Most of Cannon Pictures' product is pretty much junk (they make Chuck Norris and J-C Van Damme movies, so what do you expect?), but this one is different. It doesn't have the rock-bottom cheapie look of most Cannon pictures, and the script, for once, actually makes sense (amazing, considering that Harry Alan Towers was one of the writers). The story concerns a young army lieutenant on his first combat assignment in Vietnam, and how he comes to earn the respect of his men. Michael Dudikoff is surprisingly good as the young officer who arrives at his post not knowing quite what to expect but determined to do his duty, and Robert F. Lyons is outstanding as the platoon's veteran sergeant who doesn't want a new lieutenant to get any of his men killed. The action scenes are very well staged and give you a real sense of being there, as opposed to the cardboard pyrotechnics that Cannon usually grinds out. All in all, a refreshing change from the usual Cannon crap. Recommended.
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BrianG19 January 2001
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lost-in-limbo20 February 2011After making his directorial debut with his brother Chuck Norris with "Braddock: Missing in Action III" (1988), his follow-up would be another Vietnam War feature with Cannon productions starring Michael Dudikoff. The man with the poker face. All jokes aside. Norris' presentation might feel like a poor man's version of Stone's "Platoon", but it turned out to be a very solid nitty gritty portrayal of a war that was hard for the soldiers to come to grips with (nothing but pure propaganda). The performances are acceptably creditable (Robert F Lyons, Michael DeLorenzo, Brian Libby and William Smith chew it up in a major role) and a convincing Dudikoff actually brought across some emotional weight to the part. The script really does illustrate the dramas along with the horror in some arresting scenes ("What do you say to a girl with her arm shot off?") --- especially the transformation of Dudikoff's character throughout his duty, where at the beginning he was naïve to how things work but after an incident that sees him hospitalized he returns an improved soldier, better equipped for the experience and from this starts to gain respect. Comradely is formed. Norris' direction moves at a fast clip, if quite clichéd (cue in the patriotic sounding score) but the impulsive action is competently staged and fairly exciting in its tension fuelled fire-fights with glorious slow-motion and graphic violence. Pockets here, pockets there which leads up to the big explosive assault ala "Platoon" style. Filmed in South Africa, Norris gets a real earthy and humid authenticity which has you also caught in the thick of it. Despite the low-budget it's reasonably well-presented.
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actionpro12 August 2003This movie is underrated probably because of the prejudices held by critics against Michael Dudikoff. Though his acting is widely thought to be mediocre (it is), he shines in this movie. "Platoon Leader" is gripping fare and deserves more respect than it currently garners. It is not just another throwaway Vietnam movie. It is, in fact, entertaining and is required viewing for any fan of action movies. 5/10
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MichaelM2411 April 2002PLATOON LEADER is one of Dudikoff's best movies, perhaps because, since it was a rare theatrical release, more attention was given to make sure it was well-done. You really get a sense of what the war in Vietnam was like for the soldiers there, with hair-raising jungle ambushes and close calls. Naturally, the guys at the base don't take too kindly to Dudikoff when he first arrives, but ultimately grow to respect him, something I've really grown tired of seeing in the movies. But the battle scenes are well-executed, the direction by Aaron Norris (Chuck's brother) nothing special but good, and the music heroic and uplifting. War movie fans should enjoy it.
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a_chinn2 January 2018Golan/Globus Cannon Pictures nonsense pretending it's a serious film about the Vietnam War. The American Ninja, Michael Dudikoff, plays a young officer (not a ninja), just out of West Point and sent to Vietnam. Dudikoff must then earn the respect of his battle hardened men. Nothing you haven't seen before and done much better, but on the plus side, there is a small role for my all-time favorite character actor, William Smith, as a commanding officer. FUN FACT! This was directed by Chuck Norris' brother and is the only film he ever directed that didn't star Chuck.
