-blooded killer. He aint gonna bite you. () Even though he didn't see Barnes actually shoot Elias, or has any physical proof of the crime, Chris still knows Barnes murdered Elias. Was platoon a true story? Barnes senses his chance to kill Elias when the two are alone in the jungle, their eyes meet with 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. (Stone, p.85). He knows that coming from a wealthy, privileged, protected background had prevented him from being drafted, and that only the poor, ethnic, and lower class citizens are forced to fight for the United States. Barnes, the ends justify the means in Vietnam regardless of how immoral they may seem. Who leads a platoon in the Army? This can be seen early in the film after the platoon engages the enemy on an all night ambush where a new recruit, Gardner, ends up getting killed. Oliver Stone's Platoon is actually about the conflict between two Sergeants in a typical Nam platoon.One is a bloody, axe-murdering evil bastard (Tom Berenger) named Barnes.The other is an opium-smoking, moral man (Willem Dafoe) who cares for each one of his subordinates, named Elias.Stuck in the middle is the clueless Platoon Lieutenant "Sergeant Barnes I would appreciate it if in front of . Chris Taylor has rebelled against his wealthy, privileged upbringing and come to Vietnam on a quest for self-discovery. After doing so, he commences to beat and kill the innocent civilians. Barnes, severely wounded himself, says, "Do it." Taylor obliges and kills him. Half the platoon sides with Sgt. The reference to "decorated" can be misconstrued as medals considered to be "worthless." CHRIS: Not just me its the way the whole thing works. By reprimanding the platoon on the all night ambush, Barnes feels he will be able to get his men to perform better on their missions; By denouncing and challenging Lt. Wolfes authority, Barnes will secure more control over the platoon; The effect of killing Elias will prevent Barnes from having to deal with any crusaders in his platoon. The meetings closed. He's the guy with the M79 who brings the village elder to Barnes to interrogate. The platoon gets caught in an enemy ambush, and the Viet Cong causes the platoon to suffer serious casualties. He is no longer a naive, idealistic, young boy who was looking for a great adventure to make him a man, he has come to realize, and take part of, the atrocities and numbing reality of the Vietnam War. And the next son of a bitch I catch coppin Z in the bush, Im personally going to take an interest in seein suffer. While there, the cast also trained to be soldiers with Marine veteran and friend of WATM,Capt. Sergeant. 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