Barnes impact on Chris eventually dehumanizes him to the point where he is capable of killing his commanding officer, fully conscious that he is committing the same type of immoral act that Sgt. Hope things are well Grandma, tell Mom and Dad, I well just tell them, Chris. He was also awarded France's and England's version of the Medal of Honor. Barnes is the one who does the basic planning and strategizing for the platoon. Huh. The sergeants actions momentarily shock the entire platoon, but then seem to inspire the platoon to want to kill all the villagers. Elias' decision to report Barnes' criminal conduct at the village precipitates a rift between the members in the platoon (some siding with Barnes and others siding with Elias), and ultimately causes Barnes to kill Elias. Effect will end the source of Sgt. When Barnes steps outside the boundaries of military moral code and starts killing and threatening civilians he suspects of Viet Cong affiliation, hes becoming a dangerous and immoral influence on Chris and the rest of the platoon. In addition to the Storyform, you'll also find any additional analysis or media related to the story in question. 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. If they were permanently damaged in some way; such as losing a limb, severe nerve damage, etc. I shit you not! This is a failure story because the Viet Cong ultimately prove themselves more effective in the war than the US military. Francis - portrayed by Living Colour frontman Corey Glover - emerges from a foxhole and correctly determines that help is indeed on the way. Meaning, the U.S. governmentwon't ask themto further serve in the military out of respect for their sacrifices. He is on a quest to find something of which to be proud. Barnes. Although Id served with distinction, I never kidded myself that the Pentagon was in my corner., More from us: Vietnam War Movies That Best Show the Realities of the Conflict. For Chris, to serve his country in Vietnam fulfills the moral obligation he feels towards his America, and an opportunity to develop a strong sense of pride and character. You got no proof man. Karmic Death: Shot three times by Chris in the torso, similar to how Barnes killed Elias. Why did Elias smile at Barnes? Elias when they are alone in the jungle. Barnes orders the rest of the platoon to retreat, and goes back into the jungle to find Elias' group. Counting days and the six inches in front of my face, not much else. More can be read about him here. "Looking back," he says, "We did not fight the enemy. Barnes in the hut at base camp for killing him. Elias ( Willem Dafoe ), another good fighter, but a man who tries to escape from the reality through drugs. Platoon's medic.LT. Much of this is illustrated in his letters to his grandmother. Seen being carried away at end of battle. The problem is Barnes's fist quite obviously clears the front of Elias's face by at least 5-6 inches. First, and most importantly, Taylor kills Barnes. Phosphorus shells from our artillery were hitting the jungle, burning white fire, incinerating trees and bushes and whatever stood in their path. No longer a liability, Chris has become a valuable asset to the platoon. Edit, Yes, and it's probably a composite of several of them. From the crowded canvas, large figures emerge: Barnes ( Tom Berenger ), the veteran sergeant with the scarred face, the survivor of so many hits that his men believe he cannot be killed. Now, Taylor looms over a fallen comrade, Barnes (who requests a medic), and kills him. Barnes is a callous soldier, hardened from several tours of duty in the Nam. Horrible scars carved into his face physically suggest the experiences he has seen. Sgt Barnes, Elias sadistic staff sergeant, was in direct contrast to Platoons main character. Critically acclaimed writer-director Oliver Stone (an Army veteran) took audiences into that politically charged time in American history, where the war efforts of our service members were either overlooked or disdained upon returning home,with Platoon. After doing so, he commences to beat and kill the innocent civilians. ONEILL: Shit! KING: Whoever said we did, babe. Shortly thereafter, Sandersen and Sal are killed by a booby trap in an abandoned Viet Cong compound, and Manny is abducted, killed, and mutilated by the enemy, and left strung up on a tree trunk for the platoon to find. Barnes is the antithesis of Hamlet. When he is not sitting in front of a laptop, Todd enjoys soaking up everything the Jersey Shore has to offer with his wife, two sons and American Foxhound, Wally. Critics consider Platoon to be rife with religious symbolism. He has attained the combat skills and control over his fear necessary to perform competently during combat. Elias from reporting war crime charges against him, Sgt. Barnes is obviously affected by the deaths of more of his men, enough so to make him momentarily lose his tough, military sergeant facade and expose a slight vulnerability. Kill me. Entdecke Platoon (DVD, 2009, Special Edition Single Disc Version) in groer Auswahl Vergleichen Angebote und Preise Online kaufen bei eBay Kostenlose Lieferung fr viele Artikel! 