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callanvass20 June 2005This is an above average war film, that's intense and well made, with an excellent lead performance from Dudikoff!. It's got lots of great war action, and all the characters were great, plus i really enjoyed the musical score!. It did take a little while to get going, and some of the dialog was bad, however Dudikoff is quite intense as the lead, flick, however it is quite entertaining, and even exciting at times, plus the ending was cool and very emotional. The character development wasn't too bad, and the story is pretty interesting, plus it had it's shocking moments. This is an above average war film, that's at times intense, and well made, with an excellent lead performance from as he carried the film, it also helped that the rest of the supporting cast was solid as well!. Granted it's your typical low budget War Dudikoff!. The Direction is good. Aaron Norris does a good job here, with good camera work, during the war scenes, good angles, and keeping the film at an interesting pace!. There is a bit of blood. We get lots of very gory wounds, and some gunshot wounds. The Acting is very good. Michael Dudikoff is FANTASTIC as always, and is fantastic here, he is extremely likable and intense, had good chemistry with Robert F. Lyons, and was just tons of fun to watch! (Dudikoff Rules!). Robert F. Lyons is great here, as the Sarge, he is very likable, and had good chemistry with Dudikoff i liked him lots. Michael DeLorenzo is good as the weasel. Rest of the cast do fine. Overall well worth a watch!. *** out of 5
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bronsonskull7211 July 2003Michael Dudikoff stars as Lt Jeff Knight a new commander in charge of the platoon who fight in Vietnam in this really bad and very tedious drama. The problem with Platoon Leader is that nothing happens, the drama is poorly done and Michael Dudikoff isn't the best guy to go with in this type of movie. Platoon Leader is a poorly written, wooden and witless bore.
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deanocware23 January 2021Unlike all of the Sundance film Festival critics on IMDb who give everything a one that isn't Star Wars or Rocky, I felt this was a very genuine and realistic look at a small platoon in Vietnam. Not only was the scope of the movie fairly accurate for what a platoon would have been tasked with doing in Vietnam but I believe everyone in the film played their role well. Obviously there were some tropes and stereotypes but that is an any movie to lend it dramatic affect. If you want to watch a fairly straightforward but nonetheless poignant film about being a soldier in Vietnam then I would recommend the movie. If you want to watch a cinematic masterpiece that only uses Vietnam as a backdrop then just go watch Apocalypse Now.
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BandSAboutMovies2 August 2022Michael Dudikoff as Lieutenant Jeffrey Knight, a new officer from the United States Military Academy who has been dropped off in Vietnam to try to become a leader of men. He proves two things: that yes, he can handle this order, and that Dudikoff is way better of an actor than Cannon's other Vietnam leading man, Chuck Norris.
Speaking of the Molasses 2×4, his brother Arron directed this from a script by Andrew Deutsch, Rick Marx and David L. Walker, all based on the book of the same name by James R. McDonough. Harry Alan Towers - yes, the same man who worked with Jess Franco - also worked on adapting the book for the movie.
Knight is helped by Sergeant Michael McNamara (Robert F. Lyons), who talks him through what it takes to succeed in the jungles of Southeast Asia. And proving my theory that all movies are better with William Smith, he plays an officer.
Originally called NAM, the title was changed to obviously be similar to Oliver Stone's Platoon. Strangely, this is one of the few Cannon movies not produced by Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus. Instead, Harry Alan Towers is listed as the producer and Avi Lerner as the executive producer. -
LuisitoJoaquinGonzalez19 February 2023Surprisingly not a rip off of 1986's Platoon; Platoon Leader is a surprisingly good, but cheaply made, depiction of the Vietnam war. Knowing today that the Vietnam war, like all NATO aggression, was based on a lie, gives the deaths of not only American, but Vietnamese troops something of a tragic element.
The film however offers a gritty look at Vietnam with some pretty good action sequences and a bit of humour. Michael Dudikov (the proper way to spell his surname) gives a career best performance as Lieutenant Knight, a Green point graduate that is disrespected by the 'grunts' he commands. His job is to prove himself to the platoon with bravery and solid management. Despite numerous writers involved with the screenplay, it's a poor script. There are numerous elements that could have made Dudikov's character, Lieutenant Knight, more approachable, but bizarrely, these parts fall to Sergeant Michael McNamara (Lyons). McNamara was already fully aligned with the squadron and you have to question the screenplay's logic for dropping that interesting sub-plot. As soon as the action starts, we are forced to forget about the new Lieutenant's task to become a respected leader. It's immediately brushed aside, but luckily, it doesn't have a major effect on the quality of the feature.
