stehrkm I had the pleasure of meeting "Gunny" Ermey at a Marine Corps Ball. The intensity that he brings to his character on screen was matched in real life. Though Drill Instructors are not allowed to cuss or hit recruits anymore the details of training that have been shown are a great reminder of what a person has signed up for.The Vietnam War description could hold true for many Marines, but in the end this is just a movie. As we watch Joker progress through his training into live combat we are reminded of how little we knew of Vietnam and what war is really like. The location that the movie was filmed, MCRD Parris Island is as advertised. The exception is that they finally demolished the old wooden WWII barracks that were used.I recommend this movie to anyone, but especially as a prerequisite for those choosing to join the ranks of the United States Marine Corps.Semper Fi!

blumdeluxe "Full Metal Jacket" tells the story of a few young men who join the military, get their drill by a merciless instructor and finally reach Vietnam, where they find themselves in the middle of a nasty war.In its dialogues, the movie finds a good balance between more humorous parts and the seriosity that is needed to deal with such a topic. The situations feel very plausible and you soon begin to develop empathy for the young men. The soundtrack sometimes didn't underline the actions perfectly, but that is just my personal opinion, I know that some find it very suiting. It is not the kind of movie that leaves you destroyed but it quite skillfully portrays how senseless people are willing to kill each other.All in all this is not the best of its genre for me but it is a beautifully produced question, that lets its audience search for an answer. Maybe not something you must have seen but it sure adds another perspective to this topic.

AndrewHeaney1 A hard movie to watch, of course, given the first 45 minutes alone makes 2014's Whiplash look like Barney the Dinosaur. But there is more to this movie than just a hard-to-stomach war film, I assure you. Believe me, this film is fantastic.The film is based on a Novel called The Short Timers by Gustav Hasford, which unfortunately I have not read. The first 45 minutes follows a few Marines in training for the Vietnam War under the guise of the extremely hard Senior Drill Instructor Hartmann, played by the late R. Lee Ermey (may he rest in peace). This performance from this character alone makes the first 45 minutes of the movie the best first act of any film that I never want to see again. After this hard-to-stomach first act, we transition to Matthew Modine's character, nicknamed "Joker," and his team going through the hardships of war. As simple as this plot is, the execution is beyond brilliant.The only problem I have with the film is that the second and third act, while very well done, did not keep my attention as much as the phenomenal first act.The characters are all memorable, for better or for worse, even if you know they are gonna bite the dust. Stanley Kubrick really knows how to direct actors and characters, and he knows how to get even the most squeamish of people emotionally invested.Just about everything else in terms of the aspects of filmmaking is done from good to exceptionally.I cannot say for sure this is one of Kubrick's best films, or even in the top five. However, I definitely think everyone should see this movie at least once in their lives.RATING:9/10

SlyGuy21 I find it interesting that the first half of this is so fondly remembered compared to the second half. The first half has the famous role of R. Lee Ermey, a ton of quotable lines, and a dark sense of humor. This part of the film exposes both Joker, and the audience to the true horrors of war. It doesn't start in the field, it starts in the training. Similar to "A Clockwork Orange", the first half of this judges you, "Yeah, you like this out of shape guy getting physically and emotionally abused, don't ya?". We do, even though I knew what would happen, I laughed as Pvt. Pyle was humiliated for over 40 minutes, and then the tone changes. As Kubrick is so expertly able to do, we realize that Pyle has snapped, the first casualty of war that Joker sees isn't a man,but a man's spirit.The second half isn't as well remembered, even I had trouble remembering what happens when Ermey isn't on screen. I understand what the movie's trying to say, now that Joker's in the war zone, he's experienced to the physical horrors around him. After the Tet Offensive, he's thrust right into the front lines, seeing things like mass graves, booby traps, teenage snipers, and even his own innocence being destroyed. Kubrick does all of this with utter mastery, almost like he knew the first half would overshadow the second half, even though the second half is just as important, if not more. He knew the darker tone the movie takes wouldn't be accepted by all, almost like he used it as a way to gauge the real fans who got the film's overall message. If you like the first half of this, and don't like the second half, then you've missed the point of this movie. No matter how much we try to glorify war, or say how it's necessary, it's still Hell. No matter what color you paint it, it'll always be black, black as night, black as coal. It destroys lives, homes, morals, souls, everything, and Kubrick shows that in spades here. It's not a feel good movie, as it ends with Joker becoming just another grunt, unafraid of death, no longer afraid of the violence that surrounds him. But then again, how can you make a feel good movie out of a conflict that killed an entire generation of people? You can't, but Kubrick delivered a perfect showing of the decay a human soul goes through. It's Kubrick's world, we just live in it.