Platoon, Casualties Of War, Deer Hunter, Full Metal Jacket

[Raphph]

I have now reviewed four Vietnam films for DVD times (each review link can be found in my sig)

Out of these four only, which is your favourite

Full Metal Jacket
The Deer Hunter
Platoon
Casualties Of War

I suppose mine is...casualties of war

[kerbcrawler]

Mine would be either Deer Hunter or Full Metal Jacket - depending on the mood.

DH is just such a sad and beautiful movie despite the accusations of gung-ho rascism and the fact that a friend of mine hung himself moments after watching this - his favourite movie - one Sunday night 10 years ago.

FMJ - I didn't really like that much when I saw it on it's original release - but upon repeated viewings the amzing set-piece scenes jelled together more coherently and now the movie blows me away (no sick pun intended).

I recently got hold of an R2 copy of Casualties which I've only seen once before, but I doubt it will usurp the aforementioned selection. As for Platoon I personally think this is overrated but I want to give it another chance too.

[christ]

I go along with FMJ and DH, with FMJ just out in front. I like the way FMJ is split into 2 halves. With the hard ******* sergent major in the first half, and the music during the sniper scene in the second. Truely brilliant! First film I ever bought, on betamax.

:clap: :clap: :clap:

[christ]

...and of course the the russian roulette in DH. Unbelievable cruelty, for which you have to admire. :)

[kerbcrawler]

christ - what eaxactly are we to admire in the Russian Roulette? Do you mean dramatically? Or are you referring to 'reality'? If you mean the former then I heartily agree - the dramatic impact of those scenes is incredible.

If it's the latter then I for one have no admiration regardless of who the perpetrators are or the victims. Even if there are no victims and the players are all volunteers then I still see nothing to admire - it's a desperate person who plays that kinda' game and a truly cruel person who runs it or bets on it. I see nothing to admire at all!!

[christ]

I was refering to the scene when they were pow's, and were given no choice. By admiration I mean only for the scene, every aspect of it and the impact it created.

[kerbcrawler]

And I would totally agree with you christ. If I remember right though tis this scene which caused an outcry - apparently it was the VC who were forced to do such things. Personally I can well believe both sides were guilty of such horrors. What a waste!!

As for the performances in that scene (and many others) - they were all awesome and tragic. That film makes me so sad every time I see it, which may explain why I haven't watched it for a long long time.

[McD]

I'm with everyone else - just to be different! It's Full Metal Jacket and The Deer Hunter for me, with FMJ out in front.

The other two are both good films, but not in the same league. I put this down to the Spin City boys, Charlie Sheen and Michael J Fox. It's hard for a film to go down as an all time classic when the leading man is so out of his depth.

[Mike]

"Casualties Of War" is by far the best of the lot, in my opinion, with "The Deer Hunter" running a close second. "Platoon" is good but pales in comparison to Stone's previous film "Salvador" and "Full Metal Jacket" simply leaves me cold - which was probably intentional but I have no desire to ever see it again.

[davey1970]

platoon is my fav out of all of them, deer hunter is fantastic as well, FMJ i like but always found a bit disapointing.
d

[Just Call Me Wanda]

My favourite of the four has to be Casualties of War for two major reasons: 1) Sean Penn and Michael J. Fox's phenomenal performances; 2) the film's ability to display the horror's of war, and instill in its audience the true terror that war can create via less obvious means. The shot of Fox as the rain pours down over his face; the rape going on in the background - is trully inspired.

In the different way, but taking the same metaphorical prinicipals - I will always rate Apocalypse Now as my number one, but out of the three remaining I'll probably rather watch Platoon over The Deer Hunter, with Kubrick's effort lagging closely behind.

[Nicky Ray]

Out of those four, The Deer Hunter, its just incredible and very moving, and you just cant fault De Niro and Walkens performances. Full Metal Jacket was nowhere near as good as Paths Of Glory, Kubricks earlier war film. But I do like both Platoon and Casulties Of War, but Deer Hunter would be hands down winner in my opinion.

[Bald Eagle]

Platoon is my favourite out of them all.