Essential Equipment for Your Landscaping Business. Elias running after them, being chased by the enemy, even after Sgt. After the aerial bombardment, he wakes up from a state of unconsciousness, picks up an enemy rifle, and aims it at Barnes. When you know you know. Barnes in an act of revenge for Elias and for himself. Originally uses M16 later inherits Tex's M60.Pvt Fu Sheng (KIA): Killed by a short round. Barnes questionable account of how he earlier found Elias dead in the jungle, prompting the following exchange of dialogue between Chris and other platoon members: This also means it has been incorporated into the Dramatica Story Expert application itself as an easily referenced contextual example. Maybe I can see something I dont yet see, or learn something I dont yet know (Stone, p.14) Essentially, he was told where explosives were going off and how to best avoid them. Early on, it's revealed thatBarnes actually has more internal power than Lieutenant Wolfe (Mark Moses), whichestablishes Berenger's facially-scarred character as theAlpha Male. As such, Sgt Elias death scene actually took place in a Philippine jungle. Barnes, severely wounded himself, says, "Do it." Taylor obliges and kills him. CHRIS: Yever get caught in a mistake King and you just cant get out of it? Why did Taylor drop a grenade after the battle was over? I have no energy to write. CHRIS: (surprised) You really think so us? Barnes then returns and tells the others that Elias was killed by the enemy. But when he don't, the machine breaks down. Select Page. However, soldiers were strictly forbidden to touch any objects they found in the field that seemed out of place or important. When George C. Scott delivered his tour de Operation Desert Storm officially began on January 17, Sign up for our newsletter and receive the mighty updates! Contents 1 Chris Taylor 2 Staff Sergeant Bob Barnes 3 Dialogue 4 Cast 5 Taglines 6 External links Chris Taylor [ edit] Extreme tension and frustration has overcome the men. CHRIS: Not just me its the way the whole thing works. CHRIS: Proofs in his eyes. If they were permanently damaged in some way; such as losing a limb, severe nerve damage, etc. Specialist 4th class. Warren when Lerner is being worked on by the Doc. Platoon -The 1986 Drama movie featuring Charlie Sheen and Willem Dafoe at the award winning 80s Movies Rewind. Barnes killed Sgt. France wanted Vietnam. He's the guy with the M79 who brings the village elder to Barnes to interrogate. Get that other cherry up here, Gardner! Is "Platoon" based on a book? (Stone, p. 85). In addition to the Storyform, you'll also find any additional analysis or media related to the story in question. This frustration is derived from past events the platoon has recently suffered, such as the loss of two men in the all night ambush, the loss of two additional men in a booby trapped Viet Cong bunker, and the abduction of another platoon member who is found strapped to a tree, dead and mutilated. Now streaming on Netflix, Platoon ends withviolence, betrayal, andretribution within a United States Army infantry unit. The arms-to-the-sky pose during Elias death scene can easily be seen as an allusion to crucifixion and, interestingly, when viewers first meet the character, hes carrying his weapon over his shoulders in a pose that somewhat mimics the act. O'Neil (Survives): 3rd Squad (Charlie): Squad Leader. Even though he didnt see Barnes actually shoot Elias, or has any physical proof of the crime, Chris still knows Barnes murdered Elias. Well, here I am, all by my lonesome, and ain't nobody gonna know. Barnes when Barnes confronts him and others about killing Sgt. The extremely inhumane and brutal war crimes Sgt. Elias takes Chrisand two other men to intercept flanking enemy troops. As for Elias, he's the stabilizing force of the platoon - hard enough to intimidate others, smart enough to objectively analyze and assess strategicand psychological dilemmas. 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. Tips to avoid the fake and spam followers. While Chris is on point, he unwittingly approaches a camouflaged Viet Cong bunker and Sgt. Barnes makes a profound impact on Chris. Elias less. He honors and respects Sgt. Emotions and tensions riding high, Sgt. The story focuses on the reality of the Vietnam Warhow the soldiers have to actually live and operate day to day, and the type of responsibilities necessary to keep the platoon functioning. Hes done so with the hope of finding himself and what hes really about, and to discover something he can be proud of: For Chris, to serve his country in Vietnam fulfills the moral obligation he feels towards his America, and an opportunity to develop a strong sense of pride and character. BARNES: Yall experts? A similar character in Barnes being the leader of a Platoon in the Vietnam war. Tonight. 