Full Metal Jacket

"In Vietnam. the wind doesn't blow, it sucks" poetic words from an intense movie. This is the best Vietnam war movie ever made. Better than The Deer Hunter. Better even than Apocalypse Now. Full Metal Jacket has some of the most gut-wrenching scenes ever put on film. Once again Stanley Kubrick shows what a meticulous director he was with such a superbly crafted movie.

The first half of the movie is only boot camp. We must see the marines before their journey into the unknown, and Vietnam is very much unknown. Boot camp shows humans breaking down at their most basic level. These boys want to kill, they are being trained to kill, but why is this? Why do they have a thirst for blood? That's an individual question so consider that yourself. What is certain is that some people do NOT know what they are getting themselves into. Unfortunately, Pvt. Pyle bears the brunt of the drill sergeant's wrath because he isn't the brightest bulb in the bunch. Kubrick's point to the first half is that soldiers don't have to be in a war zone to be in hell. This is Pvt. Pyle:


Later in the movie we learn of the 1000 yard stare, poor Pvt. Pyle already has it and he hasn't even left the country. It is very hard to watch this healthy, happy, human being turning into a deranged killer. But that is war, to say the least.

The second half is all "in country". This is when Pvt. Joker is tested. He goes in thinking he is a lean, mean, killing machine but see's very little action. When he finally does deal his first fatal bullet, there is a change in him. The same as Pvt. Pyle. Humans aren't meant to kill in this way. Without mercy or care. The second half is more poetic and nuanced than the first and must be paid close attention to to understand.

R. Lee Ermey is...vivid to say the least. When you watch this film, keep in mind that almost all of Ermey's lines were ad-libbed by him. Which for Kubrick must have been hard to get over, but the end result is very satisfying and will burn the ears of even the most hardened marine. Vincent D'Onofrio hits all the right notes as Pyle. Adam Baldwin is a sight to see as Animal Mother, a much more in depth character than he is portrayed as, pay close attention to him. Finally, Matthew Modine is perfect as Pvt. Joker.

Also, Kubricks use of music warrants mention. The score contrasts drastically with the subject matter and yet compliments it.

Many people love the first half of this movie and hate the second. I'm sorry to say, that's stupid. The entire first half of the movie is the set-up. An exquisite portrayal of the dehumanizing effect our military has on young men from all walks of life.

IMDB here.