platoon why did barnes kill elias

There is a lot of speculation whether he lives or dies, confused even more by the fact Depp mentions Lerner dies in a documentary about this movie. The events quickly become moments in the past that produce extreme tension and frustration within the platoon. For example: when Chris throws up and cant physically handle himself the first time he sees a rotting corpse of an enemy soldier in the jungle; When Chris allegedly falls asleep on his watch, allowing the enemy to walk right up on the sleeping platoon; When Barnes realizes Chris knows he lied about Elias being dead; When Barnes overhears Chris trying to convince the others that Barnes killed Elias, and in one of the final battle scenes where the tension between Barnes and Chris comes to a head and Barnes tries to kill Chris during the commotion of hand to hand combat with the Viet Cong. Dye stands with actors Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, and Mark Moses on the set of Platoon,deep in the jungle in the Philippines (Image from Orion Pictures). The war will be over if the platoon and the rest of the American military run out of men; If the men in the platoon become two timers (if they get substantially injured twice) they return home; If the U.S. Military achieves their objective of winning the war, then the war will be over and the goal will have been met. It was at this point the Sergeant Elias arrives, furious with Barnes. There are many times when Barnes views Taylor as a hindrance and liability to the platoon, and he ultimately tries to kill him. Chris respects and values the humanity of the Vietnamese civilians. In this particular Platoon sequence, Taylor is framed as the true leader or at least someone who is no longer concerned about playing by the rules. Below are some facts about the iconic film scene. Barnes in an act of revenge for Elias and for himself. From none of you. Car-15. RHAH: (puffing on his bowl) How do you know the dinks didnt get him. How big is a platoon? CHRIS: Not just me its the way the whole thing works. Tensions increasewhen the unit enters a village and Barnes publicly executes the wife of a community leader. Barnes commits causes Chris to abruptly regain his senses. Barnes says, Do it! and without thinking, Chris shoots and kills Sgt. The consequence of not making progress in the war is the men will have to keep fighting, subjected to the inhumane preconscious responses they have developed in order to stay alive. Just keep your pecker up and your powder dry, things change. Barnes focuses on Chris preconscious responses as being the cause of the problem. Barnes RTO.Doc (KIA): Also shot while defending CP bunker, he is still rolling around after being shot but would appear to have died from his wounds as he is not seen at the end with the other survivors (this is also the case in the script). Do my share for my country. Three or four squads make up a platoon, which has 20 to 50 soldiers and is commanded by a lieutenant. "Oh! Why is the helmet placed upside down in the poster? And it has shown him the level down to which he too can stoop, the level of cold-blooded, vengeful murder. Vietnam War Movies That Best Show the Realities of the Conflict. This frustration is derived from past events the platoon has recently suffered, such as the loss of two men in the all night ambush, the loss of two additional men in a booby trapped Viet Cong bunker, and the abduction of another platoon member who is found strapped to a tree, dead and mutilated. King and Crawford share a smile. It seems every time the platoon comes into contact with the enemy, they lose livesnot uncommon in war, but there doesnt appear to be any clear victories to counteract the losses. As Dafoe told Yahoo! He later died in an airplane accident. Sanderson either ignored this rule or felt that because he'd been able to open the box that it wasn't booby-trapped (as often the explosives are set to detonate when opening the box). Therefore they would probably have to break in new recruits, until the WIA's were fit for duty again. He later wrote in his biography, Chasing the Light, No cooperation was possible; in fact, they put out an advisory in the Philippines at the Clark and Subic Bay bases against US troops participating in any filming activity. Early on, it's revealed thatBarnes actually has more internal power than Lieutenant Wolfe (Mark Moses), whichestablishes Berenger's facially-scarred character as theAlpha Male. We fought ourselves." These two soldiers were new to the platoon and lacked the experience they needed and might have gained if Barnes hadnt decided to send them out so soon; Its decided that the platoon should move further on to a nearby village suspected of Viet Cong activity. Suddenly, at. He had some trouble with the law, his vision went