And, Stone's movies seemed more defaming of real soldiers, with political overtones
What?!
That's not what is on record from real vets. People will be individuals with individual experiences and recollections but I have never seen any veteren politicize his opinion of Platoon. Usually it's discussions of what was similar and was not. That film has enormous wide ranging respect. Platoon is regarded as the Viet Nam war film that is pointedly non-political, exclusively giving empathy to the soldiers. It's why Barnes is as vividly portrayed as the protagonist or the left-leaning Elias.
Born on the Fourth of July had more politics relating to the story in the individual point of view of Kovic's turnabout into anti-war activist. To suggest the film lacked integrity about the protagonist's experiences depicted, as a pro-war youth, as a marine, as a wounded vet, as a returned veteren facing the pain of popular disdain, as someone whose convictions are shattered and makes a conscious decision opposite his former ideals-- is just misreading. You will rarely find a film more respectful of the experiences of a combat veteren of that era. The realism of the experience is maintained ruthlessly, so the only thing ppl might object to is the questioning of the broader social concepts and blank patriotism surrounding the individual in the film. Finding that person's choices at fault is a criticism the individual viewer will have to make. The movie intended to raise those kinds of activities. Art.
Probably director Ted Post's best movie. I'd like to have it on Blu-ray, I think the movie is good, but at $29.95, I'll have to pass. Too bad it's limited to only 1500 copies.
