Production Year: 1987 - War - Director: Stanley Kubrick - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Matthew Modine, Adam Baldwin, Vincent D'Onofrio, R. Lee Ermey, Dorian Harewood, Ed O'Ross, Arliss Howard, Kevyn Major Howard more
In this riveting look at military life during the Vietnam conflict, Stanley Kubrick, who made the powerful antiwar classics PATHS OF GLORY (WWI) and DR. STRANGELOVE (the cold war),... more
Kubrick'sFull Metal Jacketis essentially split into two stories linked by a number of characters. The film follows new recruit Joker (Matthew Modine) and his fellow soldi...
Kubrick'sFull Metal Jacketis essentially split into two stories linked by a number of characters. The film follows new recruit Joker (Matthew Modine) and his fellow soldi...
Vietnam War and the dehumanising process that turns people into trained killers. Joker (Matthew Modine) Animal Mother (Adam Baldwin) Gomer (Vincent D'Onofrio) ...
Full Metal Jacket -
Stan Kubrick's 1987 take on Vietnam is a strange disorientating "wriggle" through film ... more
genres and human psyche alike, and the movie ends up as a kind of docu-drama road movie where the protagonists are being wasted one by one. The original score is by Abigail Mead. Admittedly she only had to come up with a few, eerie underscore themes, but they do their job, although unaided by images her mid-1980s samples sound a bit dated. The title track is a groovy medley over the Marine training camp's hilarious marching songs--a nice header to the album. The "Ruins" theme is an illustrative piece of film music, and "Sniper" a classic emotion-trigger. The soundtrack's covers-inventory has obvious post punk characteristics, the only music from the period is the raunchy "I Like It Like That". Stones classic "Paint It Black" never made it through the copyright trap, which is a shame, but lovers of grunge can enjoy "Surfin' Bird" by the Trashmen and "Woolly Bully" all the same. The sickeningly sentimental pro-war Country smoocher "Hello Vietnam" by Johnny Wright, and Nancy Sinatra's reminder to the "gooks" what's in store, "These Boots Are Made For Walking", illustrate Kubrick's dark sense of humour, as does the Dixie Cups' "Chapel Of Love". --Yngvil V.G.
All our items are despatched from the United Kingdom. Starring - Matthew Modine, Adam Baldwin, Vincent D'Onofrio, R. Lee Ermey, Dorian Harewood We offer *** WORLDWIDE *** Delivery!, Manufacturer: MoviePostersDirect
Full Metal Jacket
A superb ensemble cast falls in for action in Stanley Kubrick's brilliant saga about the ... more
Vietnam War and the dehumanizing process that turns people into trained killers. Joker (Matthew Modine), Animal Mother (Adam Baldwin), Gomer (Vincent D'Onofrio), Eightball (Dorian Harewood), Cowboy (Arliss Howard) and more - all are plunged into a boot-camp hell pitbulled by a leatherlung D.I. (Lee Ermey) who views the would-be devil dogs as grunts, maggots or something less. The action is savage, the story unsparing, the dialogue spiked with scathing humor. Full Metal Jacket, from its rigors of basic training to its nightmare of combat in Hue City, scores a cinematic direct hit.
Full Metal Jacket
A superb ensemble cast falls in for action in Stanley Kubrick's brilliant saga about the ... more
Vietnam War and the dehumanizing process that turns people into trained killers. Joker, Animal Mother, Gomer, Eightball, Cowboy and more - all are plunged into a boot-camp hell pitbulled by a leatherlung D.I. who views the would-be devil dogs as grunts, maggots or something less. The action is savage, the story unsparing, the dialogue spiked with scathing humor. Full Metal Jacket, from its rigours of basic training to its nightmare of combat in Hue City, scores a cinematic direct hit.
selected original 35mm film from Full Metal Jacket. The collection has a black mount with black frame, an individually numbered plaque and certificate of authenticity.