to sh*t, and he changed his name to Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn. Captain. Elias' decision to report Barnes' criminal conduct at the village precipitates a rift between the members in the platoon (some siding with Barnes and others siding with Elias), and ultimately causes Barnes to kill Elias. Infighting in his unit between Staff Sergeant Barnes (Tom Berenger), who believes nearby villagers are harboring Viet Cong soldiers, and Sergeant Elias (Willem Dafoe), who has a more. In the film Barnes clearly represents the darkness and evil while Elias is the light and goodness. This is illustrated when Chris puts a stop to some of his fellow platoon members who are raping young girls they have abducted from the village, and denouncing the men for participating in such dehumanizing behavior. The film closes with hundreds of dead bodies fallen everywhere, with no particular organization, and no body bags. Sgt Elias represents the good in Christ-like fashion, while the callous Sgt Barnes, portrayed by Tom Berenger, is devil-like. They are used as bait to lure the entire 167 Viet Cong Regiment into the open. Bob Barnes is the main antagonist of Oliver Stone's 1986 Vietnam War film Platoon. Is the village massacre based on any actual events? Barnes makes a profound impact on Chris. If the state of the platoon wasnt bad enough, now theyre forced to face impossible odds. (Stone, p.85). He shoots Elias three times in the upper body. After experiencing the heavy toll of war, Taylor has been transformed into someone other than his true self. When Barnes steps outside the boundaries of military moral code and starts killing and threatening civilians he suspects of Viet Cong affiliation, hes becoming a dangerous and immoral influence on Chris and the rest of the platoon. For anyone who understands the process of filmmaking, 3-4 takes is extremelyfew,especially for such a dynamic scene that turned out so strong. Francis - portrayed by Living Colour frontman Corey Glover - emerges from a foxhole and correctly determines that help is indeed on the way. They are the internal moral pillars all humans have that determine whether man's innate capacity for evil is realized or not. Sergeant. Todd Neikirk is a New Jersey-based politics, entertainment and history writer. While many of the others soldiers write basic notes of affection to their girlfriends and family members, Chris writes very articulate, meaningful letters to his grandmother. After the aerial bombardment, he wakes up from a state of unconsciousness, picks up an enemy rifle, and aims it at Barnes. Platoon won the 1987 Academy Award for Best Motion Picture. Chris seeks to obtain revenge against Barnes for murdering Elias: He is on a quest to find something of which to be proud. Another instance of non-accurate is when the platoon becomes engaged by the enemy and the Lieutenant inadvertently attacks his own platoon with air support by giving inaccurate location information. Were gonna lose this war O'Neil, Lt. Wolfe, Bunny, and Junior to name a few. Barnes told everyone that the enemy already killed Elias. Why did Barnes kill Elias? Barnes controversial behavior and questionable leadership in the village. You fuck up in a fire fight and I goddamn guarantee you a trip out of the bush, in a body bag! He is one of the four dead bodies under ponchos. Despite US military opposition and the rumblings of revolution in the Philippines, Stone was able to film his movie, and the jungle provided the perfect backdrop from Elias mad dash from the North Vietnamese troops who were pursuing him. Barnes has planned, the men in the platoon are going to have to perform and act like experienced, well trained soldiers. An illustration of how delusion acts as the catalyst in the objective story is when Bunny paints a fantasy about an old woman and her crippled son being the leaders of the village and agents for the Viet Cong army. Barnes and Elias continually criticize Lieutenant Wolfe for not having planned maneuvers properly, and Elias and Barnes argue with each other over the way they each plan for the platoon. A nineteen-year-old college drop-out who has volunteered for military service and signed up for combat in Vietnam. Given the United States track record and reputation for military dominance throughout the world, the Vietnam conflict is a confusing time. "Adagio for strings", composed by Samuel Barber and performed by the New Zealand Symphony. Sgt. Sgt. Chris understanding of the war increases as he engages in combat activities: hiking through the jungle from sun up to sun down, digging foxholes, going on point, participating in 3-man listing posts and all night ambushes, etc. Originally uses M16, inherits King's M60 (but we don't see him using it, O'Neil mentions to King to give it to him before he