PLATOON (1986) Movie Reaction! | First Time Watch! | Charlie Sheen | Willem Dafoe | Tom Berenger

I'm always surprised - and don't take this the wrong way - when I see young reactors say things like "So well done, and for 1987" as if because the film is decades old you are surprised at how good it is, as opposed to modern day movies. But it was shot in the jiungle, written and directed by someone who served in Vietnam. with practical effects (these days they'd CGI in the helicopters and explosions and might even shoot it on a soundstage and green screen the background). There's a lot of grit in older films. I can't think of a modern film maker who could make a film like this. On another tack - we see this in music too. I recently watched a reaction to 'California Dreamin' by the Mamas and the Papas. Same thing: "So good - and nineteen sixty five! But I am pleased to see young folk discovering old films and music.

Remember, this is the movie Frank and Jane walked out of laughing their asses off in The Naked Gun. Now you get the joke.🤣

A dear friend of mine cried like a baby when he saw this film. The film shook him to his core. He said it was like being right back there; so realistic. He died this past March 2025. Rest in Peace, Nelson❤

The shot of Capt Dale Dye staring into the pit of bodies at the end was genuine PTSD in his face. He was having a war flashback and Oliver Stone, a fellow Vietnam vet, recognized it and caught it on film. My uncle was in Nam and stories he told drinking buddies when he was drunk leaked out. Little kids waving at him and then starting to chuck grenade at him, his friends drinking coke that had glass instead of ice getting caught in their throats, his best friend learning his wife gave birth to a son and later that day swapping point w my uncle and getting cut down by a machine gun Another dude in the neighborhood was driving a jeep w a general and got ambushed. He had to play dead and then killed the ambushers when they approached the jeep. He ended up saving the Generals life.

Yes that was Tony Todd. He played Candyman. RIP

I'm a combat vet ( Vietnam ) 65/66 I had a lot of trouble when I came home but this is the first time I have been able to watch this whole thing so that's something at least. Thank you for this and God bless you both

My father is a Vietnam Vet 1970-1971, he still has all his gear hanging up in the garage and I go In there from time to time to look at his uniform and boots and everything, his hat has NEW YORK on it and the year he served, anytime I’ve tried to talk to him about what his experience was there he shuts down and doesn’t want to talk about it. To this day I can’t sneak up on him or he JUMPS, doesn’t matter the situation or place or time. I know he still carries those scars. But he’s lived a full successful life and made something of himself. He did tell me he thinks PLATOON is one of the most realistic depictions of the war, but he also said only when your in the field because you aren’t in the field as often as the movie makes it seem.I respect my father immensely and any other war veteran for that matter.

Only a third of the soldiers in Vietnam were drafted, the rest were volunteers.

I saw this in the theater with my girlfriend when I was in highschool. We were 18. In the theatre it was much more visceral, more real. After walking out, we were both silent for a while processing the fact that this was less than 20 years prior. The Falklands war was only a few years before. Yugoslavia and Rwanda were in the near future. The realization that it could've been us if we were a bit older and still would be if the draft existed. It made for a few very real discussions between us, our friends and our parents about topics that I'd not previously imagined.

People do not understand how easy is it to become a monster in a place like this..