Full Metal Jacket
A superb ensemble cast falls in for action in Stanley Kubrick's brilliant saga about the Vietnam War and the dehumanizing process that turns people into trained killers. Joker, Animal Mother, Gomer, Eightball, Cowboy and more - all are plunged into a boot-camp hell pitbulled by a leatherlung D.I. (Lee Ermey) who views the would-be devil dogs as grunts, maggots or something less.
The action is savage, the story unsparing, the dialogue spiked with scathing humor. Full Metal Jacket, from its rigors of basic training to its nightmare of combat in Hue City, scores a cinematic direct hit.
Member Reviews
Great War Movie - LilyandMick
This was great entertaining movie of all the war movies out there. The storyline was very interesting and exciting all the way until the end and no where you get bored with this story. It had lots of actions but not overly too much of close actions which was great.Perhaps Stanley Kubrick's Best Movie - revsdd
I'm a fan of Stanley Kubrick's movies, and "Full Metal Jacket" has to rank among his very best - if it's not the best, period. From the very first moment, the viewer is drawn into the film, as we watch young Marine recruits having their heads shaved in preparation for basic training. Then comes - basic training! What a horrific and yet at the same time hilarious thing to watch, as Drill Instructor Sgt. Hartman (played by R. Lee Emery, who was in fact a Gunnery Sargeant in the Marines who served in Vietnam and was told by Kubrick to "make it real") hurls ongoing and unrelenting abuse at the men as he prepares them to go to Vietnam. This first half of the movie gives us the character of "Private Pyle" (perhaps the most memorable character in the entire movie) - a clumsy Marine recruit at best, who becomes the target of special abuse from both Hartman and his fellow Marines. His "evolution" is the most frightening thing in the movie, as he progresses from a kid who obviously shouldn't have been a Marine in the first place to a literal cold-blooded killer. Vincent D'Onofrio was perfect in this part.
The second half of the movie shifts abruptly to Vietnam. The movie seems to weaken a little bit in this second half, maybe because it seems that we've seen this before. Movies about combat in Vietnam are hardly rare. Still, there's a great climax revolving around the fate of Eightball (Dorian Harewood) and the final demonstration that Joker (Matthew Modine) - although generally a non-combatant military reporter - has learned his killing lessons well.
The odd time, Kubrick (or the writers) throw in what I thought were unnecessary scenes (I think here of the scene in 'Nam where the guys share the prostitute - that's not depicted, but we know what's happening!) That served no purpose in my opinion. The movie also lacks any really organized and consistent plot or story. It's just the experiences of these Marines. Still, it's brilliantly told.Nothing much left to say! - Poet
This is indeed one of the best war movies ever made. I still can't believe I waited this long to finally see it. Some of the images will stay with me for a very long time.
Most of the actors here did great work. Honorable mentions to Vincent D'Onofrio and Lee Erney. They played off each other so well. The images of Pyle being beaten by the rest of the gang and then his emotional last moments are printed in my mind and they will stay there for a long time.
I'll never forget either the face of "the dying sniper" toward the end.
This 2 chapter movie is not for the faint of heart. But, if you're ready for a cinematic experience, go ahead and you will get your money's worth.
Member Reviews
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Great War Movie - LilyandMick
This was great entertaining movie of all the war movies out there. The storyline was very interesting and exciting all the way until the end and no where you get bored with this story. It had lots of actions but not overly too much of close actions which ...Perhaps Stanley Kubrick's Best Movie - revsdd
I'm a fan of Stanley Kubrick's movies, and "Full Metal Jacket" has to rank among his very best - if it's not the best, period. From the very first moment, the viewer is drawn into the film, as we watch young Marine recruits having their heads shaved in preparation ...Nothing much left to say! - Poet
This is indeed one of the best war movies ever made. I still can't believe I waited this long to finally see it. Some of the images will stay with me for a very long time.
Most of the actors here did great work. Honorable mentions to Vincent D'Onofrio ...