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. Barnes realizes that Chris is standing behind him with a rifle pointed at him. Barnes possesses the unique ability to pressure Chris and others in the platoon to think a certain way. How many days you short? Its a war where there seems to be no master plan, no big picture and no advances. Chris finally obtains a strong aptitude for the war. Not one(Stone, p. 88), Sgt. (Stone, p. 92) The depth to which the Viet Cong understands how and where the U.S. They are the internal moral pillars all humans have that determine whether man's innate capacity for evil is realized or not. Edit, Likely because it is meant to represent a helmet from a fallen soldier on the battlefield. CHRIS: Yever get caught in a mistake King and you just cant get out of it? You are one simple son-of-a-bitch! Lurking in the town in the disguise of a day laborer, Elas . Stone's message suggests that for goodness to prevail, darkness must be overcome. Were gonna lose this war He became quite famous and was a hero to Army soldiers for decades and is still widely remembered to this day. Barnes is the first platoon sergeant. When Sgt. When Elias is betrayed by Barnes, he still greets him with a smile, as if satisfied with his ability to operate on optimism despite the tragedies of warthat surround him, and his demise being brought on not by the enemy of war, but the enemy of morality. Through all his experiences, Chris has come to learn the true nature of war. Barnes shoots and murders Elias when the two are alone in the jungle. Company. 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." Todd Neikirk is a New Jersey-based politics, entertainment and history writer. In his rage, he even tries to kill Taylor. From none of you. 66 How many times has Barnes been shot? Sgt. RHAH: (puffing on his bowl) How do you know the dinks didnt get him. We just dont add up to a rats ass. The primary objective Barnes is concerned with is being a role model for his troops. Stone's filmalso has a familial connection to Francis Ford Coppola's 1979 war classic Apocalypse Now, whichstars Charlie Sheen's father, Martin Sheen. Well, here I am, all by my lonesome, and ain't nobody gonna know. An example is the scene where Lieutenant Wolfe calls in the wrong coordinates and mistakenly attacks his own platoon with air support. And I ain't gonna allow that in any of you. He invests in the questionable notion that the war will instill within him a great sense of pride. People like Elias get wasted and people like Barnes just go on making up rules any way they want and what do we do, we just sit around in the middle and suck on it! Remember what it looks like. Elias argument to Sgt. How many days you short? 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 meaning to this life.". How big is a platoon? 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. Hes willing to kill civilians, and even his own men, to support his immoral beliefs. This supports Sgt. The light also shines on his eyes, giving them a devilish glow. The consequence of not making progress in the war is the men will have to keep fighting, subjected to the inhumane preconscious responses they have developed in order to stay alive. ): the village, which had stood for maybe a thousand years, didnt know we were coming that day. Barnes confronts Chris about Elias, and challenges Chris and the other men to try and kill him. Sgt. Barnes sees Chris as a liability to the platoon: CHRIS: Yeah, I dropped out of college and told em I wanted infantry, combat, and Nam He received a "battlefield" commission and got out as a captain. The goal is for the U.S. military to make progress in the warwhich they dont. How often do soldiers get sent home as opposed to a medical care center to return after they have healed? You fuck up in a fire fight and I goddamn guarantee you a trip out of the bush, in a body bag! Platoon was inspired by Stone's real-life experiences at theNew Year's Day Battle of 1968, and the director himself makes a cameo during his cinematic recreation. Throughout the film, we see how Chris is thematically focused on the events he experiences and sees, and is able to pull out the really relevant and meaningful parts which gives him wisdom beyond his years. Sgt. A story of triumph that we are subjected to follow. When the platoon suffers casualties on the all night ambush, Barnes gives the men a threatening speech about how inadequate performance will not be tolerated. User Ratings But in actuality, he doesn't know for sure that Sgt. Elias get into an altercation over Sgt. All this slows the platoons torturous excursions through the smothering jungle. Barnes was very harsh, uncaring and sarcastic towards his troops but he was very charismatic when it came to garnering their loyalty to him. In this particular Platoon sequence, Taylor is framed as the true leader or at least someone who is no longer concerned about playing by the rules. While Chris finds great value in the lives of his platoon members, as well as in the Vietnamese civilians, Barnes does not. After Sgt. He is a brutal and extremely violent Sergeant in the US Army, known for his horrifically disfigured face that he gained after surviving seven shooting injuries. Why did Barnes shoots Elias? As an example, he is able to home in on who it is that is called to war, and who is excused: Platoon opens up with a shot of body bags organized in preparation to make their final journey home to America. Tips to avoid the fake and spam followers. For Barnes, conflict will decrease between the two as soon as Chris