MovieChat Forums > Platoon (1987) Discussion > Three Great Scenes (and one eye-rolling)

Three Great Scenes (and one eye-rolling)

posted 9 years ago by Wuchakk
4 replies | jump to latest

While there are several great scenes, here are three of my favorites (followed by one scene I've always thought was so over-the-top it's eye-rolling, albeit iconic):

- After stumbling upon a just-abandoned Vietcong nest where a man comes up missing, the platoon finds his corpse staked-up down the river and the camera slowly pans across the visage of practically several platoon members culminating with Barnes, who mutters with seething vengeance. This is a potent scene spotlighting a band of American warriors, from very diverse racial/ethnic/socio-economic backgrounds, forced together halfway around the world in some God-forsaken jungle to face an enemy of jungle wraiths.

- After the Barnes/Elias fight at the village Barnes is informed by Captain Harris that there will be a full investigation. Barnes leaves the meeting and walks by his two disciples O'Niell and Bunny. O'Neill asks Barnes if there's going to be an investigation. The laconic Barnes stops but doesn't answer; he just looks away, as if in thought, smoking his cigarette. The camera stays on Barnes while Bunny responds: "O'Neill, man, you worry to much; the sergeant will take care of him." Looking at Barnes' countenance you just KNOW he's contemplating murder. The scene is filmmaking of the highest order.

- In a dugout, six of the soldiers who sided with Elias discuss what to do after it appears Elias had been shot by Barnes in combat. They all want to kill the scarred-face Barnes, but Rhah reveals Barnes' stature with the men is nigh mythological at this point: he's been hit seven times and still isn't dead. "Barnes ain't meant to die!" he says, "The only thing that can kill Barnes is Barnes". A shirtless Barnes suddenly appears, drinking a bottle of whiskey; apparently he heard the whole conversation. He boldly confronts all six with a fascinating rant (where he claims, "I am reality") and challenges them to kill him. None of them take the bait because they deem him a human tiger, except Taylor, who's no match for Barnes in man-to-man fighting. Although Barnes is the villain in the film you can't help but admire his sheer boldness and killer skills; it's clear why the men respect and fear him.

By contrast, Elias is the compassionate, loving and righteous Christ-figure. If there's any doubt to this it's bludgeoned into the viewer via the melodramatic and unrealistic death scene, which can be (slightly) excused on the grounds of its iconic imagery (the cover of the DVD) and obvious symbolism.

My 150 (or so) favorite movies:
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls070122364/

[–] vandydan 9 years ago

Keep in mind that we are "seeing things' thru the eyes of Taylor(Oliver Stone)This is how he saw Elias!

[–] Wuchakk 9 years ago

That's a valid point. I just saw it again and noticed right at the beginning of the movie after the main characters are introduced that one character says of Elias (paraphrasing): "He acts like he thinks he's Jesus effin' Christ."

My 150 (or so) favorite movies:
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls070122364/

[–] wylierichardson-966-922691 9 years ago

If Barnes were truly meant to be a Jesus figure, then he would have been shown as a healing influence, or self-sacrificing. True, he is murdered at the end, but not in a way that makes him a martyr. For the most part, army sergeants aren't reknowned for being especially 'compassionate, loving and righteous'. The military seek men with other qualities.

[–] Wuchakk 9 years ago

It's Elias who's a type of Christ, not Barnes (I'm sure you meant to say Elias). Furthermore, he's a type of Christ within the context of the Vietnam War story of the film, not an exact duplicate, which is why I referred to him as a "Christ figure" and not a Christ reincarnation. Being a type, there are overt parallels mixed with obvious deviances.

Here are several examples of these parallels from the film:

(1.) As noted in a previous post, near the beginning one of the platoon members contemptuously refers to Elias when he says (paraphrasing), "He thinks he's Jesus effin' Christ or something."
(2.) Also near the beginning, whereas the veteran platoon members treat Taylor (Sheen) with aloofness and contempt because he's an FNG, Elias regards him with a compassionate smile and helps carry his load, plus offers further counsel on how to live and not die in jungle warfare.
(3.) When Barnes crosses the line at the village Elias boldly challenges the corruption, like Christ radically cleansing the temple whirling a whip, throwing over tables, scattering coins and yelling (Mark 11:15-18 & John 2:15).
(4.) Elias is unjustly condemned and left for dead by the arrogant, rivalrous, self-seeking, deceptive and traitorous Barnes (all traits of the Pharisees and other fake religious leaders who plotted & encouraged the Messiah's unjust condemnation).
(5.) This is followed by Elias' iconic Christ-like image when he finally dies.
(6.) Lastly, Taylor's end narration plainly details that Barnes & Elias are figurative of flesh & spirit, the conflicting forces within us all. Taylor reflects, "The war is over for me now, but it will always be there the rest of my days, as I'm sure Elias will be, fighting with Barnes for what Rhah called 'possession of my soul'. There are times since I've felt like a child, born of those two fathers. But, be that as it may, those of us who did make it have an obligation to build again, to teach to others what we know, and to try with what's left of our lives to find a goodness and a meaning to this life."

My 150 (or so) favorite movies:
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls070122364/