I have never in my 18 young years have come across a character that I hated, who was more annoying, and was glad to see die than this bitch. I swear I am not a troll. I genuinely hated him more than Jar Jar Binks and Short Stuff combined. Did anyone feel even slightly close to me on this?
shareI first saw this movie in 1975 when I was about your age. I couldn't make heads or tales out of Plato. Hollywood screenwriters would rather eat a pound of nails rather than admit when they're out of their element. I don't think they knew what they were doing with this character.
shareInteresting, because I've always really liked Plato. He's a lost boy of sorts, neglected and lonely. He's quiet and sensitive. Plato's clearly smitten with Jim and desperately wants to be friends with him. That's probably where some of the qualities that annoyed you stemmed from, but yet I somehow found them endearing.
shareNo. Then again I was older than you when I first saw the film. Sal Mineo was always a favorite of mine and I thought it was very daring for the film to subtly show Plato's attraction to Jim.
shareI found Plato's attachment to Jim & Judy as surrogate parents very sad, sweet and endearing. As the housekeeper/sitter says over Plato's body, Plato had nobody. Jim and Judy treated him the way real loving parents would, which made the whole situation even more poignant.
shareI found Plato's attachment to Jim & Judy as surrogate parents very sad, sweet and endearing. As the housekeeper/sitter says over Plato's body, Plato had nobody. Jim and Judy treated him the way real loving parents would, which made the whole situation even more poignant.
I think Plato is confused about who he is and his sexuality. I think he is gay, but may not be aware of it and he is wrestling with understanding his own sexuality. Also, he is desperate for a father figure that he can trust. The filmmakers intend for the viewers to recognize his need for a father figure and, since it is the 1950's, intentionally leave his sexuality vague.
For many of us in the 2000's this reluctance to be open about his sexual attraction to Stark may be frustrating to the point that we get angry at Plato. I don't blame the character, but the period in which the film is made.
The shooting the puppies scene needed some work.
Did Plato do it as a budding psycho killer?
Did he do it in a disassociated moment?
Did he find some abandoned or orphaned puppies and rather than try to take them for help, simply kill them? (Misplaced feeling of mercy? Wishful thinking for his own fate?
How'd he get the gun?