Platoon

Platoon is one of those films that I always meant to watch but never seemed to get around to. It is one of the best films about the Vietnam War, which considering how many Vietnam films there are is high praise. It tells the story of one soldier who volunteers for service and follows his development and experience of the war. The film is based upon the director’s experiences in Vietnam and is an absolutely amazing watch.

Charlie Sheen stars as the protagonist, Chris Taylor, who drops out of college and volunteers for Vietnam. To the other men in his unit, he is a complete outsider and doesn’t belong in Vietnam with the other hardened soldiers. However, after time he comes to be accepted and forms a close relationship with the group. Charlie Sheen manages to do a fantastic job in this film. It was (I think) his first major role and puts in an incredible performance. At the start of the film he appears as an innocent young man who is out of sync with the lifestyle of a combat trooper. However, by the end of the film his experiences have noticeably changed him. It is the extent to which this is noticeable that makes his performance so impressive. By the end of the film, he too is a hardened soldier, hence the tagline of the film: ‘The first casualty of war is innocence’.

Given that the film is based on Oliver Stone’s (director and writer) Vietnam experiences, the impact of this film is very powerful. I didn’t know that it was based on truth when I watched it, but when I discovered this, it completely changed my perspective on the film. It goes from a war film showing the effects of Vietnam on a young man to a film documenting how Stone feels the war impacted him. To say that this is profound is understating it a bit. Some of the scenes in the film (like the one where the soldiers reach the village) are very shocking, and reinforces the idea that you cannot know exactly what it was like unless you were actually there.

Aside from Charlie Sheen, the others actors who make up the platoon really complete the film. Tom Berenger is immensely sinister and dislikable as Sergeant Barnes. There is a sense of mystery around his character, in much the same was as there is around Tom Hanks in Saving PrivateRyan, but in Platoon there is a much more grave element to this. His character isn't meant to be disliked though, or at least I don’t think so. There is no doubt that he commits some atrocities in the film, but maybe Stone is conveying a strong message about the impact Vietnam has on people. The scar on his face alone shows the impact the war has on him, and when Charlie Sheen gets cut as well the parallels between the two men are stronger. Many people see Barnes as the villain, but he is made the way he is by the war going on around him. Similarly, Chris Taylor changes throughout the film due to the war going on around him. Either way, Berenger does a fantastic job of conveying the director’s message.

Sergeant Elias is played very well by Willem Dafoe, and is a relative force of good in the film. He seems to be keeping things very much in the ‘good’ camp, and after his death (the classic scene in the movie) things start to get a bit more out of control. In many ways it is his death that is the catalyst for this, as the suspicions start to creep in among the soldiers. In stark contrast to Elias is the character of Bunny (Kevin Dillon) who comes across as simply psychotic. He loves what he is doing in Vietnam and in one very disturbing scene, smashing a Vietnamese man’s head open with his gun before remarking that he’d never seen one pop like that. Bunny seems to represent everything twisted and bad about Vietnam, whereas Elias shows more of the compassion and good intention that Chris starts the film with. There’s a tip of the hat for Forest Whitaker, John C. McGinley and Johnny Depp who also appear in this film.

When you think about the acting, the symbolism, the subject matter and what it was based upon, it is really no surprise that Platoon won the Academy Award for Best Picture. It completely deserves this award, and Stone deserves the Best Director Award. I’m surprised that Charlie Sheen wasn't nominated for the Best Actor award, but both Dafoe and Berenger were up for Best Supporting Actor, again, deservingly. The film is incredibly well made, and really does grip you. Although it is a bit slow in parts, this is intended to reflect the nature of the war, and Stone, building on his own experiences, conveys this magnificently.

If you have an interest in Vietnam or in war films then Platoon should definitely be on your list. If not then I think it is the kind of film that is important to see, just because of the subject matter. You might not enjoy the whole thing, but its importance cannot be understated. I really enjoyed Platoon because it made me think, and thoroughly recommend it. 