Allow up to 14 Days for delivery as item is manufactured to order. Your poster is professionally mounted on a High Quality Canvas resulting in a fine piece of Art for your enjoyment. A modern and popular alternative to framing a poster which also makes an ideal gift. Process is irreversible please see our help information for further details., Manufacturer: MoviePostersDirect
Allow up to 14 Days for delivery as item is manufactured to order. Your poster is laminated and mounted on High Quality Float Frame resulting in a fine piece of Art for your enjoyment. A modern and popular alternative to framing a poster which also makes an ideal gift. Process is irreversible please see our help information for further details., Manufacturer: MoviePostersDirect
Production Year: 1982 - War - Director: Tim Burstall - Original Language: English\Mandarin\Japanese - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: John Waters, Sam Neill, John Phillip Law, Mel Gibson
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A review by guydavies123 on Full Metal Jacket (DVD) July 1st, 2007
Author's product rating:
Did you enjoy it?
Indifferent to it
Story
Good
Characters / Performances
Outstanding
Special Effects
Outstanding
How does it compare to similar films?
Good
Advantages:
Acting, sets and special effects .
Disadvantages:
Where did the end go???
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
◊^^^Synopsis^^^◊
Full Metal Jacket is Stanley Kubrick’s painful depiction of the lives of new marine trainees as they go through training, graduate and finally end up in Vietnam. A large proportion of the film focuses on the harsh and inhumane training designed to dehumanize people and turn them into, with the help of the demoralising D.I (Lee Ermey), into indestructible killers for the benefit of the United States, men without fear. The D.I’s treatment to the trainee’s is so brutal that some can’t take anymore of the mental hardship. Whilst exploring both the physical and mental suffering of marine trainees the films main focus is on one man, “Joker” (Matthew Modine).
After graduation most of the new marines end up in Vietnam and then the film takes a more direct view point as it follows Joker as he is released into the field from his before safe position as a journalist. Although he is still technically a journalist he becomes more of a fighter throughout and manages to tag along with one of his friends, from marine training, and join the platoon he is in. After this many tragic events follow as the platoon travels from checkpoint to checkpoint with a continuous resentful search and destroy attitude, what the US Government preferred to refer to as “Sweep and Clear” due to the growing abhorrence for the war at home.
A very good plot line with acting to match and worth a watch.◊^^^Opinion^^^◊
I can’t really say I enjoyed the film but that’s not to say that it wasn’t an amazing film, because it truly was. I didn’t really enjoy it because of the way it makes you feel. There are many reasons for this which I will explore in turn but the major reason is the films realistic approach to attitudes, casual killing and death.
It can be slightly related to the modern day war in Iraq. It reminds you that it is the tax payer’s money that is helping to take lives. It reminds me of television coverage of the first bombs being dropped in Baghdad, Iraq and remembering that taxes that have direct involvement with me are likely to have contributed to building the bombs or facilities for the killing of people.
The film is also difficult to enjoy for other reasons. The morals of the film are all wrong as the characters in it have little respect for anyone else and there is no one in it you can truly admire. Also the film is depressing, not just like some films that are moderately depressing in parts but lighter in others, this film is depressing from start to finish. The reason for this is that you know, the film is realistic and you know that is how it happened. The films realism is key to making it depressing and somewhat un-enjoyable. Although I may have put you off slightly here I must remind you that for a film to be brilliant, it need not be enjoyable or have to leave you with a feel good sensation at the end of it. It can be hard hitting, sinister and depressing just the same and still be a great film and Full Metal Jacket is a prime example of this.
The film is exceptionally well based on sources and information from the war and marine training and is reasonably historically correct when it comes to the facts. I feel it exploits no bias as it admits that due to marine training Lee Harvey Oswald shot Kennedy. Therefore, although it may not be totally truthful, the film appears to be very reliable in the situations and treatment received before and during the Vietnam War and this is the main reason why the film is depressing but at the same time an incredible motion picture.
The sets in the film were truly exceptional and even for a war film I haven’t known of many to have such awesome and notably large sets. The special effects used on the sets were especially good as the added to the realism and drama helping to build a convincing war scene. The film benefited from this immensely and the pyrotechniques unit deserve some credit for the awesome shots as not all credit should be received by the actors and cinematographers.
