Full Metal Jacket

Such an excellent film. Is that enough to consider this a blog review? Probably not, so I’ll add a little more content I guess. Yet again, another film directed by the man who adorns the top of this blog; Mr. Stanley Kubrick. This is probably a runner-up for the number 1 spot of all-time Kubrick films. It definitely changes from time to time, but every once and a while when I revisit this film I fall deep into love with it again. Just recently we had it playing in the background during one of our poker nights with the guys. I had to stop playing from time to time to go and sit and bask in the glory of this picture. It really is quite a journey and experience.

Full Metal Jacket Trailer Here

The film follows several men as they go through basic training and then out to the war fields. The film is cut into two halves – the first half is in the barracks as they do their training, and then the second half is life out on the war field, dodging gunfire, bombs, and enemies. The first half really concentrates more on the psychological damage Army training can have on people, especially one man who’s nicknamed Pile (like Gomer Pile). R. Lee Emery probably has the most prolific and memorable role in the film. He’s the Gunnery Sergeant that is in charge of the barracks and the men there inside. His job is to make them into a team of well-trained killers. This kind of backfires, so to speak.

The film is beautifully shot (need I even mention this). Kubrick no doubt painstakingly crafted every bomb’s explosion, bullet’s ricochet, and blood packet’s detonation. The film does stand up well among some of the other profound war movies of our time: SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, GLORY, THE DEER HUNTER, DAS BOOT (one of personal favorites), APOCALYPSE NOW, and THE THIN RED LINE. It’s grisly, intense, and moving. It’s a great way to start to understand the bond these men develop lving and dying together in arms.

Rating: 9.25.10