Another film dealing with the Vietnam War, but in a more light-hearted way is:

Forrest Gump - http://mattsthoughtsonmovies.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/forest-gump.html

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

At World’s End is the second half of Dead Man’s Chest, and in my eyes, the final film of the Pirates franchise. I thought that making On Stranger Tides was a mistake, and as such I haven’t seen it yet. At World’s End picks up more or less where Dead Man’s Chest left off, with Jack’s friends, led by Captain Barbossa, seeking to rescue him from Davy Jones’ locker.

The plot of the movie is not as strong as it could be. After Jack is rescued from the locker he gets back on his quest to stab the heart of Davy Jones and sail the seas forever. I thought it suffered from the problems that many ‘finishing films’ seem to, in that they try and fit too much into one film. What with the final battle, Davy Jones’ locker, the pirate court, the mission in Singapore, the freeing of Calypso, and everything in between with Bootstrap Bill, Davy Jones and the Cutler Beckett’s pursuit going on as well it seems like too much. Even that sentence was too long, so that should give you some idea of how dragged out it is.

In the first Pirates of the Caribbean film, Geoffrey Rush as Captain Barbossa is really scary. It might be something to do with his moonlight-revealing skeletal form, but he is immensely scary and makes a fitting villain to the first movie. His revelation at the end of the second movie is shocking (but is explained if you watch to the end of the credits of the first movie I think, I may be wrong), but his role in the third film seems to be very anonymous. I think that the main reason he was brought back was because to introduce another new pirate in At World’s End would be too much. His character seems to go much the same way as the Pirates films: starts off brilliantly, but by the third he doesn't seem quite the same. He is presented in many ways as being equal to Jack, and seems to be more obviously shrewd and less eccentric. He is the first to cotton on to the fact that Tia Dalma is the goddess Calypso for example, which has immense consequences for the outcome of the film.

Naomie Harris is one of those actresses that seems to pop up from time to time and I always seem to recognise her. She is so completely unrecognisable in Pirates of the Caribbean that I completely didn't connect her to 28 Days Later, and when I saw Skyfall, again didn't make the association. She shows off how good an actress she is best in Pirates of the Caribbean as she plays the heavily accented ‘mystic’ who turns out to be the goddess of the seas. Fittingly, she is also the reason that Davy Jones cut out his heart and also seems to quite like Captain Jack. Her roles in the second and third films were among the more enjoyable moments of the franchise, and I liked the way her character developed.

Chow Yun-Fat also makes an appearance as the fearsome pirate Sao-Feng, and is glittering in the role. Upon his death (sorry if I’ve given that one away) he passes his captaincy on to Elizabeth Swann, which leads to her instrumental role in the defeat of the forces pursuing the pirates. Sao-Feng is a brilliant character, and it’s a shame that he is given such a brief role in the films. The scenes in Singapore are a highlight of this film, and sees some tense moments intertwined with the humour that makes the Pirates of the Caribbean films nearly unique, and so refreshing.

Despite having an awful lot going on, the end is wonderfully spectacular and very well written. The battles between Cutler Beckett’s crew and the pirates is meant to convey a sense of life falling apart around a man who had so much, and his acceptance of it. That’s fairly obvious from watching the scene though. I thought that the battle between Captain Jack and Davy Jones was suitably epic in scale and design. The outcome of this battle has consequences for every single remaining character in the film. Jack has his life’s dream torn away from him, Elizabeth has her love torn away from her, and Will has his freedom torn away from him. It seems too obvious to say, but there is a strong sense that everything has changed at the end of the film. Best of all though is that by the end of the film it seems to have come to a natural conclusion.

As with Dead Man’s Chest, there is no way that At World’s End lives up to The Curse of theBlack Pearl, but it doesn't fall too far short. If you've watched the first and second films then you should watch the third. If you start with the third film then you won’t get a lot of the in-jokes, the character quirks and the general references to the previous films. A lot of people have been very critical of it, but as with the other Pirates of the Caribbean films, I enjoyed it, and that’s enough reason to watch this one.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

The second Pirates of the Caribbean movie was definitely not as good as the first. Dead Man’s Chest was born of the incredible and unprecedented success of the first film. I thought it was a good film, but it was a lot more transparent as an attempt to bleed more money from a successful film. The plot was good, and I really enjoyed it, but it didn't live up to the expectations set by the first film.