I have to admit though that I was very disappointed with the, to be perfectly honest, no existent ending. I mean it has a brilliant beginning, middle and then no end. The film frankly ends abruptly with nothing accomplished or resolved, just a mess. Although I suppose there is a point to this as in this film Stanley Kubrick has gone out of his way to depict a pragmatic representation of the situation for his audience, he wants to give the most realistic assessment he can. The message I can take from this sudden conclusion is one of resent and anger at how the whole thing was pointless. You did all this training and all this fighting hundreds of thousands died for nothing, just to leave, end and finally realise you shouldn’t have been in there in the first place. ◊^^^Acting^^^◊
The acting is incredibly convincing. Brilliant performances from Joker (Matthew Modine), Cowboy (Arliss Howard) and Drill Instructor or “D.I” (Lee Ermey) help to hold the film together. The cast as a whole did a great job and were all very gripping but there was one actor who really stood out to me as remarkable, Vincent D’Onofrio who plays Gomer, (“Pyle”). His performance is simply mind blowing as he struggles to deal with the pressure that comes with being a fat marine trainee and the intense “motivation” (bullying) he receives from the D.I and the rest of the unit. He has no friends other than his riffle, “Charlene”. His compelling and extremely lifelike performance is spectacular and the film alone is worth watching just for that.
◊^^^Film Summary^^^◊
In Conclusion the film is brilliant, realistic and depressing and although it doesn’t make you feel good about yourself has a strong message and is definitely worth watching. If you are a war movie fan it is essential to your collection. ◊^^^DVD Package^^^◊
The DVD is reasonably well presented and shows the duality of man on the front cover as it has a helmet with “BORN TO KILL” scrawled on it which strongly contrasts with the peace badge stuck next to the writing. An interesting message and one that flows through the foundations of the film. As for the back, it is rather standard with a few screenshots from the movie and information about the film, its cast, special features and more detailed information on runtime, audio etc.
◊^^^Special Features^^^◊
There is not a very wide variety of special features; in fact they are somewhat basic and limited. They are as follows: • Still Interactive DVD Menu • Titled Scene Selection • Theatrical Trailer • Languages – Soundtracks: English, French and Italian. -- Subtitles: English, French, Italian, Dutch, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Romanian, Bulgarian and English for the hearing impaired. ◊ ^^^Picture and Sound Quality^^^◊
The picture like many older movies was quite square as the aspect ratio was 1.33:1 which isn’t very good. Although this was disappointing, if there is a wide screen version I would recommend it, the cinematography makes up for the poor picture. The camera work is extremely creative and the film consists of several interesting stationary shots that are jazzed up by adjusting zoom or focus. Once in Vietnam the cinematography changes style and becomes, for most shots, a soldier in the platoon with several interesting running POV shots, these have been achieved with a fit camera man and a steady-cam device. This is a fascinating technique as it makes the film more personal and draws you into the film as one of the platoon as you are looking through the eyes of a platoon member. The film is extremely well shot and benefits greatly from it.
As for music, the film has quite an abundance of it and in that respect is quite silent. There are scenes where I didn’t notice music because it was used very subtly and effectively and scenes which I though could have done with a bit of music to enhance emotions. Perhaps there wasn’t enough music but to be honest I am not sure it really maters, you decide.◊^^^DVD Summary^^^◊
A well presented DVD with a message of the film on the front, plenty of pictures on the back and useful specific information.
◊^^^Price & Availability^^^◊
Amazon.co.uk: New and Sealed – £4.97 – 41 Used/New from - £3.44 eBay.co.uk: Avg. Buy it Now - £4.50 – 63 Results
◊^^^Technical Details^^^◊
Certificate: 18 Duration: 116 mins Year of Release: 1987 Genre: Drama / War Aspect ratio: 1.33:1 Region: 2
Director(s): Stanley Kubrick Writer(s): Gustav Hasford (Novel) & Stanley Kubrick (Screenplay)
Advantages: Thought provoking, great one liners, great acting, good story Disadvantages: Too short for both parts. Maybe there should have been 2 separate films?
...and directed by Stanley Kubrick Full Metal Jacket (“FMJ”) is a film about the Vietnam War that was released back in September 1987. I have never really been one for DVD extras and bonus features and would prefer to see the feature film only. Therefore this is a review of the film only and I will not comment on any of the extras that are available on the DVD.