can prove himself to be more like a soldier willing to set his morals aside while fighting in Vietnam. RHAH: (puffing on his bowl) How do you know the dinks didnt get him. This frustration is derived from past events the platoon has recently suffered, such as the loss of two men in the all night ambush, the loss of two additional men in a booby trapped Viet Cong bunker, and the abduction of another platoon member who is found strapped to a tree, dead and mutilated. In an alternate reality, "Platoon" may have starred Jim . Death What do yall know bout death? is what Barnes asks Chris and the others of the head when he confronts them about Elias. ONEILL: Fuck you Elias. Early on, it's revealed thatBarnes actually has more internal power than Lieutenant Wolfe (Mark Moses), whichestablishes Berenger's facially-scarred character as theAlpha Male. In the film Barnes clearly represents the darkness and evil while Elias is the light and goodness. The morale in the men is low - a civil war in the platoon, half the men with Elias, half with Barnes. A man who felt he was doing what was necessary. Posted: 7/31/2021 2:23:23 PM EST. By the early 1960s, after increasing military involvement, America found itself stepping in for the exhausted French and Southern Vietnamese governments, and leading the campaign against the lethal Viet Cong, the North Vietnamese communist regime. Taylor's message is that Vietnam should become a message, a morality tale for those who come afterward, and a reminder that the world should never fall so far. | Sgt. During the run, however, some went off, while others failed, although viewers were unaware of this. People like Elias get wasted and people like Barnes just go on making up rules any way they want and what do we do, we just sit around in the middle and suck on it! It was at this point the Sergeant Elias arrives, furious with Barnes. The U.S. regiment is completely overrun. From there, the narration becomes more complex and gives a deeper meaning to Platoon: "There are times since, I've felt like the child born of those two fathers. There are so many war movies out there to choose from, yet not many come from the perspectiveof a man who personally lived through the hell that was the Vietnam War. From none of you. Promoted to Staff Sergeant (Platoon Sergeant): at end of film.Pvt Rhah (Survives): Given command of Elias's squad and seen waving at film end. Extreme tension and frustration has overcome the men. The men cower at the blunt prospect of having to kill their menacing sergeant. If they had they would have run Barnes was at the eye of our rage - and through him, our Captain Ahab - we would set things right again. Understanding how networked the entire area has become and how hidden and well stocked the Viet Cong are serve as forewarnings that support the consequence. 2nd Lieutenant (Platoon Leader).SSG. He heroically rescues several platoon members when the platoon is caught in an enemy ambush. I cant believe we are fighting each other when we should be fighting them. Maybe I can see something I dont yet see, or learn something I dont yet know (Stone, p.14) During the final battle, he is killing countless VC bare-handed. Suspicion and hate cause them to turn on each other. Edit, Awards 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. Maybe Ive finally found it, way down here in the mud. Barnes, finds himself taking his aggression and frustration out on the defenseless villagers. Barnes, a combat-loving burnout (Tom Berenger), is the informal leader of the lifers, and Sgt. Chris proves to himself he can soldier as well as any man; what he doesnt bargain on is the experience of killing in cold blood. Is he psychologically damaged? He had some trouble with the law, his vision went to sh*t, and he changed his name to Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn. Sgt. Car-15. RHAH: Wrong? Would soldiers actually wound themselves to get sent home? WOLFE: (a hesitant gesture, to Ace on the radio) Get me Barnes(to Elias) Sounds pretty far-out to me Lias. Barnes aint meant to die. The papers in the box were documents that Sanderson thought were important enough to deliver to Army Intelligence so he decided to take the whole box. I saw his eyes when he came back in What does Barnes say in platoon? Chris wants to go with Barnes to help find Elias, but Barnes threatens to write Chris up on a citation if he doesnt obey orders and return to the helicopter. No on talks. Barnes becomes irritated with Chris when Chris throws up and faints after he discovers the rotting corpse of a Viet Cong soldier: Barnes. Barnes immorality that brings about the deterioration of Chris own psyche. Sgt. Barnes. Where did they shoot platoon? Even though they believe him, they argue that Chris has no proof of Sgt. The explosions occurring around Sgt Elias as he makes his mad dash across the Vietnamese jungle were meticulously planned out beforehand, to ensure the scene not only looked spectacular, but that Willem Dafoe was safe as he performed his lines. The most famous is the My Lai massacre, believed to have been perpetrated by Lt. William Calley. Half the platoon sides with Sgt. By doing so, Barnes is able to call their bluff, and deal with this conflict directly and on his terms. This is why he is so bothered by Elias. His goodness, while encouraging followers, was not rewarded in this life, even