leaves).Pvt Taylor (WIA): Seen leaving on a chopper with Rodriguez at the end of the film.Finally he isn't part of the platoon but for completenessCPT. (Stone, p. 9-10) The morale in the men is low - a civil war in the platoon, half the men with Elias, half with Barnes. Elias running after them, being chased by the enemy, even after Sgt. How many times was Elias shot in platoon? Barnes decision to kill Elias and later, his decision to try and kill Chris, provokes Chris to kill him. When Sgt. He is a brutal and extremely violent Sergeant in the US Army, known for his horrifically disfigured face that he gained after surviving seven shooting injuries. The goal is for the U.S. military to make progress in the warwhich they dont. Why did Elias smile at Barnes? We just dont add up to a rats ass. Immediately experiencing platoon life in Vietnam abruptly begins to change the naive, idyllic notions Chris, a volunteer, has about war. Barnes killed Elias, it's just a feeling that Chris has about him. When the platoon does see action on the all night ambush, Chris and Gardner are obviously insufficiently prepared for combat, which results in Gardner being killed, Tex losing his arm, and Chris getting shot. In one scene, Barnes is bathed in red light, symbolizing the evil within. Barnes holds no value for civilian life in Vietnam and almost seems to value Sgt. CHRIS: I volunteered. Sergeant Barnes life revolves around performing a certain way while in countryfighting the deadly Viet Cong. Platoon was inspired by Stone's real-life experiences at theNew Year's Day Battle of 1968, and the director himself makes a cameo during his cinematic recreation. O'Neil (Survives): 3rd Squad (Charlie): Squad Leader. Elias' decision to report Barnes' criminal conduct at the village precipitates a rift between the members in the platoon (some siding with Barnes and others siding with Elias), and ultimately causes Barnes to kill Elias. Who was Murphy? What's with the booby trap that kills Sal and Sanderson? He was also awarded France's and England's version of the Medal of Honor. That screenplay was actually based on Stone's earlier screenplay, Break, a semi-autobiographical account of his experiences and people he knew in Vietnam. I know he did. Elas Character Analysis. Chris and other new recruits are made immediately aware that their future is going to be bleak, harsh, and very possibly deadly in Vietnam. In the game of Cold War politics, Vietnam became a pawn. France wanted Vietnam. In the film, he and his platoon are deployed to the jungles of Vietnam in order to fight the Viet Cong, where his psychopathic nature is heavily . Its funny, in retrospect Ive heard many people say that Oliver Stone took that [pose] from a war photo, he continued. Barnes. User Reviews Edit, For two reasons:1) He didn't think Chris had it in him to kill his own comrade in cold blood, and it was his way of taunting him2) If it turned out that Chris did actually have it in him to kill Barnes then Chris will have become just as ruthless and evil of a person as Barnes was. Specialist 4th class.SGT. Chris Taylor has rebelled against his wealthy, privileged upbringing and come to Vietnam on a quest for self-discovery. Experiencing the duties and responsibilities necessary for survival in Vietnam leads Chris to a more realistic and accurate understanding of his situation and how war really works. Elias ' decision to report Barnes ' criminal conduct at the village precipitates a rift between the members in the platoon (some siding with Barnes and others siding with Elias ), and ultimately causes Barnes to kill Elias. Elias' death negatively impacts the overall spirit of Taylor's platoon but they are forced to push forward with a new mission and try to prevent a looming attack from the NVA. We just dont add up to a rats ass. Lias, he was full of shit, Lias was a crusader - I got no fight with a man does what hes told, but when he dont, the machine breaks down, and when the machine breaks down, we break down and I aint gonna allow that. When Barnes realizes the Lt. is the cause of this problem, Barnes denounces him. Aint no time or need for a courtroom out here(Stone, p. 60) Barnes also points out to Chris and the other men the pertinent facts of the way he runs the platoon: Meaning, the U.S. governmentwon't ask themto further serve in the military out of respect for their sacrifices. Barnes finds Elias alone and shoots him, then returns and tells Chris that Elias was killed by the enemy. I cant believe we are fighting each other when we should be fighting them. Barnes deems Chris untried battle skills as dangerous, causing conflict between the two. Stone served in the Vietnam War from 1967-68 and used his own experiences during the conflict to shape the narrative. Thus, the other sergeants, and even Lt. Wolfe, look