I've seen a lot of Westerns, and John Wayne war movies, and Platoon
is near the top, mainly for the script, and for the acting. It probably
has as much to do with Vietnam, as John Wayne's had to do about
D-Day or the Pacific.

But at least John Wayne never thought of himself as the Messiah. The
only image I carried away from Platoon is the guy with his arms
outstretched: oooh, look, daddy! Jesus on the Cross! What clever
symbolism! This much be a very deep movie!

My own Viet picks: We Were Soldiers, Go Tell the Spartans, and Full
Metal Jacket. The first is one of the great war movies, the second was
based on a book I wrote, and the third is a classic bang! bang! film.
I enjoyed each of them as much the second time around.

Hamburger Hill had its moments, but I sometimes forgot what war it was
supposed to be. I probably won't see it the second time.


all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

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