Rating: 
Summary: Great movie,but not my favorite on Vietnam
Review: Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket is a very good movie,but I like others on the subject of Vietnam better.It follows a group of Marine Corps recruits from boot camp to the war in Vietnam.I thought the boot camp sequence was outstanding.Gunnery Sageant Hartman is an unforgettable character,(every time I see R.Lee Ermey in a movie I'm reminded of him)probably the best drill instructor ever in a movie.The rest of the cast was very good,as well,especially Vincent D'Onofrio as Gomer Pyle,and Matthew Modine as Joker.After boot camp the movie shifts to Vietnam,where the action is seen mostly through Joker's eyes.The movie show's some of the horrors of war,but not as well as other Vietnam films such as Platoon and Hamburger Hill.(of course that's just my opinion,you may disagree)I've read that the movie was shot entirely on soundstages in England,rather than on location,and it looks incredible.Overall,while not my favorite movie about Vietnam,it is a very good film.
Rating: 
Summary: Kubrick Addresses The Complexities Of War
Review: The dual nature of man, wherein he is able to embrace both war and peace simultaneously, is addressed by director Stanley Kubrick in the decidedly anti-war film, "Full Metal Jacket," starring Matthew Modine. Divided essentially into two parts, the first half follows raw recruits through basic training at Parris Island, where the effects of what it takes to turn a man into a Marine / killing machine is explored, predominately through the characters of Private "Joker," played by Matthew Modine, and Private Leonard Lawrence (Vincent D'Onofrio), dubbed "Gomer Pyle" by the D.I, Sergeant Hartman (Lee Ermey). It's a hard, stoic study of techniques and motivation that inherently questions the system itself, and is deftly and succinctly illustrated by the results achieved, which are not entirely those desired. It's hard stuff to swallow at times, but engrossing, and Kubrick manages to gradually build the emotional intensity that gives such impact to the climax of this first part, which is without question the strength of the entire film. The second half switches suddenly to Vietnam, where Kubrick takes up his pallet and canvass, and while attempting to paint a realistic portrait of war, instead takes more of a turn away from reality, and the film takes on a sense of the surreal; the result is more reminiscent of the visual artistry of "The Thin Red Line" than of the truly gritty realism of "Saving Private Ryan," and rather than make his statement directly through the use of the story, he uses the movie to stage sequences of events to demonstrate the contradictory nature of war and it's consequences, and man's involvement therein. And while he compares the moral and emotional conflicts with the physical, it is an acknowledgement of an inner struggle devoid of any proffered solution, though delivered quite subjectively. The pace of the film is very deliberate and much of the dialogue has a "staged" sense about it that, rather than underscore the issues being addressed, has more of an alienating effect which serves to neutralize the emotional aspects of what is being presented. The story is told from the point of view of Modine's "Joker" , but though Modine does a passable job, his is a rather unsympathetic character whose purpose it would seem is merely to act as narrator and to serve as the "eyes" of the camera. And, again, it only manages to distance the audience further, as Joker becomes a kind of buffer between the viewer and any sustained level of emotional involvement with the story or any of the characters. Instead of a stirring fulmination against the lunacy of war and man's enablement of it, Kubrick's approach creates more of a sense of rather cold ambiguity. Had Joker (as the lead) been a stronger character, and had the second half of the film been more like the first, instead of nothing more than a series of vignettes, this could have been a dynamic movie; as it is, because of Kubrick's choices, he made a good movie, but not a great one. There are two memorable performances here, one by Vincent D'Onofrio, who did an exemplary job of creating the hapless Leonard; the other by Lee Ermey, as the Gunnery Sergeant who could be the poster-boy for an anti-enlistment campaign. Also worthy of note is the work of Arliss Howard, who brought "Cowboy" so credibly to life. Rounding out the supporting cast are Adam Baldwin (Animal Mother); Dorian Harewood (Eightball); Kevyn Major Howard (Rafterman); Ed O'Ross (Lieutenant Tinoshky); and John Terry (Lieutenant Lockhart). With "Full Metal Jacket," Stanley Kubrick raises issues that are important, and makes some valid points about the causes and complexities of war, and the moral and ethical challenges of those presented with it. Obviously, this was a passionate endeavor; if only he would have allowed more of that passion to make it's way onto the screen. What a movie this could have been.
Rating:
Summary: Full Metal Jacket
Review: The first half of the movie was great and I'd rate it the full 5-stars. Unfortunately, the second half (after boot camp) was quite poor and I'd give it 1 star. Overall, on average I gave it 3.
As one who actually went through Marine Corps boot camp in 1966, I found the performance of R. Lee Ermey real enough to set the hair up on the back of my neck. It took my back ovver 30 years and opened many memories (some goos and some not so much so) but the portrayal of Marine boot camp was as real as it gets. Once you get past the boot camp part, the movie, unfortunately, falls flat. Kubrik's portrayal of combat in Vietnam was, well, ludicrous and, having participated in the Hue City campaign. I know.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the most original war films of all time.....
