The Main Character-Cum-Hero in the Platoon Film - Assignment Example

Analyzing films using the thematic paradigm The thematic paradigm is Robert Ray’s article that seeks to define two types of heroes that American movies or films mostly feature. According to him, there is the official hero and the outlaw hero who differ in beliefs and personalities. The outlaw hero is more individualistic with application of much fantasy and acts above the law, whereas the official hero lives like a family man. The aim of his article is to represent the modern indecisive American generation claiming that members of this generation want to fit into both of these beliefs and personalities at a go. However, this is not possible because each hero needs the other at one instance in time, therefore making it impossible to choose either of the two heroes. This essay will apply the thematic paradigm in evaluating two films: Unforgiven, and Platoon to show the extent of its application in their development. The Unforgiven film is a 1992 production by Clint Eastwood, inspired by David Webb’s script. It features one William Munny who is a killer and an aging outlaw who gives up his killing to become a farmer but reverts to killing after a group of prostitutes offer a reward to whomever kills two cowboys (Quick Mike and Dave Boy Bunting) who have killed Delilah Fitzgerald who is their fellow prostitute. The film revolves around the local sheriff (Little Bill Daggett) who is out to stop their motive and at some point offers them leniency regardless of their malicious motive. The Platoon film by Oliver Stone is a 1986 production. It is an American war film featuring Chris Taylor who is a young American college dropout going to fight in Vietnam. On his arrival to Vietnam, he finds his presence as insignificant in comparison to the other soldiers who are much experienced in battle than him. He has his own team that soon finds itself fighting both the enemy in Vietnam, and the men in his own platoon. Pivotal scenes The Unforgiven film begins by introducing the cause of the conflict that the movie bases it happenings on. There are words crawling across the screen, describing the life of a woman who got married to a murderer. One of the cowboys, Davey Bunting, is in one of the rooms at the brothels with a prostitute, Alice, when from another room arises some commotion. It is in Delilah’s room (another prostitute), who was with Mike, a cowboy. Mike and Delilah are fighting, with Delilah throwing things at Mike as he advances towards her with a knife that he uses to cut up her face. The Platoon film similarly introduces its subject basis right from the start. The main character, Chris, arrives in Vietnam and is at the introduction to the generals controlling the war. As this is happening, Chris catches a glimpse of rows of soldiers’ bodies awaiting shipment back to the United States. He also sees weary soldiers who have finished their terms in Vietnam awaiting transportation back home. He later learns that the ‘older’ soldiers do not associate well with the newcomers. Chris regrets volunteering. Important pieces of dialogue In the film Unforgiven, some dialogues reflect on the subject matters. For instance, Will Munny’s exchange with Ned Logan give an insight into his motive for taking up the killing job. He says to Logan, “… I just need the money, get a new start for the youngsters”. He is on the job to earn some money so he can provide for his two children. In another conversation that Will has with Little Bill Dagget, he shows no remorse for his past, and one gets the notion that he is heartless and a cold-blooded killer. He says to Bill, “…that’s right. I have killed women and children, and just killed everything that walks or crawls. And I’m here to kill you…” (“Unforgiven Quotes”). In the Platoon film, we see Chris getting emotional when explaining his reason for volunteering to fight in Vietnam. For one he wants to break away from his parents’ dictation over his life, “… I don’t want my whole life to be determined by them”. In addition to that, he also wants to contribute something for his country like his grandfather and father in the first and second world wars respectively. He explains, “… like everybody else. Do my share for my country…” (“Platoon. Comprehensive Storyform”). Use of sound and music Clint Eastwood uses sound expressively in his Unforgiven film. For instance, he creates a dramatic effect in the scene where William Munny after ten years, picks up his gun. To check whether he still is an expert shooter, he shoots a bucket and the resulting bangs are overly louder than natural. This is a common effect used in western films. In addition, the producer applies much use of orchestral instrumentals throughout the film to induce the sense of reality in scenes, and to assist the audience in analyzing the emotions of the characters (“Sound in Unforgiven”). In the Platoon, Oliver Stones’ choice of music is equally effective. For one, he uses For Strings by Samuel Barber Adagio in the scene where the new soldiers are alight the plane in Vietnam. Maybe the use of the emotional song is to depict the mission that they are embarking on is going to be a tragedy all along. He uses the same track in the scene just before Elias’ death when he emerges from the jungle with the North Vietnamese Army in hot pursuit. It gradually grows from the background, becoming louder as the figures grow bigger until it is the only sound heard from the scene. It is overly emotional. Arrangement of scenes The Platoon’s filming location is the Philippines. Most of the scenes are in deep jungles with thick forest and foliage cover, and in some instances in hilly terrain with dry vegetation. These settings are familiar with battlegrounds, therefore blending the subject matter in war-like environs. These are important in that the viewer gets the illusion of a battleground, and is important to the development of the film in that battle includes much suspense, dashing about, and hiding. The thick forest and foliage enable that (“Platoon”). In the Unforgiven film, the director chose a ranch in Canada as the shooting location. The choice of location possibly owes its ease of modification to create a western theme with medieval cowboy settings. The trajectory along the film is tense and dark, enabling the creation of rather explosive and violent scenarios that mark the subject matter of the film (Friedman 17). However, there are scenes with peaceful natural settings, possibly to depict the contrast between ugly civilization and nature. Main characters William Munny plays the role of main character in the film Unforgiven. He plays roles in developing the film from the moment he Schofield kid goes searching for him, to the curtain falls when he kills Bill. He is the main hero judging from his act of punishing the cowboys who commit crime against the law by torturing the prostitutes. Here, the thematic paradigm perfectly brands him as a hero, but an outlaw hero owing to his individualistic nature and acting above the law by all the murders he commits. He changes twice in the film: the first time is from his life of killing to a farmer inspired by his wife, and the second time when he reverts to killing in order to sustain his two children. Chris Taylor is the main character-cum-hero in the Platoon film. He is the main developer of the film, and everything revolves around him from the time he lands in Vietnam to the time he weeps as the helicopter he is in gains height, taking him back to the US. His heroism starts while he is in the US as he gets the urge to contribute to his country by volunteering to join combat in Vietnam. In another scene where soldiers from his platoon take villagers hostage and attempt to rape some girls, he intervenes and stops them. He changes towards the end of the film. His acts to this extent define a hero, an official hero fighting purely wrongs. However, his heroism status changes when he regains consciousness after an airstrike takes it away from him and his rival Sergeant, Bob Barnes. He shoots him at point blank, making him similar to William Munny. According to Robert Ray’s thematic paradigm, both are outlaw heroes. Works Cited Friedman, Ditte. Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven. 21 September 2007. Web. 23 Nov. 2013. “Platoon.” Filming Location Detectives. Web. 23 Nov. 2013. “Platoon. Comprehensive Storyform.” Dramatica.com. Web. 23 Nov. 2013. “Sound in Unforgiven (1992).” Wordpress.com. Franklin & Marshall College.4 October 2010. Web. 23 Nov. 2013. “Unforgiven (1992) Quotes.” Imdb.com. Web.23 Nov. 2013. Read More