Rating: 
Summary: A Sharper View of Man
Review: I actually give this film 4 and a half stars. This is because I agree with most that the second half was less adequate than the first. I believe that Kubrick did not really bring out possible psychological conflicts of Joker's personality in regards to his decision to "finish off" the sniper (the supposed climatic aspect of this anti-war message-laden film). It would have been more congruent to see Joker's humanity parallel to that of Private Pyle's in the first scene.And speaking of Private Pyle in the first scene, I am still in great awe. Pyle's "psychotic break" ( a direct result of his dehumanization) would be completely covered up and written off as a forgettable occurance by army officials if this were to happen in real life (as it probably has happenned many times in the U.S.Armed Forces). Kubrick is one to examine the causes of human violence and psychological disturbances in man and how we, as a society, respond to it. The nonchalantness of Kubrick's filmmaking style reflects the message that we as a species are so desensitized, that we are more apt to label Pyle as behaving due to extreme inadequacy rather than one who feels without options in a brutal, harsh, and pointless environment. Perhaps Kubrick is saying: "We all torture Pyle (as did all the other privates in the film) just for possessing a jelly do-nut, rather than blaming those who make the rules and actually cause the pain." Im pleased that so many have been touched by this film and feel the same way that I do about it. It brings me hope for the human race.
Rating: 
Summary: Private Piles
Review: The best kubrick to date, bring back private piles
Rating:
Summary: "Chaplain Charlie will deliver a benediction..."
Review: No other film captures the confusion and haze that was the Vietnam theatre of war than "Full Metal Jacket." The harrowing and haunting technique of the boot camp part of the movie fully complements the ambiguity of actions and motivations in the second part. Don't expect a completely "realistic" treatment of the whole experience (Recruit Pyle obviously wouldn't last very long!), but do expect a memorably made and darkly humorous film that nails down the feelings of the participants.
Rating:
Summary: Harrowing Kubrickian Look at War!
Review: As with all of Kubrick films this is meticulously crafted to create an effect an to show us the dehumanization of men at war. The film is divided into two equally compelling halves. The first being Marine basic training, R. Lee Ermey is scarier than any Vietnamese could hope to be as the drill sergeant who turns his men into 'killing machines'. The second half (vietnam combat) is also equally intense and memorable. Vincent D'Onofrio is also devastating as a clumsy confused private. Matthew Modine adds a little comic relief to a very heavy film but also creates a fascinating character. But this is Kubrick's achievement, his use of sets, cinematography and sound create a profoundly intense impact. A hell of a war picture. From a scale of 1-10 I give this film an 8!
Rating:
Summary: movies at their best
Review: anybody who says this movie is bad, they are sadly mistaken. this movie is one of the best i have ever seen, and trust me i've seen a lot of movies. other people say only the first half of the movie is good, they are also sadly mistaken. the first half is boot camp, with an excellent performance by R. Lee Ermey as gunnery sargent Hartman. the second half is also good. my favorite character in the second half, that would be the scenes in Vietnam, is Animal Mother. Played by Adam Baldwin. anybody who has not seen this movie must make an effort to see it as soon as possible. the soundtrack is also great, my favorite song being Surfin' Bird by The Trashmen
Rating: 
Summary: A travesty!
Review: It really makes me angry that this DVD is not in letterbox format. It's just the standard tv size. Which really really is a shame. This really is a great movie too, the standard tv size just doesn't do it justice at all. These Kubrick collection DVDs seem like they were just slapped together with no real thought. Maybe someday this will be available in the far superior letterbox format. Until then, go to your local Blockbuster and rent the VHS version. there is no excuse for this.
Rating:
Summary: Full MMetal JAcket
Review: Full Metal Jacket presents some very real looking scenes. Basic training presented a good picture but if you didn't serve, you lose some of the impact. I've read where some say the D.I. was brutal, etc. This guy was a perfect example of a drill instructor in the 60's. That was life in the military, then. But the movie. Outstanding content. Great characters. I'd really like to see it available in a widescreen anamorphic format. It's much too intense for just the standard version! The combat / ambush scene(s) would be awesome. 4 stars ONLY because of the available "standard" only format. Otherwise it would be a BIG 5!
Rating:
Summary: This and Apocalypse Now--best war films known to man
Review: Probably Kubrick's most underrated film and probably met with the most indifference, and I can't understand why. I can't understand why it wasn't on AFI's top 100 (same with Barry Lyndon and The Shining). I can't understand why Lee Ermey didn't nab an Oscar, and the movie didn't win best picture or at least best screenplay. This world is just so unfair. On the outside it first appears to be one of the most cynical, hard-hearted, unsentimental movies ever made. But look closer: the subtext in this movie is so gutwrenching and emotional, it's like the film is crying INSIDE. Just look at Private Pyle's murder/suicide scene--so tragic, so honest! It blows me away.
Rating:
Summary: The best war movie ever!
Review: This is my favorite Kubrick film to watch because it is his most "extreme"-in language, violence, and subject matter. What makes this movie so much better than all other war movies is the fact that it doesn't concentrate on one facet of war, such as a battle, man or mission. It focuses on the complete process of the dehumanization of men in war. From drilling it into their heads in basic training, to "pacifist" Joker wasting the sniper and thus completing the process. Kubrick really seems to capture the essence of men in the Vietnam War. Commanders only intent on creating killing machines, soldiers simply killing for amusement, and no one thinking of the consequences for anyone. I've read a lot of criticism of the second half of this movie-the battle scenes-for being boring(compared to the first half) and unrealistic. I feel I must point out that, after the savagely brutal first half, the revelation of the meaning of life would have probably been a letdown. As for it being unrealistic, Vietnam is not just one big jungle, and war is not simply made up of planes flying overhead and bombs being dropped. These scenes, I feel, capture the isolation,sense of terror, and ever changing personal moralities brought on from being in a constanly deteriorating situation. I hope that those of you who didn't like the second half will go back and rewatch it. It is certainly worth the extra effort, for it is what makes this film a classic.
Rating:
Summary: The best war film ever made!
Review: This is my favorite Kubrick film to watch because it is his most "extreme"- in language, violence, and subject matter.What makes this movie so much better than all other war movies is the fact that it doesnt concentrate on one facet of war, such as a battle, man or mission. It focuses on the complete process of dehumanization of men in war.From drilling it into their heads in basic training, to "pacifist" Joker wasting the sniper, and thus, completing the process.Kubrick really seems to capture the essence of men in the Vietnam War. Commanders only intent on creating killing machines, soldiers simply killing for amusement, and no one thinking of the consequences for anyone. I've read a lot of criticism of the second half of this movie-the battle scenes-for being boring(compared to the first half) and unrealistic. I feel I must point out that the first half is so savagely brutal that the revelation of the meaning of life would probably be a letdown. As for it being unrealistic, Vietnam is not just one big jungle, and war is not made up simply of planes flying overhead and bombs being dropped. These scenes, I feel, capture the isolation and sense of terror in being in a situation in which you have little or no control, and can be killed at any moment. I hope that those of you who don't lile the second half will go back and rewatch it. It is certainly worth the extra effort, for it is what makes the film a classic.
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