Platoon Leader was based upon James R. McDonough's memoir of the same name. This leads to some interesting hard drug references that offer an interesting tweak to an area Platoon covered to a far lesser scale. Whilst I'm not saying that Platoon Leader has anything philosophical to share, the way they covered drug addiction was fairly interesting. Chuck Norris was originally cast to play Knight, but he dropped out to work on Hero And The Terror. His brother Aaron stayed on as director though, making PL the only film he directed without his elder brother. Golan and Globus from The Canon Group had an ace in their pocket with Russian James Dean lookalike, Michael Dudikov. Dudikov shot to fame four years earlier with the impressive, American Ninja ('84). This movie offered a real challenge to the former American Ninja star, because it was a far more meaty and challenging role for the thirty-three-year old actor. This was originally titled 'Nam' and I've got a signed picture of the cast under the Nam name. I guess the success of 1986's Platoon made them use the book's original monicker. Yo Hollywood producers... Nam is a great title for a war movie.
Whilst this is definitely a career best from Dudikov, whom I always loved after the aforementioned martial arts extravaganza. He still lacks the range to add depth to his portrayal of the new Lieutenant. His performance is solid, but not exceptional. I'm not trying to criticise the impressive Dudikov here. I actually thought he gave a pretty good display and delivered some emotions that I thought were far beyond him. He just lacks the dramatic verve that William Dafoe and Tom Hanks added to their respective war movies. I'll say though that on this evidence, he was close to Charlie Sheen level in Platoon, or maybe slightly underneath Charlie. William Smith, Michael Lorenzo and Robert Lyons are fine in supporting roles, but you're definitely not watching this for great dramatics. They are slasher movie level at best. I think to add credibility to Aaron Norris' work, they're all performing to the best of their abilities in Platoon Leader.
This really comes alive in its impressive action sequences, especially the last couple of big battles. These are fairly well directed by Norris, but there's nothing particularly outstanding from his shooting. If you've enjoyed titles like Crossbone Territory ('87) and Dog Tags ('87), Platoon Leader will be a masterpiece for you. If you're looking for a Saving Private Ryan ('98) or Come And See ('85) type deeply dramatic endeavour, you might be left unimpressed. I watched Platoon Leader straight after Oliver Stone's Platoon and I did really enjoy it. There have been complaints that the feature is somewhat slow moving, but I really didn't think so. I had a good time, and I definitely recommend you tracking this down. Can you believe that they put a confederate flag on display at the barracks? God I miss the eighties. How great it was to have no political correctness and zero WOKE virtual signalling.
Quite why Michael Dudikoff didn't get a call for an expendables sequel is beyond me. He's certainly not an Oscar level actor, but worse than Jason Statham? Come on... -
bcarruthers-7650022 March 2019Platoon leader is often at it's most effective when when it reminds us that these men are human beings and not machines and that they will show emotion at times of stress. It's tense, atmospheric, and exciting at just the right times, with plenty of gunfire and explosions to keep the viewer entertained. Michael Dudikoff gives an excellent performance in this well above war movie from Cannon Pictures. Shame about the village though. bcarruthers-76500
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capo-424 January 2000If you want to see the Vietnam War as it was experienced by a real Platoon Leader, this is it. Authentic, down to the mannerisms, slang, terror and disillusion of it all, this film has none of the wierd phantasms of Apocalypse Now or the left wing political hype of Oliver Stone's Platoon.
Richard C. Caporiccio, LTC, US Army, Retired, former Platoon Leader, 3rd Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne), LZ Uplift, Republic of Vietnam from Jan 2 to December 24, 1969. -
dworldeater20 April 2021Platoon Leader is not as good as the big Vietnam War movies that came out around the same time as this. However, this Cannon Films production is an attempt to make a more serious dramatic war movie than Missing In Action. Speaking of which, this was directed by Chuck Norris's brother (Aarron Norris) and is the only movie he made without his brother starring in this. Platoon Leader is somewhere in between Missing In Action and the more serious war movies like Platoon and Hamburger Hill. Platoon Leader is much less well made and flawed than those films. But for the limited resources and talent on this production, it's clear everyone tries. Michael Dudikoff gives it his best shot and is actually halfway decent in this more dramatic role. Cannon Films also made The Hanoi Hilton around the same time and was good also. Platoon Leader is well worth checking out and is a good watch.