The plot sees Captain Jack Sparrow attempt to track down the heart of the legendary Davy Jones, stab it, and become the captain of the Flying Dutchman, sailing the seven seas forever. It is the first part of a two-part series, and nicely introduces a couple of legends of the pirate mythology. Jack’s quest naturally puts him in a number of hilarious situations, such as being lauded as a God by natives of an island. Johnny Depp returns with his brilliant, funny and unique style to the role of Captain Jack Sparrow, who has lost none of his wit and eccentricity. Orlando Bloom also returns, but this time, Will Turner is a much stronger and less ‘whiny’ character, and has much more of a key role to play than in the original film.

Keira Knightley, who I didn't talk about in the first Pirates of the Caribbean post, plays a very similar character in both films. She is confident, headstrong, defiant and immensely strong willed, and this is a marvellous way to present a character who stereotypically would be some helpless maiden at sea with pirates. She is very clever and immensely divisive, as shown by her acceptance of Norrington’s marriage proposal in the first film, by her sacrificing of Jack to the Kraken, and by her role as Pirate King in the third movie. Still there is a much more sentimental side to her and she is a very different character when she is around Will. From the start of the franchise it is obvious that she is in love with him, and the way that they are torn apart at the start of this film is quite sad. Not as tragic as the way they are torn apart at the end of the third film though.

I thought that the plot around the rising power of Cutler Beckett was a nice backdrop to these films, and definitely added a sense of ‘background’ to the ‘one-off world’ feel that we got with the first movie. Beckett is a reprehensible character, but the audience’s attitude towards him is another example of the marvellous manner in which the director makes the audience like the bad guy. Throughout the franchise I was always rooting for the pirates, and so the way the films are presented to the audience are very good. I’m not sure if all the points I’m making here can be extended to On Stranger Tides because I haven’t seen it, and so I’m not going to consider that particular (disappointing) instalment in this series of reviews, but I plan to watch it at some point.

In Dead Man’s Chest we are introduced to Davy Jones, who is exceptionally portrayed by Bill Nighy. Nighy is one of the most recognisable British actors going at the moment, and is one of my favourites. As ever, he doesn't disappoint in this role, and the way he is presented by the visual effects team is incredible. To have him and his crew slowly developing into a part of the ocean is such an original idea, and makes the crew of the Flying Dutchman all the more scary. He is a fierce and powerful character, and Bill Nighy does such a good job in this role that I found myself looking forward to more instances of him on the screen, much like Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight. In the third film we are presented with more of his history, but in the second film he is a continuous threat, and there is a sense that he is always hanging on the shoulder of Jack and his quest. The resources he has available to him are also quite imposing. His ship is faster than the others, and can even sail under the sea. When the ship emerges from the sea it is quite threatening, and serves to strike fear into the hearts of the crews that he captures. The scariest thing about Davy Jones is his control of the Kraken. The Kraken is another masterpiece of visual effects, and the film crew has produced a terrifying beast with this particular monster.

Overall, Dead Man’s Chest is a good film, but does not live up to the lofty standards of the first film. It is enjoyable though, and seems to be a continual series of events leading to the climax. It’s one of those films that keeps you entertained and I never checked my watch to see how long was left. If you have seen the first movie, then watching the second one is not a bad idea. However, if you are planning to get into the franchise, Dead Man’s Chest is not the one to start with. The twist at the end for starters is only understandable if you have seen the first film. 