though retribution for his death was . Chris and other new recruits are made immediately aware that their future is going to be bleak, harsh, and very possibly deadly in Vietnam. who would you have rather served with in NAM, or in any war. Confronting Chris, he moves on, taunting them all. Dafoe played Elias, a soldier that was set in sharp contrast to Berenger's character, Sgt. Another important point relating to the range is the fact that the U.S. military is continually losing soldiers to the Viet Cong, and unable to successfully counteract the Viet Congs strategies. Elias tells Chris he thinks the U.S. is going to lose the war: Barnes extensive experience and knowledge of war gives him a false sense of security that causes him to disregard giving much thought to his decisions and actions. Barnes course of action, but is in no position to prevent the horrible events he witnesses. 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). Sgt. coming up on Chris, who is soaked now from head to foot in sweat, dizzy, feeling sick, about to vomit. I dont know whats right and whats wrong anymore. Barnes warns the platoon that if they do not operate at acceptable levels, theyll end up killed by the enemy or they will put everybody else in the platoon in jeopardy. Morale among the platoon is bad. This is done as a means of releasing the tension and frustration that has built up from horrific ordeals he and his platoon have recently experienced; While his platoon pillages a small village, Chris rescues a young village girl from being raped by some of the men in his platoon; When Sgt. The cost of being relates to the men in the platoon losing their identities and having to behave in a certain way. | The fact of Barnes authority inhibits the relationship between himself and Chris. The story focuses on the reality of the Vietnam Warhow the soldiers have to actually live and operate day to day, and the type of responsibilities necessary to keep the platoon functioning. Its funny, in retrospect Ive heard many people say that Oliver Stone took that [pose] from a war photo, he continued. So he stabbed himself in order to be taken off duty long enough to be sent home. KING: You a crazy fucker, givin up college, man. Barnes deems Chris untried battle skills as dangerous, causing conflict between the two. Conversely, Lt. Wolfe, who doesnt have past experience in the war has nothing from which to draw on in situations where it is a necessity. Why did Barnes kill Elias? They are used as bait to lure the entire 167 Viet Cong Regiment into the open. As he was running and some of the squibs failed, he threw the detonator to the side, an action that can be spotted by more eagle-eyed moviegoers. Warren when Lerner is being worked on by the Doc. Despite Lt. Wolfes seniority, Sgt. The fact that the men in the platoon, as well as the enemys lives, are not given much value, slows the progress of the objective story. Maybe I can see something I dont yet see, or learn something I dont yet know (Stone, p.14) There is no hesitation or contemplation when Barnes enters the village and begins interrogating and killing civilians; we dont see him ponder much about killing Elias or attacking Chris. Chris understanding of the war increases as he engages in combat activities: hiking through the jungle from sun up to sun down, digging foxholes, going on point, participating in 3-man listing posts and all night ambushes, etc. 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. In one scene, Barnes is bathed in red light, symbolizing the evil within. 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. 24. Despite all the signs that they are losing the war, the platoon, as well as the American military, are operating under the delusion they are in some way actually gaining control of the war and have a chance to win. The platoons immoral behavior, and the dehumanizing treatment of the villagers supports Elias notion that the U.S. is going to lose the war. The success of Mao Tse-tungs communist revolution in China strengthened Americas support of the French in Vietnam. The war forced Chris to experience and do things that hes not proud of at all, like his platoons involvement in the My-Lai-esque pillage and destruction of a Vietnamese village, and the climatic murder of Sgt. Immediately upon arriving in country, Chris realizes the stark reality of war in Vietnam is quite contrary to his beliefs. Fresh off the plane, new U.S. recruits are greeted by body bags slung onto another plane going home; the platoon takes out its frustrations on a defenseless village; a civil war breaks out between members within the platoon. Simpson then had to explain to Stone that he couldn't find that footage because the scene in question hadn't been shot yet. Is the village massacre based on any actual events? The light of the moon. Elas Character Analysis. Would this movie be considered "un-American?". Another instance that illustrates how Chris looks at the war from an overall, holistic standpoint is in the last conversation he has with King: The gesture of reaching towards the heavens, thats not something we talked about. Johnny Depp Learned An Entire Language For His Role In Platoon. Even though Lieutenant Wolfe is the highest ranking officer in the platoon, he is young, inexperienced, and has only recently come to Vietnam. Barnes seems to think he owns an exclusive insight to death. Lias, he was full of shit, Lias was a crusader - I got no fight with a man does what hes told, but when he dont, the machine breaks down, and when the machine breaks down, we break down and I aint gonna allow that. And while the final narration doesn't reveal a whole lot about Taylor's life after the Vietnam War, his reflections arerepresentative of how many soldiers feel uponreturning home. For far too long, they engage in a losing war, deluding themselves that victory is certain. He honors and respects Sgt. This is what has brought him to Vietnam. Barnes conceives the idea of challenging Chris and the others to kill him. 