Review: The thing I love about this movie is its originality....usually, the soldiers in combat films are nothing but pure actors thrown into battle fatigues, given a gun and told to act. Full Metal Jacket is different...we endure the recruits' pain and suffering through Parris Island boot camp, and live with them during the grisly war....and that's why FULL METAL JACKET brings you close to the real thing.But anyway, on to the storyline and so forth. The plot involves a young Marine recruit, Private Joker, who gets through Marine Bootcamp by excelling in everything possible. He is then thrust into Vietnam as a journalist....and it is in Vietnam that he always complains he "never sees enough action." Well, the "action" comes to him, but he soon discovers it is not all fun and games. Though Modine's narrative can be a bit flat and one-sided at times, the acting in this film is absolutely superb. Also, I have noticed in war films that the U.S. Marine Corps always seems to be left out. Well, FULL METAL JACKET almost glorifies the Marine Corps, and you don't see too many movies that give the USMC a lick of respect (that they completely deserve). I should also comment on the military accuratness of this film....all the moves are right, no one ever seems to be out of step in marching formations, and, according to my father, a Vietnam-Era Marine Corps veteran, the harshness of bootcamp....and especially the portrayal of the Drill Instructor, is exactly how it was (is). Another great thing about FMJ is its dark tones, that last from beginning to end. The deaths in this film are very graphic, and Stanley Kubrick puts you in a hell (making you feel as if you were there) that you want to leave right away and escape the horrors of war. That's what makes FMJ a very powerful movie. A nice touch was the eerie ending, and the classic Rolling Stones song at the end (the name escapes me). The only thing unrealistic about this movie is that Private Lawrence "Pyle" never lost any weight, in fact, he looked as if he gained a few pounds. Any Marine will tell you that the "fat kid" in their boot camp platoon left basic training a fit, ready-to-kill war machine...I guess Pyle's lack of weight loss goes to show us that the catering provided by FMJ's producers was very good! All in all, though, a graphic and moving film that leaves you a bit shocked and a LOT entertained...it should be in everyone's collection.
Rating:
Summary: perfection
Review: this is my all time favorite war movie. it is powerful and shocking. i think everyone should see this and get a good cry.
Rating:
Summary: Up there with Platoon & Saving Private Ryan
Review: This is really two movies in one. The first half covers the slow descent into insanity of one Pvt. Leonard Lawrence "Pyle" (Vincent d'Onofrio) as he and other recruits endure the gruelling boot camp overseen by Sgt. Hardman (R. Lee Ermey). The last half of the film covers the Vietnam Tet Offensive. The underlying theme throughout the film is how war deprives us of our humanity. Stanley Kubrick paces the film well and gives the war in Vietnam a different look unseen in other related films. The all too familiar jungle scenes are replaced with the "concrete jungles" of war-torn Saigon. I read that it was shot entirely in England, for Kubrick hates to venture far from his London home. The only qualms I have with the DVD is with the picture format. Instead of widescreen, we're stuck with the sole option of pan and scan. Thus, the four star rating. Maybe Kubrick viewed it in standard format and decided he liked it better. Who knows. This is still a great movie and worth the viewing.
Rating:
Summary: Mandatory Viewing for every human being
Review: This is the best example reviewers give of "brilliant first part, disappointing second". It may be true, the second part of the film is not as entertaining and powerful as the first half but it's no disappointing either. I've watched this a lotta times, so many times I often found myself yelling instead of talking because of Sgt. Hartman's influence. "Sir, yes, sir!!!!"
The story is known by most of us: part 1-boot camp, part 2-Vietnam war.
After several viewing you get to like the characters instead of seeing them as just killer machines, which is what they were trained for. "What makes the grass grow?!!! -Blood, blood, blood!" "What are we here for?!!! -Kill, kill, kill!"
Senior drill instructor, gunnery sergeant Hartman played by Lee Ermey is one of the best and funniest characters ever put on screen. Sure you can feel sorry by the dehumanizing way he treats the privates but it is so funny how he manages to do it with a profanity-creative dialogue that I just had to memorize.
Overall, watch this film...watch the whole thing, it's worth it.
"You are pukes, you are the lowest form of life on earth, you are not even human f***ing beings! You are nothing but unorganized grab-asstic pieces of amphibian s**t!"
-Gunnery sergeant Hartman.
Rating:
Summary: ME SO HONY!
Review: This movie is unforgetable! The acting is so real,
you won't think it's acting. Without a doubt, one
of the top 5 war movies ever made! I've watched this
movie, atleast 10 times with my son. Just buy it,
you'll be very happy you did!
|
