When we look at the war film genre, one director cannot be missing: Oliver Stone. The American filmmaker often deals with political questions and conflicts. He had a lot to say about the Vietnam War in particular: he made three films about the devastating conflict.
Platoon, published in 1986, laid the foundation for Stone’s Vietnam trilogy. Born on July 4th followed three years later, before Between Heaven and Hell was the final chapter in 1993 Horrors of the Vietnam War captured on the screen. The most influential part is undoubtedly Platoon, which you can stream in the 3sat media library.
Stream now for free: With Platoon, Oliver Stone has created one of the most influential war films
The plot of Platoon is set in 1967 and revolves around the young Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen), who drops out of college and… volunteers for military service. At first he is still highly motivated to go to war for his fatherland. However, he is gradually confronted with the cruel reality of war.
You can watch the trailer for Platoon here:
Platoon – Trailer (English)
Not only does Chris experience death and destruction on the battlefield. Even within his platoon there are power struggleswhich primarily come from the unscrupulous Staff Sgt. Robert E. Lee Barnes (Tom Berenger), who has made it his mission to destroy the mild-mannered Sgt. Elias Grodin (Willem Dafoe).
The journey through the hell of war lasts almost two hours and with every passing minute we see Chris’ initial idealism more and more broken becomes. In the end, there is hardly anything left of the young man who went into the military full of enthusiasm. There is no hero story to tell here.
Oliver Stone ruthlessly stages this decline. The most iconic and most tragic moment of the film belongs to Willem Dafoe. Slow motion, pleading music and powerless arms reaching towards the sky: you will recognize this oft-quoted image immediately – and never forget it. Platoon is a massive punch in the gut.
War film masterpiece: Where to stream Platoon?
You can currently watch Platoon completely free of charge in the 3sat media library and the 3sat section of the ARD media library. But you have to hurry: On October 5, 2024 the film disappears from the program. Alternatively, you will find what you are looking for with a streaming subscription at MagentaTV. Amazon Prime Video and Co. are now offering Oliver Stone’s war film masterpiece as a stream with various purchase and rental options.