What more can you ask for from a movie? Oh yes, the all important characters, and this movie has them. A bullet can find anyone in this movie, unlike most flicks which try to say that if you’re mean and evil enough, you’re invulnerable. It tells of an NCO (Barnes) who is self destructive and goes out of his way to create horror and situations to get other people killed or hurt, and another NCO, who acts with intelligence (Elias). Charlie Sheen plays a character who finds that Elias is the better leader, and is more liable to get you back in one piece.
The trademark scene of Elias with arms raised had to be considered a huge risk at the time. It could have been seen as ridiculous and comical had the movie not proven its worth. Had the movie been stereotypical in format, or not up to standard, the scene would have been ridiculed. It was a huge risk, and it paid off. Probably because the characters were so vivid and belivable, particularly for the era.