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. Another example is when he explains to the men in the head that he killed Elias because he couldnt and wouldnt tolerate a man that doesnt follow orders, he is warning them to follow orders or they will suffer the same fate as Elias did. Barnes has engaged in. By doing so, Barnes is able to call their bluff, and deal with this conflict directly and on his terms. For far too long, they engage in a losing war, deluding themselves that victory is certain. ELIAS: Hey ONeill why dont you cool it, you dont have to be a prick everyday of your life you know. I guess having always been sheltered and special, I just want to be anonymous. Obsessed with the idea of an international communist conspiracy, Truman and his advisors contended that Stalin, Mao, and Ho were united by the single ambition of world domination. (Martin, Roberts, Mintz, McMurry, and Jones, p. 922) By the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s, America was financing a major portion of Frances war in Vietnam. Instead of finding something to be proud of, Chris leaves Vietnam having become dehumanized and morally corrupt. He is not a good man, but he is also tormented by the choices he's made. (Stone, p. 85) Sgt. Barnes told everyone that the enemy already killed Elias. Why did Barnes kill Elias? The lives of the infantry men who havent proven themselves arent valued as much as the lives of the men whove been in Vietnam longer. Sgt. When Chris awakes after the final battle scene in which Sgt. Make it outta here, its all gravy, every day of the rest of your life - gravy(Stone, p. 95). The FAQ items below may give away important plot points. ONEILL: So what am I going to do! Everybody knows whos really in charge of the platoon. Barnes becomes irritated with Chris when Chris throws up and faints after he discovers the rotting corpse of a Viet Cong soldier: Elias; In the films climatic battle, instead of relying on the safety of his foxhole, Chris leaves to engage the enemy in hand to hand combat; Ultimately, he ends up murdering Sgt. They drove me crazy with their goddamn world, Grandma, you know Mom, I dont want to be a white boy on Wall Street, I dont want my whole life to be predetermined by them. Why does Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen) call Barnes and Elias his "fathers" during the final monologue. Stone's message suggests that for goodness to prevail, darkness must be overcome. BARNES: Elias - you take your squad and Ill take Tex and Francis from your squad. 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. Barnes RTO.Doc (KIA): Also shot while defending CP bunker, he is still rolling around after being shot but would appear to have died from his wounds as he is not seen at the end with the other survivors (this is also the case in the script). Live up to what Grandpa did in the First War and Dad the Second. When Chris is falsely accused of falling asleep on his watch, Barnes uses the death of a platoon member to point out the effect of this action. In the film Barnes clearly represents the darkness and evil while Elias is the light and goodness. This bit of wisdom is the source of extreme tension between Chris and Barnes. Barnes views Chris the same way he views Elias, an agent out to challenge his way of war, a crusader causing dissension among the men, undermining Barnes efforts, and placing the platoon in jeopardy. In the closing minutes of Platoon, the character re-emerges with a big smile on his face, and tells Taylor that they'll both be sent homeas "two-timers." He invests in the questionable notion that the war will instill within him a great sense of pride. Who killed Elias in platoon? And the next son of a bitch I catch coppin Z in the bush, Im personally going to take an interest in seein suffer. Check outLarry Kings YouTube video below to hear Willem Dafoe retell the story of filming the epic scene. BARNES: Theres the way it oughta be and theres the way it is. 1, Sheila Benson). Hes able to make observations that other people miss. Death What do yall know bout death? is what Barnes asks Chris and the others of the head when he confronts them about Elias. In the speech he gives the head, hes basically telling the men to think his way; be part of the machineCause when the machine breaks down, we break down, an occurrence hes not going to allow. They seek direction and guidance for the way they need to function in order to stay alive in Vietnam. He is on a quest to find something of which to be proud. When Chris reflects upon the village and the murder of Elias, he is able to gain the same enlightenment, yet his killing of Barnes in cold blood detracts from any progress hes made toward self-fulfillment. 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. Then they would be sent home. Elias tells Chris he thinks the U.S. is going to lose the war: Barnes was very harsh, uncaring and sarcastic towards his troops but he was very charismatic when it came to garnering their loyalty to him. However, what makes thefinal narration especially impactfulis that Taylorsuggests he'll figuratively remain on the battlefield for the rest of his days, and imagines Eliasdoing the same while battling Barnes for the possession ofhis [Taylor's] soul. Barnes controversial behavior and questionable leadership in the village. He has attained the combat skills and control over his fear necessary to perform competently during combat. Elias admits he is a burn out and has some faults, but at least he is competent and doesn't frag his own. (Stone, p. 65), In Platoon, Writer-director Oliver Stone drops us as he drops his autobiographical 19-year-old, Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen), into life with the 25th Infantry in Vietnam. Elias ( Willem Dafoe ), another good fighter, but a man who tries to escape from the reality through drugs. For example: Barnes doesnt seem to give much thought to sending the new, inexperienced recruits, Chris and Gardner, out on a dangerous all night ambush mission shortly after they arrive to the platoon. That screenplay was actually based on Stone's earlier screenplay, Break, a semi-autobiographical account of his experiences and people he knew in Vietnam. Extreme tension and frustration has overcome the men. Critics consider Platoon to be rife with religious symbolism. Barnes senses his chance to kill Elias when the two are alone in the jungle, their eyes meet with