P is for "Platoon"

 I chose "Platoon" as the war movie that begins with the letter P that best exemplifies the war movie genre.  There are other strong contenders like "Paths of Glory" and "Patton", but I went with a movie that was a cultural phenomenon. "Platoon" was a huge hit and won Best Picture. Viewing it in the theater was cathartic for many  veterans. Many considered it to be the most realistic portrayal of their experience. The movie had the effect of causing some veterans to talk about their experiences for the first time. Sometimes a war movie can have an effect on society. (This was true for "Paths of Glory" and "Patton", as well.)

 “Platoon” is the semi-autobiographical account of Oliver Stone’s experiences in Vietnam.  It came out seven years after “Apocalypse Now” and was followed soon after by “Full Metal Jacket” and “Hamburger Hill”.  More than those other films, it impacted the movie-going public and Vietnam War veterans.  It was cathartic for many veterans.  Stone dedicated it to Vietnam War veterans. It became the definitive Vietnam War movie.  The film was a big hit with audiences and most critics.  Produced for only $6 million, it made $138 million.  It was awarded the Best Picture Oscar and also won for Director, Sound Mixing, and Editing.  It was nominated for Original Score and Cinematography.  Willem Dafoe and Tom Berenger got Supporting Actor nods (Michael Caine won for “Hannah and Her Sisters”).  The movie is ranked #86 on AFI’s Top 100 list.  The shooting was done in the Philippines (the Pentagon refused to support the film) and took only 54 days.  The film was shot in sequence and this began immediately after the two week boot camp for the actors.  Stone meant the film to be a counter to John Wayne’s “Green Berets”.

Here were the other choices and their reviews:

The Painted Bird  (Apr, 2021)

Panfilov's 28 Men  (Dec, 2020)

Pan's Labyrinth (Mar, 2015)
Passchendaele vs. The Trench  (Apr, 2012)
Pathfinders  (May, 2014)
#2 - Paths of Glory (Aug, 2014)

The Patriot  (Jun, 2012)
#17 - Patton  (May, 2013)

Pearl Harbor  (Dec., 2021)

A Permanent Mark (doc) (2023)  (Mar, 2023)
Phantom (Mar, 2013)
The Pianist  (Apr, 2018)

Piece of Cake   (Apr, 2021)  Book/Miniseries

Pimpernel Smith  (Oct, 2018)
#9 - Platoon  (Jan., 2014)

Platoon Leader (Sep, 2010)
Play Dirty  (Sep, 2013)

#39 - Pork Chop Hill  (May, 2012)
Pretty Village, Pretty Flame  (Apr, 2018)

Prisoners of the Mountain  (Dec, 2011)
Prisoners of the Sun (Blood Oath)  (Nov, 2013)
Private Peaceful  (Apr., 2016)
A Private War  (Feb, 2019)
PT-109  (May, 2020)

Purple Heart, The (1944)  (Oct, 2022)
The Purple Plain  (July, 2016)
Pursuit of the Graf Spee vs. Sink the Bismarck (July, 2011)