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. Stone's message suggests that for goodness to prevail, darkness must be overcome. Later, Chris tries to convince Rhah, King, and others in the head that Barnes killed Elias. I guess having always been sheltered and special, I just want to be anonymous. Aint no time or need for a courtroom out here(Stone, p. 60) He takes the bowl from Adams, smokes it. The young Lieutenant Wolfe, who has not proven himself in war yet, illustrates unproven as the problem in several situations. Platoon primarily centers on the power dynamics between Taylor (Charlie Sheen),Staff Sergeant Bob Barnes (Tom Berenger), andSergeant Gordon Elias(Willem Dafoe). Elias tells Barnes that they don't know anything, and they are probably going to run into something. Next:Platoon True Story: How Accurate Is The Vietnam War Movie. Chris is thematically focused on understanding how to apply what he knows. I shit you not! It's possible Francis' tour was close to being over. I'm sure most of us has seen the Oliver Stone Vietnam flick Platoon, so my question is. (Stone, p. 92) The depth to which the Viet Cong understands how and where the U.S. He is on a quest to find something of which to be proud. Platoon opens up with a shot of body bags organized in preparation to make their final journey home to America. Sgt. Staff Sergeant (Platoon sergeant).Ebonhoch (Survives): Seen in foxhole with Rhah just before battle, then seen waving at the end with Tony. This sight directly contradicts Sgt. Chris contributes to the carnage by firing his rifle at the feet of a defenseless villager. In one scene, Barnes is bathed in red light, symbolizing the evil within. Unlike Elijah, however, he was not successful in his goals. Ironically, it is the impact of Sgt. The inference, of course, is that war is such hell that soldiers would do anything to escape it, including causing themselves grave injuries, but inPlatoon, Stone doesn't paint a flatteringpicture of Black soldiers, and he's been called out for it over the years. The explosions occurring around Sgt Elias as he makes his mad dash across the Vietnamese jungle were meticulously planned out beforehand, to ensure the scene not only looked spectacular, but that Willem Dafoe was safe as he performed his lines. Edit, As stated in the trivia, Charlie Sheen improvised this, as he felt Chris would be suicidal by the end of the movie, having murdered Barnes in cold blood and seen the horrors of what the men fighting on the same side as him would do to each other and innocent people during the conflict. Chris wants to go with Barnes to help find Elias, but Barnes threatens to write Chris up on a citation if he doesnt obey orders and return to the helicopter. Elias ( Willem Dafoe ), another good fighter, but a man who tries to escape from the reality through drugs. Meaning, the U.S. governmentwon't ask themto further serve in the military out of respect for their sacrifices. How big is a platoon? CHRIS: I volunteered. The events of his past have dehumanized this man into a remorseless, immoral killing machine. BARNES: Elias is like them politicians in Washington. The events quickly become moments in the past that produce extreme tension and frustration within the platoon. Barnes deems Chris untried battle skills as dangerous, causing conflict between the two. Elias condemns Barnes' actions and a fight breaks out between the two. In the field, the new recruits struggle to adjust to platoon life. ONeill spits in the dust, a freckled, short red head with a hard worried face, a lifer, 30 going on 60. When Berenger's character rolls over on his back and demands a medic, he simultaneouslyshows his bravery along with an attitude that unnerves Taylor. News, For me, it was a purely physical thing. 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 Gordon was born in 1936, and he joined the US Army during the Vietnam War, serving as a Sergeant in Bravo Company, US 25th Infantry Division. If their wounds were minor and would fully heal in a few weeks, they'd be sent to a hospital and then once they had healed, sent back to the front line. O'Neil, Lt. Wolfe, Bunny, and Junior to name a few. Barnes also points out to Chris and the other men the pertinent facts of the way he runs the platoon: You fuck up in a fire fight and I goddamn guarantee you a trip out of the bush, in a body bag! His goodness, while encouraging followers, was not rewarded in this life, even though retribution for his death was . 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. Bunny and Junior share a pithole as he savagely shoots oncoming NVA soldiers with his rifle but is soon outnumbered and shot to death when an NVA soldier shoots him down and finishes him off with a shot to his mouth as Junior retreats. 8 pages of info, trailer, pictures and more. This moment is Taylor reclaiming his own identity and removing Barnes' insidious influence. The carnage the platoon thrusts upon the village is an expression of the frustration that has built up among the soldiers. I figured why should just the poor kids go off to war and the rich kids always get away with it.". In that sense, the film can be interpreted literally or metaphorically, as one could argue that Sheen's character doesn't literally kill his superior at the end, but rather imagines himself getting revenge. 