This new DVD from MGM is a special edition and celebrates one of Oliver Stone's greatest achievements in filmmaking. It earned the best picture Academy Award in 1986, along with director, film editing, and sound. Tom Berenger earned an Academy Award nomination for his role in the film for his role as Sgt. Barnes. The cast is outstanding, with Charlie Sheen, Willem Dafoe, Berenger, and newcomers Forest Whitaker, Johnny Depp, and John C. McGinley.

The film follows a young soldier(Charlie Sheen) from the time of his arrival in Vietnam, to his adjustment to life in his assigned platoon, near the Cambodian border. The story is told as he writes letters home to family. Through his eyes and experiences, you see why so many men came home changed forever. The film, written by Stone, has many scenes that were experienced by him on his tour of duty in Vietnam. While filming, Stone was observed reliving some of the horrors he witnessed first hand as a combat soldier. Stone wanted to make a film that captured the actual experience of the grunt soldier in Vietnam, and sought out the approval of many Vietnam vets in screening the film. He was helped by combat trainer and Marine captain Dale Dye who lead the cast through two weeks of real combat training in the Philippines, an experience all the cast will never forget. From sleep deprivation to digging their own foxholes, Dye put the cast through sheer agony before rolling the cameras. When the cast started to shoot the film, they were totally exhausted and on edge with each other and everyone involved in the film. The anger captured on film during this film is real.

Picture-An excellent new transfer, with a clear, sharp picture make this a showroom DVD. The full film is captured in its widescreen, anamorphic 16x9 theatrical release format. Sound-A Dolby digital 5.1 soundtrack bring out all the subtle jungle noise and smaller sounds in a true surround sound experience, besides the more ominous battle scenes, with bullets flying and explosions filling the theater. The Academy Award winning sound is duplicated well on this disc.

A one hour documentary on the film, with interviews with Stone, cast, Dye, and producers recall the filming of Platoon. Each cast member has unique stories to tell about their experience, making this a very personal journey in all their lives. Dye had great fun with the cast, and took his job as trainer seriously. At one point, he sneaks up on Sheen, asleep at his post, holds a gun to his head and says, "Bang, your dead Charlie." Dafoe recalls marching through the jungle on a shoot and drinking from a stream, only to discover that he was downstream from a very dead pig; he was sick for two days. Besides this enlightening documentary, the DVD also contains audio commentary from Stone, another audio commentary track by Dale Dye, a short photo gallery shot on location during the filming, an extensive 6 page booklet inside the DVD case, plus television spots and trailers. It's truly a special edition, which this film merits.

There isn't a more powerful film made about the life of the Vietnam soldier. It faithfully captures the Vietnam tour of duty, told in Stone's remarkable way. This DVD re-release is a fitting tribute to the film and its cast , crew and director-writer. Even if you already own the other earlier version, you may want to pick up this enhanced version. It's that good!