The Oliver Stone film "Platoon"

[shock the monkey]

Finest Vietnam movie ever?

Certainly better than the overly long and indulgent "Apocalypse Now" (vastly inferior to Conrad's HOD) and the 'shot in sunny Hertfordshire "Full Metal Jacket" in which a superb first act masks the fact that the rest of the film isn't really that good.

[Dace]

I agree, with all sentiments shock the monkey - what made Platoon extra special is that it was semi-biopic, a lot of the scenes were drawn from Stones own personal experiences on tour in Vietnam

Shame about Full metal jacket, the first half is actually some of my favourite bits of cinema.

[Clor19203]

Platoon was the first Vietnam film I ever saw and became quite obessesed by it as a kid. I watched it so much I actually lost interest in it but haven't seen it for a few years so I think its time to give it another watch.

I don't think its my favourite Vietnam film, though it is the most personal of films about the war as theres so many different characters in it who you get to know really well considering its under 2 hours.

I always enjoyed Casualties of War and Full Metal Jacket more as like I said I out grown Platoon and I never consider Apocalypse Now a vietnam movie, I don't know why, I must be a prentencious bastard.

[Dace]

tell you a little gem which not many people have seen called "dead presidents" most of the film is fairly pap but the Vietnam scenes are excellent

[Clor19203]

Dead Presidents is amazing, completely forgot about that and also has Chris Tucker in it.

Top of my head other good vietnam films which probably won't get mentioned here are as follows:-

Hamburger Hill
Platoon Leader - (Fans of Michael Dudikoff from American Ninja will remember this)
Coming Home
Heaven & Earth

[one eyed jack]

Dead Presidents was ace Dace. Just surprised you found most of it pap with exception to the Vietnam scenes.

I think an oft overlooked gem is John Boormans Hope and Glory. Not about Vietnam I know but still set during a war. Most war movies have got very good stories. Just surprised you thought the Vietnam bit was the only thing good about Dead Presidents when I think it was a solid middle act that gave credence to its first and last act. Just wondered why you enjoyed the middle without understanding its relation to the rest of the movie.

[Dace]

I actually did quite like the build up to him being sent out to vietnam and I did obviously understand the message the film was trying to convey, it was when he got back i felt the film got a little drawn out and self indulgent and then sort of petered out with a dissapointing (in my opinion) ending

[HellyeahHammer]

I think that Apocalypse Now is a great film but my favourite is The Deer Hunter.