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 . Elias's onscreen death in Platoon. 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. 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. 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. 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. Ultimately, Platoonis about survival and legacy. Elias leads Chris to conclude that Sgt. 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. 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: Yall take a good look at this lump of shit! And dig this you assholes and dig it good! Thats a good Gook, good and dead. 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. Sgt. Barnes instinctively warns him of the pressing danger. For instance, Chris is appalled when Barnes shoots a village woman in the head and then threatens to shoot a young village girl unless the villagers give him the information he wants; Chris tries to convince some of the other men that Barnes killed Elias, and that they need to kill Barnes who is becoming an evil, immoral, out-of-control liability to the platoon. Barnes confronts Chris and some of the other men when he overhears them talking about killing him to revenge Elias murder. After Elias death, Sgt. The following analysis reveals a comprehensive look at the Storyform for Platoon. 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. The iconic imageappeared on the movies poster and the box of the video tape release. They are both promoted, Rhah is given Elias' position, and O'Neill is given Barnes' position much to his chagrin. His mythic persona, superiority in rank, experience, and hard-line leadership commands respect and influences the platoon to follow his example and orders. Chris, like Sgt. Why? Barnes flicks his gaze to Elias. 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. Maybe Ive finally found it, way down here in the mud. S.SGT Barnes or Sgt. Barnes is the antithesis of Hamlet. Despite his frustration and anger, there is a line that Chris will not cross when it comes to the human rights of others. Shot in the lung by NVA soldier. M60 (Uses an M16 in the night ambush scene).Pvt Bunny (KIA): Killed in bunker by NVA soldier blowing his brains out. (Stone, p. 85) 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. If theres one thing these men know, its that anyone can die at any time, and death has no loyalties. From the very first scene of the film, as black rubber body bags are loaded onto planes that have just unloaded new recruits, Americas success in the war is put into question. He wants to do for his country what his father did in World War II, and what his grandfather did in World War I. 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. I say we frag the fucker. Elias, who has learned from experience, knows what to do when his platoon is about to be set up in an ambush. (concluding) 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! Huh. Progress for the platoon continues in a devastating downward spiral. Chris takes his hunches and transforms them into theorieshe tries to take his emotional feelings and sensations and apply logic to them. 2nd Squad (Bravo): squad leader.Pvt Flash (KIA) Killed by NVA soldier, seen lying dead next to Sgt. Specialist 4th class.SGT. Hes able to make observations that other people miss. Car-15. He received a "battlefield" commission and got out as a captain. Make it outta here, its all gravy, every day of the rest of your life - gravy(Stone, p. 95). By the end of the film, Chris moral integrity has deteriorated to the point where he is able to kill Sgt. Maybe from down here I can start up again, be something I can be proud of and not have to fake itbe a fake human being. The enormous loss of lives sustained in the last battle clearly indicates the U.S. militarys failure in making progress in the Vietnam War. While the platoon is extracting via helicopter, they glimpse Elias, mortally wounded, emerging from the treeline and being chased by a group of North Vietnamese soldiers, who kill him. All the characters are concerned with how the war is progressing, and what type of impact the U.S. military is having in Vietnam. Check outLarry Kings YouTube video below to hear Willem Dafoe retell the story of filming the epic scene. Elias, a free spirit (Willem Dafoe), leads the latter group. This is what has brought him to Vietnam. Chris loses credibility with the other men because hes treating the incident as a fact when it really isnt certain. Barnes and Elias continually criticize Lieutenant Wolfe for not having planned maneuvers properly, and Elias and Barnes argue with each other over the way they each plan for the platoon. Much of this is illustrated in his letters to his grandmother. | Want to fight this war with one hand tied round their balls. Tonight. The sergeants actions momentarily shock the entire platoon, but then seem to inspire the platoon to want to kill all the villagers. Both the main character and the obstacle character see each other as the cause of the problems they are experiencing