Full Metal Jacket
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Movie Reviews of Full Metal Jacket
Movie Review: Another brutally honest depiction of Kubrick's vision...
Summary: 5 Stars
I love me some Stanley Kubrick.
I just wanted to say that, because in all honesty I can't think of a single director who has ever worked that has come close to delivering what Kubrick has delivered to cinema. Film after film, moment after moment, emotion after emotion, Kubrick is flawless and his films are as complete and as unique to him as they come. No director has come close to delivering as consistently as Stanley Kubrick, and no director has a style as unique to himself as Kubrick (sure, many directors have their own style, but Kubrick's style is definitive and incomparable).
That said, `Full Metal Jacket' is one of those war movies that is separate from the pack in style and construction; a film that defines a genre. Sure, it may not be the best war movie out there, but it is one of the most unique.
The film is split in two, focusing its first efforts on a boot camp and then delving into the battle field for the second half. The films heart is built within the first few moments, while drill sergeant Hartman is scrutinizing and terrorizing the young men under his thumb. In particular there is Pvt. Pyle, a husky dim-witted young man who seems out of place in the military. Pyle tries hard but is unable to keep up with the other trainees, but after he is pushed to an extreme he manages to reel himself in and advance quickly. This advancement is not as jovial as it should be, as we can see Pyle is being overtaken by something much darker within the pit of his soul.
`Full Metal Jacket' brilliantly portrays the fact that not everyone is built for this life.
The second half of the film takes a group of these men to Vietnam, the focus being on Pvt. Joker who is now serving as a military journalist. He's soon thrust into battle as he leads a platoon into sniper territory. The final scene, involving a sniper hit and the rushing conflicts of humanity, is really what makes this movie as harrowing and effective as it truly is.
`Full Metal Jacket' brilliant portrays the fact that no one is really built for this life.
The acting here is monumental and extremely powerful, especially in the opening section of the film. The two key performances come from R. Lee Ermey, as the sadistic drill instructor, and Vincent D'Onofrio (academy away snubbee) as Pyle. Ermey has received cult status, for his performance is brutal and outlandish and definitely memorable; but to me this film belongs to D'Onofrio. His subtle emotional breakdown is flawlessly captured with just a shift in facial expressions. His character is one of the most moving and definitely one of the most effective in the bunch. Matthew Modine comes close to capturing the stripped humanity of the soul in his final scene, but D'Onofrio is unforgettable in his tragic turn as the odd man out.
I am new to the whole `war movie' bit, for it has never been a genre that interested me too much. I have always been more of a biopic, dramatic type of cinemaphile, but I have quite a few films in this genre on my agenda for the next few weeks. `Full Metal Jacket' is one of those eye-opening films, a movie that surpasses its genre thanks to some brilliant construction on the part of its director. Kubrick takes this film and creates something universally grounded. It is much more than a war film but more a study of humanity at its most strained and resistant. As the film draws to its conclusion we are faced with questions of a deeply rooted and personal nature that challenges us as human beings to decide just who we really and truly are.
Movie Review: Rifle, gun and the blockbuster
Summary: 5 Stars
So you thought you have seen the best War movies with "Apocalypse Now", "Black Hawk Down", "The Bridge on the River Kwai", "Three Kings" and "Courage Under Fire" and the others ? Well think again soldier! Because this movie will blow the pajamas off your yellow behind. This is a realistic depiction. This is a life of a man turned into a killing machine. This is a true-cold-blood War movie.
The story based on the novel "The Short-Timers" by Gustav Hasford follows a bunch of new recruits from their training in the Marine Corps into the assignment at Vietnam, into the War-zone and into the dead face of the VietCongs. From the opening scene itself you see the actors and their fate in their eyes. The first 40 minutes is sheer brilliant delight; you can't miss a word of dialogue and you can't take your eyes off the regimental training.
From a man to a Marine. R. Lee Ermey who was a Marine trainer was hired on set as a consultant to make accurate depiction of Marine Corps training. His mean brilliance led to Kubrick casting him in the movie as the drill sergeant - he played on film what he did before retirement to real recruits of the Army. From a man to a killing machine.