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Maziun31 October 2016Originally filmed under the title "NAM" before being changed to "Platoon Leader" to cash in on the success of Oliver's Stone "Platoon". A young officer, just out of West Point is sent to Vietnam, where the men don't respect him until he gets wounded and returns to be a wiser soldier and a better commander. Sound's like a good idea for war movie , right ? Sadly this is a dreadful movie Some people who defend this garbage claim that this is a good movie , because it's a realistic description of Vietnam War , compared to the "Apocalypse now " . I wanna tell those people that "AN" is a masterpiece on every level - acting , dialogue , plot . music , direction etc, etc . As a work of art it has every right to take some liberties to send it's message .
"Platoon leader" does have some good scenes in it . However the direction is crappy. Aaron Norris doesn't know how to create tension in action scenes , he uses slow motion in embarrassing way , the drama scenes suck and the pacing doesn't exist here . The acting is also terrible . Dudikoff is likable and charismatic enough action star , but here the role requires someone with far bigger acting talent . Dudikoff tries , hell everyone tries , you can easily see it , I like the ambition , but the most dramatic scenes in the movie are so badly acted that it's just painful to watch . It's not even funny bad , just bad.
The production values are poor , the movie looks terribly cheap . The music is generic "war drama" music , nothing inspired .
The script sucks . The philosophical dialogues are rubbish and the character development is non-existent. Nothing really happens and I 've got a feeling that I was watching an action movie somewhat camouflaged as war drama. I could see potential here and there with some scenes , but it really felt like poor man's "Platoon" . And the very ending scene feels like it belongs to buddy-cop comedy.
Interesting thing - this is the only film directed by Aaron Norris to not have his brother Chuck Norris in it.
I give it 1/10. If you want to see a good and little known war movie better watch "Bat 21" with Gene Hackman and Danny Glover or "Siege of firebase Gloria" with R. Lee Ermey . -
Tin Man-524 September 1999Originally entitled "Nam," this film was released as "Platoon Leader" to cash in on the success of "Platoon," which had been released the previous year. Unfortunately, this sank it, and most everyone dismissed this is an imitation of the latter film. However, I feel that this might be one of the finest films about the Vietnam War around, and that's due to the fact that it knows the genre of war films and it knows what to take seriously and what to regard as pure action.
In war films, particularly ones about the Vietnam War, there has always been a question about which angle to approach: a human, emotional story or a pure action-adventure. This film handles the question well, and it shows us both. The film covers a new U.S. captain joining a platoon that is set up on a hill with orders to protect a small village. The story of how he must earn the right to be called the captain of such a motely group, and how the men themselves must struggle about just what they are fighting for in this war, is extremely moving. The writers choose to represent many different attitudes, all of which were present in the war: fear, reluctance, discontent, indifference, and honor. Each character is painted vividly and with wonderful acting, and through their tragedy and suffering, the viewer gets a better understanding of what went on during America's darkest hour.
On the other hand, this film also contains some nicely-directed action sequences that know how to get the heart-beat going. They don't neccessarily glorify war, but they are very Rambo-esque, and made in an effort to satisfy action fans. It is the essence of these action scenes, combined with the human characters who have to pick up the pieces of each battle and move on with their daily, emotional struggles, that really makes this film tick.
This film was directed by Chuck's brother Aaron Norris, who lost a brother to the Vietnam War. Indeed, this must have been a difficult film to shoot because of that, but he certainly paid his brother a fitting tribute in this underrated war epic.
**** out of **** -
Leofwine_draca29 March 2018American war movies were ten a penny in the 1980s and this low budget addition to the genre doesn't really achieve all that much. It was made by Aaron Norris - his only film not to feature his brother Chuck - and put out by Cannon Films, but it's one of their less entertaining products. Michael Dudikoff is the restrained hero, a young lieutenant striving to win the respect of his men, but for an action star he gets very little to do, physically. The emphasis is on his acting which really isn't all that special. The plot is cliched and predictable and the action scenes are anything but exciting; this is one of those films that's content to go through the motions rather than offering up anything decent in terms of entertainment.