in their relationship. Barnes holds no value for civilian life in Vietnam and almost seems to value Sgt. Barnes, a combat-loving burnout (Tom Berenger), is the informal leader of the lifers, and Sgt. Chris is obviously opposed to, and appalled by, Sgt. (to Doc) Doc, tagem and bagem. Barnes, a combat-loving burnout (Tom Berenger), is the informal leader of the lifers, and Sgt. (Stone, P. 24) 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. He overpacks his back pack, has difficulty climbing, drinks too much water and cramps up, doesnt yet know how to conserve his energy, and ends up passing out. The light also shines on his eyes, giving them a devilish glow. The cost of being relates to the men in the platoon losing their identities and having to behave in a certain way. Members of the platoon feel that if they become more accurate in their efforts in the war, their fortunes will turn and they will win the war. The platoon pillages and destroys a small Vietnamese village it discovers has been harboring weapons for the Viet Cong. Barnes defeats any ideas they might have had about killing him. In the final scene the dead arent even in body bags. During the run, however, some went off, while others failed, although viewers were unaware of this. His wisdom in understanding the unfair pattern established by society and the government to favor him, while subjecting the less fortunate to the lions share of military duty bothers Chris and provokes him to enlist in the service. 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. For as intense as Elias death scene was in Platoon, it took relatively few takes; it only took three or four tries for Dafoe and Stone to capture it. Here's our breakdown. The day after suffering its most severe casualties, the platoon and several companies are sent right back into the same enemy-saturated area. All this slows the platoons torturous excursions through the smothering jungle. The ending of Platoon suggests that Elias and Barnes are symbolic of good and evil forces that fight for the soul of Taylor. Did Elias die in platoon? Maybe Ive finally found it, way down here in the mud. Then they would be sent home. Aint no time or need for a courtroom out here(Stone, p. 60). But in actuality, he doesnt know for sure that Sgt. Maybe I can see something I dont yet see, or learn something I dont yet know (Stone, p.14) User Ratings Wasnt learning anything (hesitate) And why should just the poor kids go to the war - and the college kids get away with it. (Stone, p.85). We just dont add up to a rats ass. For instance: Chris drops out of college and enlists in the military to do something positive for his country; He shoots his rifle at the feet of a young, retarded man he finds hiding. As Dafoe dashed through the uneven terrain, he knew the locations of the squibs and the controlled detonations some of which failed to explode, but the audiencecant tell. Sgt. Stone's filmalso has a familial connection to Francis Ford Coppola's 1979 war classic Apocalypse Now, whichstars Charlie Sheen's father, Martin Sheen. CHRIS(V.O. Wolfe (KIA): Killed while defending CP bunker, in this very dark scene you see him shot or hit by shrapnel in the face, he staggers around covering his face and then is shot multiple times. O'Neil's RTO.Pvt Big Harold (WIA): Has leg blown off by booby trap.Crawford (WIA): Surfer dude. In an alternate reality, "Platoon" may have starred Jim. The men cower at the blunt prospect of having to kill their menacing sergeant. Its purely practical: the helicopters up there, you want to reach for it. One needs to learn from the past to do well in war. Far from it, as Audie Murphy was awarded the Medal Of Honor and every other medal for bravery in combat, sometimes in multiples. Yeah. 2nd Lieutenant (Platoon Leader).SSG. To make matters worse, the inexperienced, incompetent Lt. Wolfe accidentally orders an air strike on the platoons location resulting in more casualties in the platoon. Hundreds of dead American and Viet Cong soldiers bodies are strewn all about the compound and nearby jungle floor. Elias threatens to take the unproven matter to the proper authorities, but he never has the chance because Barnes kills him. Barnes doesnt bother acknowledging the question, barely glancing at the Lieutenant, to him a necessary evil. Chris gets his revenge and kills Sgt. Barnes is introduced as a hardened, brash character that leads with an iron fist. You dont sleep on no fucking ambush! We just dont add up to a rats ass. He grins, finding their reactions funny. Barnes. Just keep your pecker up and your powder dry, things change. Elias questions Barnes code of ethics, Barnes labels Elias as a detrimental crusader in the platoon and ultimately murders him. 