Most of the older war films, like with John Wayne, loose their sting after a couple of decades. It doesnt seem the case with Platoon. The movie still makes you feel the effects of the Vietnam war as you cringe and end up with shell shock. Oliver Stone (Born on the Fourth of July, JFK) takes what he seen in Vietnam and implies it into a two hour, gritty, guts and glory type film. Although sometimes you wonder if this or that really happened. The realism of the battle scenes and the effects it has upon the soldiers seems to be some of the best to date. This film easily surpasses Francis For Coppolas "Apocalypse Now" (which is still a more than superb feast of a Vienam war film). To say the least Defoe, Berenger and Sheen throw down their best performances of their careers. The additional cast is absolutely tremendous. They include Johnny Depp, Forrest Whittaker, John C. McGinley, Keith David, Kevin Dillion and even Oliver Stone. To see a more than realistic look in the war of Vietnam, check this out again and again. The story is about a new man in the squad Chris (Charlie Sheen), whose influences from the head Platoon leaders Alias (Willem Defoe) and Barnes (Tom Berenger) somewhat have an effect on how he goes about the war. Loosing his grip at some points in the film Chris is helped along by his two partying buddies Rahh (Francesco Quinn) and King (Keith David). Then the squads basically side with either Barnes or Alias you better believe anything and everything will happen. Chris: "here we are trying to fight the enemy, but instead we are fighting each other". Dont miss out on this exceptional work of art!