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

I had toyed with the idea of doing the Pirates of the Caribbean reviews as one big post, but I realised that my thoughts on each of them were so different, and at times so similar, that I’d probably sound like I was repeating myself or contradicting myself if I tried to do too much. So I’m going to take them one by one, and space them out a bit I think. I remember when the first Pirates of the Caribbean film came out. I was only 11, but it was immediately one of my favourite films. It was fresh and funny, and had a main character who has since become a bit of an icon. It has changed the modern perception of pirates and is one of the most successful franchises of the last few years. The fast-paced action-adventure film is instantly enjoyable and very worth watching. I thought it was quite original when it was released, but I have since been informed that it was not. Evidently I have not seen as many pirate films as my flatmate.

The Curse of the Black Pearl was brilliant. It is the first film in the movie franchise, and introduces Captain Jack Sparrow who is on a quest to win back his ship, the Black Pearl, from the hands of his mutinous first mate and his cursed crew. He is helped in this quest by the blacksmith Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and the kidnapped Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley). The best thing about this movie was not the catchphrases, the comedic moments, the original screenplay or the captivating nature of the film, but its success which was largely unexpected. It received Academy Award nominations for Best Actor (Johnny Depp), Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Makeup, and Best Visual Effects. Personally I love the first film just because of how original a film it is. There are so many quotes from it, and so many moments which stick with me. My favourite of these quotes from the first movie is this:

Johnny Depp was already a very well established actor when The Curse of the Black Pearl was released, but it was this film that really established him as a name that everyone knew. His quirky and eccentric character has become a cultural icon, and spawned countless Halloween outfits. His acting in the first Pirates of the Caribbean film definitely deserved the Best Actor nomination it received. It really takes something to play a character so different from other roles. However, it is the little things about his performance that complete it, such as the swaying and the hand movements. Nevertheless, despite his ‘madness’ he has a brilliant mind, and in the first film we are treated to a taste of his scheming ways. The Curse of the Black Pearl is fantastic because the audience finds themselves rooting for Jack Sparrow, despite him being a criminal who is running away from the authorities, because he has a bigger enemy in Captain Barbossa. There are few superlatives left for me to praise Johnny Depp in this role, and so I think I’ll move on.

Orlando Bloom was completely unknown to me when the first film was released, but mainly because I didn’t see the Lord of the Rings films until I’d seen Pirates of the Caribbean. His performance in The Curse of the Black Pearl is, to me at least, slightly annoying. I really like his character, but I wasn’t convinced by the way he was portrayed. I think that he comes across as very weak and seems very deceitful, much more concerned with his own mission than the overall aims. However, despite this I still liked his character. The scene where he and Jack have the fight in the blacksmith’s workshop is another stand-out favourite. I guess the main problem with Bloom in this movie is that he is so completely overshadowed by Johnny Depp that it is difficult to be too complimentary. I would be like trying to talk up the good points of a Mercedes when you have an Aston Martin sitting next to it. That comes across as quite harsh to Orlando Bloom (and possibly to Mercedes), but at the end of the day, Johnny Depp (and Aston Martins) is so good that it clouds him a bit.

I think I shall save my thoughts on Keira Knightley for the next post, but save to say that she doesn't suffer as much from the overshadowing of Johnny Depp’s performance. My next point is that the idea of having cursed pirates who cannot die, and are exposed to their skeletons by moonlight is ingenious. Gore Verbinski manages to get nearly every aspect of the film nailed on. The soundtrack (provided by Hans Zimmer) is very catchy, and while similar to many other Zimmer soundtracks, has produced a main theme that is instantly recognisable. The twists and turns of the plot are absolutely brilliant, and the audience is never sure quite what is going on. The best bit though is the fear that the cursed pirates manage to induce in the audience. The visual effects are so good and so convincing that the skeletal forms are genuinely scary, and this is why Pirates of the Caribbean was so good. The first movie throws you into this world of pirates and nightmares and leaves you so captivated that you just want to see more.

I will be stunned if there is someone reading this who doesn't have a clue what I’m on about with this post. I’m sure everyone knows just a little bit about the Pirates of the Caribbean films, and if not then they should try to rectify that immediately. The first one is such a good movie, and is definitely one that should be on your watchlist if you haven’t already seen it. The second movie, Dead Man’s Chest, will be reviewed in a week, and I promise I will talk about Keira Knightley then.