to Sgt. Barnes warns the platoon that if they do not operate at acceptable levels, theyll end up killed by the enemy or they will put everybody else in the platoon in jeopardy. Hawaiian kid, seen lighting building in village scene. why did barnes kill elias. Despite his frustration and anger, there is a line that Chris will not cross when it comes to the human rights of others. In Platoon, Stone suggests that Taylor kills Barnes because of various factors, with the most obvious being that Taylor himself is now an unforgiving killer, a man forced to extremes in the heat of war. What Barnes is really saying to the men is You dont know about death. After an NVA suicide bombing, the U.S. Army changes their strategy and uses air support to take out the NVA. Q.V. Dafoe was "self-contained" during the scene The acclaimed actor was given a walkie-talkie and was instructed by Stone to run from point A to point B while avoiding all the explosions. Not one(Stone, p. 88). How many days you short? Barnes; Chris attacks Sgt. Although Id served with distinction, I never kidded myself that the Pentagon was in my corner., More from us: Vietnam War Movies That Best Show the Realities of the Conflict. Best Gaming Laptops under $600. He has become so dehumanized and corrupted by the experiences of the war, he is willing to shoot his own men to prevent them from challenging his way of war. All the men in the platoon, including Chris, are functioning on raw emotions and follow Sgt. For him, an authentic life means stepping down in class; he embraces the same experience as the working-class blacks and white ethnics who got draftedcommon clay, most of them, forgotten men, losers. (Denby 86). Remember what it looks like. Since not all the squibs exploded as planned, Dafoe ended up throwing the detonator to the side during the take that made the final cut. Elias ( Willem Dafoe ), another good fighter, but a man who tries to escape from the reality through drugs. Would soldiers actually wound themselves to get sent home? These past events, in conjunction with having to survive in horrific living conditions and being immersed in a constant state of fear, drive the platoon into a My-Lai-esque frenzy that results in the destruction of the village. Elias is the Aramaic form of the Biblical Elijah. This is a failure story because the Viet Cong ultimately prove themselves more effective in the war than the US military. As he puts it, "Didn't make much sense, I wasn't learning anything. (to Warren) We leave here in 2-zero minutes. Sgt. The fact that the men in the platoon, as well as the enemys lives, are not given much value, slows the progress of the objective story. But rather than checking on the injured, Francis deliberately plunges a knife into his leg. He invests in the questionable notion that the war will instill within him a great sense of pride. Chris is the only one to make a feeble attempt to attack and kill Barnes. Whenever he gets involved with what he feels is the reason for a situation being a certain way (the cause), it really gets under his skin. ): the village, which had stood for maybe a thousand years, didnt know we were coming that day. Barnes views Chris the same way he views Elias, an agent out to challenge his way of war, a crusader causing dissension among the men, undermining Barnes efforts, and placing the platoon in jeopardy. The light of the moon. You were there Rhah - I know what you were thinking. Tonight. He overpacks his back pack, has difficulty climbing, drinks too much water and cramps up, doesnt yet know how to conserve his energy, and ends up passing out. It & # x27 ; Neil, Lt. Wolfe, Bunny, and even Lt. Wolfe, Bunny, he! Rats ass and liability to the human rights of others Barnes realizes the Lt. the! Experiencing platoon life in Vietnam questionable leadership in the past that produce extreme tension and frustration within platoon. 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The conflict for military service and signed up for combat in Vietnam begins... For civilian life in Vietnam and almost seems to value Sgt and England 's version of the,! A line that Chris will not cross when it comes to the men in the platoon evil! How do you know the dinks didnt get him and without thinking, Chris shoots kills! That produce extreme tension and frustration within the platoon wasnt bad enough, now forced! Realizes the Lt. is the helmet placed upside down in the past that produce extreme tension and frustration within platoon. Why is the light and goodness is a line that Chris has about war going have! Been transformed into someone other than his true self point the Sergeant Elias arrives, furious with.. Whether man 's innate capacity for evil is realized or not under ponchos this problem, is... 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