Directed by:
Stanley KubrickCinematography:
Douglas MilsomeComposer:
Vivian KubrickCast:
Matthew Modine, Adam Baldwin, Vincent D'Onofrio, R. Lee Ermey, Dorian Harewood, Arliss Howard, Kevyn Major Howard, Ed O'Ross, John Terry, Kieron Jecchinis (more)VOD (5)
Plots(1)
A pragmatic U.S. Marine observes the dehumanizing effects the Vietnam War has on his fellow Marine recruits from their brutal basic training to the bloody street fighting set in 1968 Hue, Vietnam. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (11)
The first half is amazing, it has an incredibly fast pace for a war film. Towards the end it relaxes a little, but then the director shows a bit of real war action, so I’m satisfied overall. Kubrick masterfully handles the psychology, which he focuses on more than grand action scenes.
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Honestly, it’s no wonder Stone's Platoon did better in its day... Kubrick's Vietnam is less attractive to the viewer's eye, more urban (we don’t get to see any cramped jungles), less action-packed, more protracted and broadly conceived. Yet it is impressive, although dehumanized and cold for my tastes. I consider the introduction and ending of the film to be the best – the marine preparation consists of the constant shouting, the numbing drill and the singing of celebratory songs. All this in the traditionally inventive visual presentation made in Mr. Kubrick (the scene of checking trimmed nails with a double row of privates on boxes is unforgettable). The final sniper scene, on the other hand, is the most personal thing that makes monstrous sense to everything seen so far, and it is one of the most drastic things ever seen in this genre. I consider the most problematic feature of Full Metal Jacket to be the characters, who are too schematic and inconspicuous, but this makes the sheer absurdity and dehumanization of the war stand out all the more. And, of course, Kubrick's sense of the drama of the situation and its visualization. The "period" song soundtrack is also excellent. In summation, Full Metal Jacket is among the films that have a "less attractive" Vietnam for viewers, but in terms of ideas it is among the most interesting.
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Stanley Kubrick does attempt to push the boundaries of the genre once again, but it doesn't work out for him in a war film. Despite the surprising first hour, Full Metal Jacket has become by far the director's most unpalatable piece (and therefore considerably un-Kubrick-like), which is killed by the impossibility of identifying with any of the characters.
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This is a really intense film, especially the first part, which leaves a big impression on you. It's loud, it's a real drill, but it beautifully shows how crazy the military can be. However, it needs to train people who are capable of killing, who are capable of going into battle and shooting. In the end, it turns out that even so, it is not easy. Even the second part is strong, when you see the soldiers, how everything is completely distorted.
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Analytically, the least stimulating Kubrick, but who cares? Full Metal Jacket is great for the impressive distinctive character of each scene and for its interesting focus, which (as it’s usual with Kubrick) inwardly goes from characters to ideology and from action to consequences. In the opening part, the soldiers are put through hell, but we can enjoy the rhetorical show of a militant freak (Ermey should have got an Oscar for that), while its conclusion will chill you like an icicle; and even the part in Vietnam doesn’t spare much time following the conscience of the characters (rather the opposite: - "How can you shoot women or children?" - " Easy! Ya just don't lead 'em so much!"), and the final debate over the dying enemy is like a kick in the balls for the conscience. One of the best and most chilling (anti)war movies, hands down.
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Gallery (101)
Photo © Warner Bros.
![Full Metal Jacket - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/162/123/162123123_672d41.jpg)
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