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agore330 December 2021The plot in the movie not much different than other Vietnam war movies. You have soldiers in combat where some do not want to be there so there are discipline challenges. The platoon has the usual cast of characters for Vietnam - gung ho career types to druggies to green FNGs like the LT that add the personal tension beyond the actual combat sequences. The acting was decent. It was not overly dramatic in stone but more a reality presentation,
Of course attacks on firebases were common in Vietnam and the movie works better to me than something like the preachy Green Beret or the angry The Siege of Firebase Gloria. It was interesting that the LT and Platoon sergeant fully recovered from their wounds.
It does come across as a lower budget movie but it does a lot for what it did have. The look and feel lended a realistic feel. The soundtrack was annoying.
I checked the film location and it was filmed in South Africa so that may explain why they did not show the faces of many of the extras in the village as they always ha their head down under the conical hats.
Now what I consider aspects not consistent with proper military operations. First the firebase was not at the crest of the hill and even worse adjoining a village. There was no way to prevent civilian casualties - intentional or not.
Firebase defense primarily depended on mortar and artillery as the primary since can be fired almost immediately then supported by air that can take time. They did not call in artillery or for a lot of illumination, after being attacked. On a real firebase of this size, the LT, his RTO, and sometimes the medic usually co-habituated to share radio watch with the company and battalion. On patrol, there was a lack of ammo bandoliers on the soldiers and others carrying M60 ammo that would sustain all that rifle fire, -
fmarkland3219 February 2007American Ninja's Michael Dudikoff branches out to make a war movie about Vietnam and falls extremely short of making anything worthwhile, enjoyable or even interesting. The story follows Dudikoff as a tough new commanding officer who must win the respect of his men and wax philosophical on the war itself, while drugs and the Viet Cong are all around are soldier boys. Michael Dudikoff is certainly a credible action star with some screen presence and low key charisma but this type of movie requires an actor who can pull of emoting as well. Richard F. Lyons comes off best but really this is a repetitive war movie with no sense of excitement, authenticity or even a point. Really one is better of seeing Platoon or Full Metal Jacket for authenticity, while for entertainment one should look to Rambo or Missing In Action. Platoon Leader on the other hand is just a labored failure that offers colossal boredom.
*1/2 out of 4-(Poor) -
Coffee_in_the_Clink16 August 2021Aaron Norris directs this action-packed Vietnam War flick for Cannon Productions, starring Michael Dudikoff in what has widely been credited as being his finest ever performance as Lt. Knight, a young lieutenant fresh out of West Point who arrives at a small outpost in the jungle full of hardened and bitter veterans. He is met with hostility, naturally, as it takes a while for him to lose the West Point and by-the-book attitude and just get the job done. The film charts his transformation from a rookie into a solid and respected leader, as his demands for reinforcements keep falling on deaf ears just as a major enemy push is on the horizon in the area.
Dudikoff and the rest of the cast are solid and what inhibits the film is some of the jingoistic action and the nature of the film that is typical of Cannon productions. With the source material and the talent on show I think that this film would have benefited from a less dramatic tone and would have been up their with the likes of "Platoon" and "Full Metal Jacket" had that been the case. The budget was not an issue, the action scenes being testament to that, as well as the fine sets that equal those in the likes of "Platoon" and the TV series "Tour of Duty".
Knight's transformation is excellent and I really liked Sgt. McNamara, portrayed by Robert F. Lyons. He was very natural and what I imagine an NCO in this period would have been like. -
zola19366 May 2020It just seemed so fake. The scenery did not give you a feeling it was Vietnam. That scene where they ambush the.VC with grenades was so ridiculous. There were 8-10 men tossing a single grenade, yet there must have been 20 explosions!
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Hey_Sweden21 January 2018Frequent Cannon Group hero Michael Dudikoff does fairly well in the role of Lt. Jeff Knight, an officer fresh out of West Point who is immediately sent to Vietnam. His soldiers, including the much more experienced Sgt. McNamara (Robert F. Lyons, "The Todd Killings"), treat him with disdain until he is wounded in combat. He returns to the field a wiser and savvier man. His teams' mission is to protect a Vietnamese village that is important because it is the only one in the region not under the VC's control.
