Lovers of Oliver Stone's masterpiece 'Platoon' will not want to miss this astounding new laserdisc package from Pioneer Special Editions. A movie-only version, letterboxed and mastered using the THX laserdisc program is available for $49.95, but any film buff, historian or Stone enthusiast will be glad they forked over $129.95 for the deluxe edition package.
What catches your eye immediately is the striking design of the package itself: it's designed like a photo album, with metal rivets in the spine. A photograph of Oliver Stone and his platoon is on the front of the jacket. Right away, one gets the feeling that this disc edition has been assembled with great respect and a sense of solemnity befitting the film's subject matter. The album opens to reveal a thoughtful essay on the inner cover, then a 148-page book of photographs, storyboards, sketches and the entire screenplay, including sequences not included in the final cut of the film.
The film has been mastered in THX. Supervised by cinematographer Robert Richardson, the film looks better now--with truer blacks, deeper shadows and more vivid colors--than it ever did in theaters. The image is framed at the theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1, though there is no additional information revealed on the sides when compared to the standard pan-and-scan version. Instead, black borders cover extraneous visual information at the top and bottom of the frame, providing for a more consistently pleasing picture composition.
The soundtrack--bullets, bombs, radio garble, helicopters, the sounds of the jungle-- really comes booming to life, accentuated by Georges Delerue's haunting score. The disc's soundtrack was mastered from the original 6-track master. The movie is spread across 3 sides (side 3 is in CAV). The break between sides 1 and 2 is absolutely perfect; the disc break between sides 2 and 3 is a bit jarring.
In addition to the glorious remastering of the film itself, there are two separate audio commentaries (Oliver Stone and military advisor Dale Dye each speak for two hours about the making of the film; both commentaries are rich with valuable insights about the philosophy of the movie, the film's grueling production and the effect the movie's had on the world since its release). The theatrical trailer is included, as are dozens of production photos. The piece de resistance though is the hour-long "making of" documentary titled 'A Tour of the Inferno: Revisiting 'Platoon''. Comprised of present-day interviews with Oliver Stone, Charlie Sheen, Willem Dafoe, Tom Berenger, Johnny Depp, Dale Dye and other cast and crew members, this documentary looks back at the making of the film, revealing, among other things, the fact that Stone and Dale Dye conducted their own 2-week version of basic training for all cast members. For its in-depth interviews, its candid look at the inception and production of the film, and its steady use of both '60 tunes and ominous classical music in the background, this is undoubtedly an exceptional made-for-laserdisc documentary.
One technical note: The gatefold jacket housing the 2 discs is glued to the inside back cover of the photo album. Use caution when removing the second disc platter. With most discs, one usually has the flexibility to reach in and "pinch" the disc out of the jacket sleeve. Due to the fact that the gatefold is glued to the cover of the album, the sheath for the second disc is way too tight. And because of the delicate nature of the photo album design, it's not advisable to merely "shake" the second disc out. Be careful.
Vital statistics: Pioneer Special Editions, 4 sides, CLV/CAV, THX, Dolby Stereo Surround, Chapter stops, Widescreen (1.85:1), $129.95.
S. Damien Segal.
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