The movie moves next as the recruits are assigned to the battle-zone. Actor Matthew Modine ends up as a journalist for "Stars and Stripes", the official military newspaper.
And then the Tet Offensive starts in Vietnam. Under fire, on duty in the field, Modine's character "James Joker" is asked to join in with a rifle.
"This is my rifle this is my gun...this is for fighting this is for fun" sang the boys holding their rifle and crotch in each hand during their training run.
The drill sergeant has taught them well. They need to remember what they learnt because otherwise "...you would be a dead Marine; and a Marine cannot die without permission".
Awesome, mindblowing stuff!
The soldier Leonard (also played by a first time actor who worked as a bouncer and gained 80 pounds weight for the role of a fat idiot) steals the show along with the sergeant Hartman in the first half of course.
The last half belongs to James Joker and Animal Mother (actor Adam Baldwin). The last 40 minutes is equally as engaging and spellbinding as the first.
You would think that this accuracy would mean it was shot on location in some South East Asian country. No, Stanley Kubrick did not like to be farther than 10 miles from his home. So the movie was shot in East London in a old location which was being torn down for rebuilding. So the broken buildings are real and they were being blown up gladly by the cast and crew of "Full Metal Jacket" at no objection. Modine is brilliant explaining why he wears a peace button on his uniform while his helmet has "Born to Kill" written on it. "...duality of man" he explains before he joins the ranks of combat Marines. Kubrick showcased not just another movie on Vietnam War. No, what he did was to show how an ordinary American man is turned into a crazed killer for waging War.
Watch this and learn the horrors of War.
Weirdly after watching this movie I have a strange compulsive urge to enlist myself in the US Marine Corps.
Sadly all of Hasford's books are OUT OF PRINT !
Sign the petition to bring them back at http://www.gustavhasford.com/
Movie Review: a harsh but brilliant film showings the horrors of war and the potential for violence within practically anyone
Summary: 5 Stars
Full Metal Jacket is an outstanding film that grabbed my attention by the throat and never let go until the very last frame of the picture! The acting mesmerized me; it was all done so convincingly and nobody--but nobody--gives a bad performance in this film. The script was well written; the casting well done; and the cinematography and choreography enhance the film as well. The musical score enhances the plot as it moves along; and it's a plot that never left me feeling bored. But please note: this film contains a lot of profanity and graphic, violent war scenes; I would not recommend this film for small children as it might frighten them.
Many have noted that the film seems to be presented in two parts; and I would agree with that. The first part takes place on Parris Island, South Carolina, a boot camp for new Marines during the Vietnam War in the 1960s. The new recruits have to endure incredibly grueling conditions and training by their leader Gunnery Sergeant Hartman (R. Lee Ermey) who pulls no punches as he trains them "to be killers." Among the new recruits are Private Joker (Matthew Modine); Private Pyle (Vincent D'Onofrio who plays this to perfection and beyond) and Arliss Howard as Private Cowboy. Private Joker turns out to be quite well suited for the Marines but he is eventually assigned to report for the Stars and Stripes newspaper over in Vietnam; Joker also tries very hard to prepare the ill-suited Private Pyle for combat as a Marine. However, the stress does take its toll and the first part of the film ends with a tragedy that shows the horrible impact of war even before overseas combat begins.
The film then somewhat abruptly changes to military life in and around Hue, Vietnam in 1968; we meet up again with Joker (who now wears a peace button on his uniform) and others including Rafterman (Kevyn Major Howard), who works for Stars and Stripes as a cameraman alongside Joker; and they do get along very well. Things don't stay happy for long as Rafterman's camera is stolen and both Joker and Rafterman become involved covering the action. Look also for excellent performances by Adam Baldwin as a Marine who goes by the name "Animal Mother;" "Eightball" (Dorian Harewood) and Ed O'Ross as Lt." Touchdown."
I could tell you so much more about the action and the tough decisions they and others must make during some of the brutal action in the Tet Offensive; but then again I'd be spoiling it for you. Of course, some survive and others don't; and the sniper scenes are some of the most riveting I've ever watched in any motion picture.
