(If this doesn't scream generic 1980's movie nothing does)
For those of you who don't know me very well, let me start off by telling you something about me. I LOVE history, and have since a kid. So don’t be surprised to see primarily movies that take place in history. Be prepared for a history lesson too.
While scrolling on through on Netflix to see if any movies for my FFS was on, I saw this movie on so I figured "What the heck, maybe its a good movie and could work for one of the three movies".
Fresh West Point graduate Lieutenant Jeff Knight (Michael Dudikoff) is sent in as a replacement to take command of Sergeant Michael McNamara's tour veterans platoon (The men are in the 173rd Airborne division) at a Vietnamese trench camp. Lieutenant Knight is greeted by his men who mock, and doubt him due to his lack of combat. Unlike his predecessor, who hid till the end of his tour, Lieutenant Knight takes charge, experiences life outside the manuals, and gets wounded. He returns, fully respect by men and superiors. Besides the Vietcong, the platoon wrestles with protecting villagers, which the GIs fear as some collaborate with the Vietcong.
There were many things I liked and dislike about each. Ill start with the story itself, which was nothing special. While watching it, it seemed generic and I feel bad saying that because its actual based off of a true story. But hopefully like most books turned movies, the book is better.
Another thing I didn't enjoy was the acting. The cast is all nobody's other that Dudikoff, who was just in C grade movies before and after. The soldiers were also generic, The one incompetent leader, the full of himself tool, the nerdy radio operator, the one black guy, the helpful Sergeant... the list goes on and on.
**History Nerd Alert** I was not very big on how they depicted Vietnam, there was a shot of a Huey flying over, and there is a farm in the shot. Another thing that bothered me was the jungle shots. Now, I'm no expert on jungles, plants, or Vietnam, but it looks as if it was shot in Fullersburg Woods, not a jungle. However the one thing that surprised me was a Scene where Lieutenant Knight trips a trip wire. (it also didn't work the firs time but tugged at it) The average life expectancy for a Lieutenant in Vietnam was 16 minutes, ( Why I know that, I don't know) his injury happens on his first trip into the jungle, showing how accurate that was.
Something I did enjoy was the cinematography, it had some generic stuff sure, but also things that aren't very common. My two favorite ones were point of view shots and large shots. In most war movies it shows a semi- point of view. Semi meaning it shows a little bit of the soldier in it. But in this, It used a point of view from the soldiers on the hunt for the Vietcong. The Large shots were interesting to because it showed things like the valley there base is in, the enemy or the platoon themselves. The only other movies like this I can think of with any large shots are Saving Private Ryan, and The Deer Hunter which uses it heavily.
One scene I remember was that one of the soldier overdoses on Heroin. This was by no means my favorite scene, but it intrigued me because I have never seen a scene like that even in a Vietnam movie. It also shows how that not everyone in war dies by a bullet.
My favorite scene however was one of the last in the movie where Lieutenant Knight talks to Sargent McNamara and asks about what his job besides protect the village. He says "our jobs is to get people to change their minds. How I see it... everyone's got a business, (lists of some different business) were in the argument business. We sell ideas. and if you can't sell yours, (Picks up a bullet) you place one of these in their body." I liked this scene because it shows what war is at it simplest, and how it has been for centuries.
Overall, despite its generic story and bad cast, it was somewhat enjoyable . I give Platoon Leader 3 Huey's flying over the treeline out of 5.
Trailer- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnHbVCzuofc
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