Sgt. Elias has his own take on particular causes the platoon faces. Car-15. CHRIS: Proofs in his eyes. Elias Gordon (1936-January 2, 1968) was a US Army Sergeant during the Vietnam War. Edit, Platoon is based on a screenplay by director Oliver Stone. While Chris finds great value in the lives of his platoon members, as well as in the Vietnamese civilians, Barnes does not. Platoon Translator. KING: What we got here a crusader? The soldiers with a past have an intimate knowledge about the ways of fighting in Vietnam, and they must be able to remember and draw from their past experiences in order to be effective in the fight they are currently engaged in. On December 18, 1916 The Battle of Verdun came to an end after 10 months of fighting. If the U.S. military would have proven to be a more effective adversary in the jungle style warfare waged against the Viet Cong, the U.S. would have probably won the war; If Lt. Wolfe had been a proven combat soldier, many situations the platoon faced wouldnt have resulted with such ill consequences; If Sgt. Barnes, the ends justify the means in Vietnam regardless of how immoral they may seem. The smell was chemical and horrific. Sanderson either ignored this rule or felt that because he'd been able to open the box that it wasn't booby-trapped (as often the explosives are set to detonate when opening the box). The young Lieutenant Wolfe, who has not proven himself in war yet, illustrates unproven as the problem in several situations. 2nd Squad (Bravo): squad leader.Pvt Flash (KIA) Killed by NVA soldier, seen lying dead next to Sgt. Complete Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJua6db54cWl9NBg7hdrh8BjLQMf9PjaaFilm: Platoon (1986)Music Video: Simply Great MusicArtist: Geo. Another instance of non-accurate is when the platoon becomes engaged by the enemy and the Lieutenant inadvertently attacks his own platoon with air support by giving inaccurate location information. Sgt. The iconic imageappeared on the movies poster and the box of the video tape release. Elias. At the end, we see an entire regiment used as bait to draw out the larger Viet Cong regiment. None of this sits well with Sgt. Sgt. KING: How the fuck you get over here man, you look like you educated Barnes, who drives Chris and the platoon hard throughout the jungle hikes. We fought ourselves." Here's our breakdown. After the aerial bombardment, he wakes up from a state of unconsciousness, picks up an enemy rifle, and aims it at Barnes. Unproven is also illustrated in the conflict between Elias and Barnes that arises over the crimes that Barnes commits in the village. Written and directed by Oliver Stone. I saw his eyes when he came back in Sgt. Vietnam War Movies That Best Show the Realities of the Conflict. How big is a platoon? Chris seems awestruck that his worse fear could have been realizedhe could have been easily killed if there had been enemy troops in the bunker. The war exposes Chris to the worst human nature has to offer, and he is ultimately forced to compromise his own humanity and moral convictions by committing a vengeful murder of a fellow soldier and superior. (Stone, p. 95) ELIAS: Sir, I saw it happen in 66 at Ia Drang. One needs to learn from the past to do well in war. I know he did. User Reviews Top 4 Reasons the Property Management Companies are Thriving. He relies on his knowledge of war to react and perform quickly. I say we frag the fucker. You are one simple son-of-a-bitch! One of the most memorable scenes in Platoon was the death of main character Sgt Elias, portrayed by Willem Dafoe. Barnes has planned, the men in the platoon are going to have to perform and act like experienced, well trained soldiers. Susanna", written by Stephen Collin Foster in 1847 or 1848. Dale Dye says in his commentary that Huffmeister is played by an Assistant Technical Advisor called Robert Galotti, he is the guy who rolls down the hill in the opening credits and also chucks a grenade down the well in the village scene.Pvt Francis (WIA): Stabs himself in the leg to get second Purple Heart and thus get sent home, along with Taylor.Pvt Rodriguez (WIA): On chopper with Francis at end of film. Chris and Sgt. However, by the end of the film, we sense that Chris doesnt still hold to the same basic ideals as when he first arrived in Vietnam. CHRIS: He killed him. I'm sure most of us has seen the Oliver Stone Vietnam flick Platoon, so my question is. Chris and his platoon release their tension and frustrations from the war on a small Vietnamese village. There is only terror, bone-deep exhaustion, nighttime patrols and the humid jungle, crawling with snakes, insects and the silent Viet Cong. (Los Angeles Times, 12/19/86, Calendar/p. Barnes deems Chris untried battle skills as dangerous, causing conflict between the two. Most of the platoon, including Wolfe and most of Barnes' followers, are killed in the ensuing battle. Elas Character Analysis. CHRIS: He killed him. (to Chris) And that goes for you, shit for brains. Barnes is the antithesis of Hamlet. Sgt. Barnes is the one who does the basic planning and strategizing for the platoon. THE WEB'S FAVORITE - SINCE 1999. . Elias eyes seem to go to some inner place, his passion surging. First, and most importantly, Taylor kills Barnes. (Stone, p. 3) The cost of being relates to the men in the platoon losing their identities and having to behave in a certain way. Yall know about killing? You've reached the "hub" for any and all Dramatica analysis of Platoon. Both the main character and the obstacle character see each other as the cause of the problems they are experiencing in their relationship. All the men in the platoon, including Chris, are functioning on raw emotions and follow Sgt. Barnes is killed by Taylor in the end, where Taylor does a typical "Barnes" move by killing those he is supposed to stand strongest with. Entdecke Platoon (DVD, 2009, Special Edition Single Disc Version) NEU in groer Auswahl Vergleichen Angebote und Preise Online kaufen bei eBay Kostenlose Lieferung fr viele Artikel! Chris is thematically focused on understanding how to apply what he knows. Get that other cherry up here, Gardner! Barnes challenges Chris to, Do it!to shoot him while Chris has a rifle trained on him and his finger on the trigger. Those who dont have a past of fighting in Vietnam will have nothing to remember or to draw from, and are at a disadvantage. Sgt. 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