Originally given the simple title "Nam", this adaptation of a book / true story got its title changed to cash in on the success of Oliver Stones' "Platoon". While it might not take its place among the truly great 'Nam based films, it's still not bad at all, and is worthy of some respect. Certainly it doesn't sugarcoat the horrors of combat, with some very effective bloody violence bound to turn off some viewers. It's vivid, and believable enough, and benefits from location shooting (in South Africa!) and a haunting music score by George S. Clinton. It can also boast a solid cast of character actors, with veteran actor Lyons emerging as a standout. They are well supported by Brian Libby ("The Shawshank Redemption"), Michael DeLorenzo ('New York Undercover'), Jesse Dabson ("Death Wish 4: The Crackdown"), Rick Fitts ("The Hanoi Hilton"), Tony Pierce ("Stone Cold"), and the legendary movie tough guy William Smith ("Any Which Way You Can").
It's often at its most effective when it reminds us that these soldiers ARE human beings and not machines, and that they WILL show emotion at times of stress. It's tense, atmospheric, and exciting at just the right times, with plenty of gunfire and explosions to keep viewers paying attention.
Seven out of 10. -
Pvt_Ed4 June 2022My opinion may be a bit strange but I give it a 2 and 8. If I put myself back in 1988 soldier/mercenary mode then I say 8 for the adventurous tone and the use of a couple rare gun props.
Move to today, 2022 post?covid retired soldier/mercenary drunk and I say 2.
My hearing is shot to pieces but I still recognize the sound effects from chuck Norris films. Also grenade simultors were detchord wrapped around a plastic jug. Thats why they make a fiery display.
Hand grenades do not make fire. Unless its a willypete.
I just watched it today. I thought I had already seen it. Good for a saturday afternoon but just adds more false imagery to fuel the gun culture we are currently studying. -
XPunisher0221 December 2000First of all I'd like to state my opinion that this movie does not deserve the 4.4 rating that has been thrust upon it. I read the book "Platoon Leader" by James McDoughal (I'm not sure if that's how you spell his last name), and it's one of the best "Vietnam experience" books I have ever read. Upon that note, I saw this movie at the video store and picked it up, not really knowing what to expect. Well, let me tell you that this is one of the better war out there. Especially when compared to a movie like Apocalypse Now (which is in my opinion one of the worst depictions of the situation in Vietnam ever produced). It realistically depicts the trials of a new infantry platoon leader in Vietnam as he arrives fresh out of West Point and must quickly learn the ropes of being a PL and at the same time earn the respect of his men.
Bottom line: this is a damn good movie. If you have any interest in Vietnam or war movies in general, I highly recommend it. -
bkoganbing10 August 2016I guess to capitalize on the critical and financial success of Oliver Stone's Platoon, this other film Platoon Leader was made. Though hardly a classic, Platoon Leader is a film with grit and guts like it took to be in Vietnam and never knowing who to trust.
Michael Dudikoff is the newly minted lieutenant straight from West Point where classes on classic military theory don't prepare you for jungle warfare in Vietnam. But he's a quick learner and not eager to breakdown and spend the war in the dugout the way his predecessor did.
Like Platoon the men don't respect the newby until he's bloodied. Once he is and shows willingness to learn he earns the respect of platoon sergeant Robert F. Lyons on down.
In addition to Platoon some aspects of John Wayne's Green Berets are seen in Platoon Leader. The night attack on the base by the Viet Cong scene is almost a copy of one from Green Berets.
I should also single out Michael DeLorenzo who gets through his days in Vietnam with a little help from illegal pharmaceuticals. He's a most unmilitary soldier and his is a tragic end.
The best war films are usually with lots of historical perspective after the conflict. Platoon Leader is no exception. -
uncledavey8010 December 2004I had a lot of fun at uni fast forwarding to the frankly risible lines of dialogue, fantasy-world scenes and other complete bollocks. It is very entertaining because it is so rubbish. MD is terrible in it, the script stinks, the acting is appalling, there's a wafer thin budget, the location could be somebody's back garden. Was there a military adviser on this? If there was he did a bang up job of ballsing it up. It isn't authentic in the slightest.
However for all this, it is dreadful example of film making and war film making in particular, one which I would try and make everybody watch at least once all the way through. Then I'd get drunk and fast forward to the funny bits and wooden lines.
I'll leave you with this thought: "...some people are in the shoe business..."
Check out the bit with the heroin overdose and two sets of overacting, the 'oscar speech' (see above), the bit where he goes "deeeeeeead's gooooooood!!!!", the terrible pyros, just see it!!!!!!!!!! Coz it has to be seen to be believed.
Canon you say? I would never have guessed.