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. KING: You a crazy fucker, givin up college, man. Elias each feel the methods the other embraces to fight this war are non-accurate: But its not true! Chris and other new recruits are made immediately aware that their future is going to be bleak, harsh, and very possibly deadly in Vietnam. Barnes drive and motivation. You fuck up in a fire fight and I goddamn guarantee you a trip out of the bush, in a body bag! Sergeant.Pvt Tubbs (KIA): Killed by NVA soldier, in the church battle, we don't see this on screen. (Stone, p. 21). Six of you boys against me. Out here assholes, ya keep your shit wired tight at all times! There is a scene in the head hutch where Rhah points out to Chris how much Chris respected Barnes when he first arrived: If look closely at Dafoes left hand, you can see him carrying the squib detonator, which he used to set off the devices attached to his wardrobe. Barnes senses his chance to kill Elias when the two are alone in the jungle, their eyes meet with Sgt. ELIAS: Lieutenant, lemme take some men out on the right flank, theres spiderholes back there Sergeant Barnes life revolves around performing a certain way while in countryfighting the deadly Viet Cong. Elias squad out for an all night ambush resulting in Gardners death and Chris injuries. While Chris finds great value in the lives of his platoon members, as well as in the Vietnamese civilians, Barnes does not. Elias when they are alone in the jungle. M79. When Chris and the others in the head initially decline to accept Sgt. They seek direction and guidance for the way they need to function in order to stay alive in Vietnam. Barnes told everyone that the enemy already killed Elias. 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. It leaves us with the ominous impression that this is definitely a war America is losing. CHRIS: I was wrong. During that 10 month period an estimated 600,000 French and German soldiers became a casualty. Is the village massacre based on any actual events? Bunny refers to himself as "Audie Murphy". The more Chris understands the realities of warfare, the more he understands it has little to do with the patriotism that compelled him to enlist. Barnes that Chris and Gardner were not ready for the all night ambush patrol. Barnes leadership, committing war crimes against the villagers. His vest was fitted with squibs and he held a detonator in his right hand. Is the village massacre based on any actual events? One of his hunches is responsible for bringing him to Vietnam, where he develops a theory about finding what he can be proud of: The value of human life and what it is worth is the thematic conflict waged between Chris and Sgt. 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. In the aftermath, Barnes sees Taylor aiming a gun at him. The platoons immoral behavior, and the dehumanizing treatment of the villagers supports Elias notion that the U.S. is going to lose the war. Conversely, there are several times when the actions and beliefs Barnes embraces provokes Chris to evaluate Barnes worth to the platoon and acts as a catalyst in the tension between the two. The platoon gets caught in an enemy ambush, and the Viet Cong causes the platoon to suffer serious casualties. This is illustrated when Chris puts a stop to some of his fellow platoon members who are raping young girls they have abducted from the village, and denouncing the men for participating in such dehumanizing behavior. I shit on all of you. Top 4 Reasons the Property Management Companies are Thriving. Course Mom and Dad didnt want me to come, they wanted me to be just like them - respectable, hard-working, making $200 a week, a little house, a family. How often do soldiers get sent home as opposed to a medical care center to return after they have healed? Barnes shoots a villager he sees running away in the back when they approach the villagea case of shoot first ask questions later. CHRIS: And you, do you believe? Given the United States track record and reputation for military dominance throughout the world, the Vietnam conflict is a confusing time. Infighting in his unit between Staff Sergeant Barnes (Tom Berenger), who believes nearby villagers are harboring Viet Cong soldiers, and Sergeant Elias (Willem Dafoe), who has a more. In fact, Stone shot the entire movie in the Philippines and had plenty of trouble doing so. Barnes in merciless revenge. Noting Barnes' anxious manner, Taylor realizes that he was responsible. Did he try to kill himself? Chris drops out of college, enlists in the military, and asks for combat duty in Vietnam. Barnes would have brought Chris down to his level of evil and would have officially corrupted his soul which means he still would have won.3) Barnes wasn't evil. An outlaw and vagabond revolutionary who resents the power the Catholic church and Spanish government have over the Philippines. Stone served in the Vietnam War from 1967-68 and used his own experiences during the conflict to shape the narrative. Chris presumes Barnes killed Elias as if it were a fact. CHRIS: He killed him. From none of you. An example is the scene where Lieutenant Wolfe calls in the wrong coordinates and mistakenly attacks his own platoon with air support.

Lawrence Taylor Pension, Wilsonart Pearl Soapstone 4886 38, City Of Maitland Permit Checklist, Shades Valley Football, Monique Spaziani Conjoint 2019, Articles P