Full Metal Jacket is an excellent film with a message that war is horrific; and the acting will amaze you. I highly recommend this film for people studying the Vietnam War; people interested in gritty war dramas will not be disappointed. The film also explores the issues of duty, honor and sacrifice alongside a moral ambiguity many soldiers grappled with while they carried on the fight.
Movie Review: Great Movie - Requires Certain Perspective
Summary: 5 Stars
This review contains some spoilers - read only if you've seen this movie.
I've served in the armed forces, but not during Vietnam. I was discharged honorably and even extended an extra year because I liked the experience and was treated with high regard.
After my first year in the military, I was introduced to this movie. Like most viewers, I thought the basic training sequence was incredible - I'm sure most drill instructors today copy R. Lee Ermey, his performance was so spot-on.
Then, I got to the Vietnam scenes. Being Asian, I found the racist remarks rather offensive in the second half. Furthermore, I didn't get Kubrick's point. There seemed to be no direct moral message, no overarching theme to communicate. So, I treated it like two different movies - an incredibly good portrayal of boot camp, and a mess of a Vietnam experience for the second half.
Years pass. I pull this movie out again and look around for what others (especially Kubrick himself) thought of the movie. Now, it all makes sense. This movie does have a point - its aim is to make an accurate portrayal of an intelligent soldier's life from boot camp to the jungles of Vietnam. Without thinking about whether or not war is good or bad, without thinking about metaphors or symbolism, stripped of anything but the raw images on the screen, this movie in its entirety finally struck me for what it is, and it is a masterpiece. It is hard to discern whether or not the troops agree that war is good or bad (notice that when Joker does his guilt-ridden 1000 yard stare, someone in the background says "F*****G hardcore man" in approval). It is hard to discern if the soldiers actually enjoy what they are doing, and whether or not they take pride in their profession (note the television interviews, where you have guys like Animal Mother reveling in his duty, and guys like the medic who did not). In fact, it is hard to discern a single coordinated, comprehensive thought during most, if not all, of the Vietnam sequence, and if this was done purposefully (which I now believe it was, especially if you include the ending), it indeed accurately portrays the bewilderment not only in the physical environment of war, but also the bewilderment in the minds of the soldiers - and in this sense, this bewilderment, if purposefully done, is indeed what makes this movie a masterpiece in my mind as well in its portrayal of war.
Add to that Kubrick's hidden images (there is an excellent, albeit radioactively liberal analysis of symbolism in FMJ on youtube called "the Hidden Hand"), and you get something that deserves multiple replays. First time around, no matter who you are, you'll be mesmerized by R Lee Ermey and Vincent D'Onofrio. A couple more times, and especially if you served, you'll get the rest as well. Then, you'll find yourself watching the entire movie over again, and it gets better every time you do.
Movie Review: Brutally Honest, and Still Relevant
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie has been described enough to leave that part out. What has not been stated is the power of the film considered in the context in which it was created. I fear that many of the reviewers who agree that the movie is over the top in some way or unrealistic or flawed have not read much in the way of Viet Nam war history. Even if you discount the fact that Michael Herr (author of Dispatches) and Gustav Hasford (author of The Short Timers) helped Kubrik write the screenplay(!!), you can read any of a number of histories on the war and read similar testimonies.
This movie's power lies in the realistic portrayal of what it meant to be a Marine in Viet Nam. All the horror, some of the dark humor produced, and the true human behavioral ambiguity of surviving a war zone. These were some of the bravest men alive, also some of the scariest, some of the funniest, and some of the craziest. This movie and Kubrik's talent lies in the representation of the men that reveals the training that created them, and then how that translates into real war actions. None of this is to detract from the power of Platoon or Apocolypse Now - also superb movies - but to make sure the fact is known that Full Metal Jacket is equal to their power... actually, if you are a Viet Nam war history scholar as I am, you should have all three for an acurate trifecta of experience!
If you watch the movie - and chat with a few Viet Nam Marine vets - and still do not feel convinced for some reason that this movie is brilliant, check out these great books:
Dispatches - Michael Herr
The Short Timers - Gustav Hasford
Patriots - Christian G. Appy
Bloods - Wallace Terry
A Bright Shinning Lie - Neil Sheehan