Platoon is perhaps the most influential example of the Vietnam War. Oliver Stone, the film's director, who served twice in Vietnam, describes the war more as an internal conflict between American soldiers than a conflict with Viet Cong militants. The film is narrated by Chris Taylor played by Charlie Sheen, a new recruit to the "Nam". He is assigned to a platoon stationed somewhere near the Cambodian border; Cambodia was off limits to any American infantry. Taylor immediately recognizes the division within the platoon and in the center, Sergeant Barnes and Sergeant Elias played by Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe respectively. Sergeant Barnes is a ruthless and vengeful man who Taylor respects at the beginning of the film. However, Sgt. Elias shows a compassionate side that was rare in the platoon. As the film develops, the viewer witnesses the internal conflict between Barnes and Elias that would ultimately have a shocking outcome. As Taylor gains experience in the "Nam", he realizes that the war is not only geared to fighting the known enemy, the NVA, but also to fight internally. Barnes and Sgt. Elias are the leaders of Taylor's platoon. Barnes is a ruthless, violent and vengeful man. He presents himself as an aggressive warmonger who seeks the thrill of killing. Barnes' goal in Vietnam is to root out anyone he suspects of aiding the NVA or anyone curbing his ambitions. To his men, he is a strong-headed leader who has a no-nonsense attitude when it comes to battle. This attracts some men from the platoon. On the other hand, Elias is a thoughtful, thoughtful, and courageous leader who is the archetype of the term war hero. Elias introduces himself to Taylor, which is something Bar... middle of paper... and in Vietnam he couldn't imagine what he had gotten himself into. When assigned to the platoon, he struggled to choose between Barnes and Elias, which caused some resentment towards him. In the end, he doesn't hesitate to kill Barnes but shows some signs of guilt on the journey back to the military hospital for what he had become. Oliver Stone created a legendary portrait of the Vietnam War. One can understand the controversy that followed the film's production given its legitimacy and accuracy. Before Platoon was made, Americans saw Vietnam as America's lost war, but neglected to understand the soldiers who fought in that war. As a result, a generation of drug addicts, mentally ill and criminals arose from the post-Vietnam climate. However, Platoon made Americans aware of the horrors and effects that a war like Vietnam could have on a soldier.