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. Elias less. Elias tells Barnes that they don't know anything, and they are probably going to run into something. Conversely, there are several times when the actions and beliefs Barnes embraces provokes Chris to evaluate Barnes worth to the platoon and acts as a catalyst in the tension between the two. How many days you short? The last we see of him he is alive and in critical condition being placed aboard a Huey. One of his hunches is responsible for bringing him to Vietnam, where he develops a theory about finding what he can be proud of: Barnes commits causes Chris to abruptly regain his senses. Grabbing a loose stick, crudely drawing out their position in the dirt and tracing it out for the Lieutenant. Since not all the squibs exploded as planned, Dafoe ended up throwing the detonator to the side during the take that made the final cut. End with a murder the last of too bloody many . reinbold and pfeffer funeral home obituaries; Search. Bunny refers to himself as "Audie Murphy". By the end of the film, the platoon and several other military companies are completely overrun at their base by the enemy. Contents 1 Chris Taylor 2 Staff Sergeant Bob Barnes 3 Dialogue 4 Cast 5 Taglines 6 External links Chris Taylor [ edit] When Taylor discovers Barnes in Platoon, both men aren't doing well after the NVA attack and the subsequent air raid. Car-15. The ending of Platoonsuggeststhat Elias and Barnes are symbolic of good and evil forces that fight for the soul of Taylor. Since these two view the war differently, their view of certain causes is a source of tension for them. Gallery Elias questions Barnes code of ethics, Barnes labels Elias as a detrimental crusader in the platoon and ultimately murders him. (Stone, p. 95) During that 10 month period an estimated 600,000 French and German soldiers became a casualty. Elias squad out for an all night ambush resulting in Gardners death and Chris injuries. The 1986 Vietnam War classic follows the experiences of volunteer soldier Chris Taylor, who quickly learns about the politics of navigating his platoon. While the platoon is extracting via helicopter, they see a mortally wounded Elias emerge from the treeline being chased by NVA soldiers, who eventually kill him. Forces are situated, definitely implies the platoon will soon suffer the consequences of failure. Thats a good Gook, good and dead. The platoon investigates a small village suspected of Viet Cong activity. Barnes finds Elias alone and shoots him, then returns and tells Chris that Elias was killed by the enemy. BARNES: What you waiting for? These actions are undertaken with the constant fear the enemy could possibly attack at any moment, and unfortunately, the new recruits, fresh meat, have an entire year of this to endure. Barnes that Chris and Gardner were not ready for the all night ambush patrol. Sgt. Immediately experiencing platoon life in Vietnam abruptly begins to change the naive, idyllic notions Chris, a volunteer, has about war. Written and directed by Oliver Stone. Get that other cherry up here, Gardner! For the all night ambush to work as effectively as Sgt. There are many illustrations of Chris doing throughout the film, however, the sequence where he and his platoon ravage a Vietnamese village illustrates Chris engaging in activities contrary to his essential nature. BARNES: What the hells matter with you Taylor! After the final battle in Platoon on Netflix, Stone once again contrasts Taylor's bravery with the questionable decisionsof a fellow soldier. What happened todays just the beginning. He was in an area by himself, armed with a walkie-talkie from which he got instructions from Oliver Stone. Barnes focuses on others inadequacies, and this in particular makes problems for Chris. Chris shoots him three times at close range to finish him off after he survives the airstrike. Barnes to coordinate and divvy up the platoons excursion detail: Barnes killed Elias, its just a feeling that Chris has about him. I shit you not! 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Didnt get him reporting war crime charges against him, they engage in a losing war deluding... Cong Regiment into the open back in what does barnes say in platoon up college, man fellow.! To perform competently during combat leader of the head when he confronts them about Elias just tell them, has... Reality of war which the Viet Cong activity a Viet Cong understands how and the... The French in Vietnam not one ( Stone, p. 88 ), and kills him the of... Confronts them about Elias, and they are used as bait to lure the 167... Several other military companies are completely overrun at their base by the Doc in this life even.