****Plot****
FMJ starts in a Marine Corp training camp in Paris Island, South Carolina, ... ...and after having their identities taken away, along with the obligatory headshave, begin their gruelling training for the Vietnam War. During their time at the camp the new platoon remain under the scrutiny of Drill Sergeant Hartman (R Lee Ermey) and after the first encounter it is easy to see why Sergeant Hartman has the reputation of being the nastiest sergeant in the camp.
The recruits, known only by the nick names given to them by Hartman, are ...
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Advantages: explores the absurdity and reasons for war Disadvantages: can be disturbing at times
...first dialogue in the film Full Metal Jacket, as as you can see (or read for that matter) it is quite relentless and in your face and it sums up the context of the film quite nicely...
“I am Gunnery Sergeant Hartman your senior drill instructor. From now on you will speak only when spoken to. And the first and last words out of your sewers is ‘sir!’ Do you maggots understand that? *******! I can’t here you. Sound off like you’ve got a pair. If you ... ...when they are in combat. Full Metal Jacket explores this pysche from the very roots of the Millitary. Producer, Writer and Director Stanley Kubrick ("A Clockwork Orange", "2001:- A Space Oddesy") brings his surreal yet human touch to this film with a certain ironic and scathing humour with sweaping and dynamic camerawork. Business as usual then...
The performances from the leads; there is no real lead as such as each character is as important as ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Excellent visuals and strong characters Disadvantages: Not the strongest plot
...and A Clockwork Orange are full of staggeringly powerful visuals, but they make the best of small budgets and despite being far ahead of their time, don't have the slick Hollywood look of his two 80s movies, The Shining and Full Metal Jacket. Everything about this film looks perfect. The war scenes may have been filmed using old crumbling factory buildings found around England, but when you see those pillars of flame pluming out from the torn-up ... ...of serious epic war films full of grand gestures and seriousness and the comic war films where everything is absurd and exaggerated.
In every way, a remarkable piece of work. A visual spectacle, a great soundtrack of period music, some moments that are immortal in motion picture history and a few extremely well-sketched characters, it's another film that doesn't rely on a clever plot or any kind of overall goal, but focuses on a setting and explores ...
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Advantages: Realistic and thought-provoking Disadvantages: Not one to watch if you're already in a bad mood
So ends this famous film by Stanley Kubrick, as Private Joker marches off into a night lit only the flames from burning buildings, fresh from his first kill, and safe in the knowledge that although he is definitely in ‘a world of sh*t’, he’s going to be alright. It is almost an uplifting moment, which does come as something of a surprise for a film, which, while being extremely thought provoking, is almost unrelentingly depressing, ... ...making ‘easy’ films and this is certainly no exception – the viewer is given a no-holds-barred view of the life cycle of a recruit in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. The first half of the film deals exclusively with recruit training in South Carolina, and opens with repeated views of the classic symbol of a soldier’s life, the ritual head-shaving that all recruits undergo. You see face after face, black, white, whatever: ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Although a lot of films based around war are all just about the war this shows us the more comically side involved which makes this film that extra bit better Disadvantages: I think the film was not bases enough around what we wanted to see and that was the action of the war. War has never been a good thing but when buying a film about it we expect so see some of it
Although various films have explored Vietnam, war is generally a subject for which filmmakers can approach differently - such as Terrence Malick's philosophical and haunting Thin Red Line, which shows us not just the happening of war, but the men who fought it. With Stanley Kubrick's 1987 picture it is split into two parts, the training and the war – and even though the second half isn't quite as interesting, the film as a whole is still a very strong ... ...The first half covers the intense boot camp training that the Marine recruits have to go through before heading off to Vietnam. Similar to last year's Tigerland, the film depicts the harshness of what these people have to go through, especially having to tolerate the yelling and remarks of Sergeant Hartman, who just makes the film humorous and serious at the same time. There are several recruits, who are focused on, but the main ones are Gomer Pyle, ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Great story, excellent acting, great effects Disadvantages: May be too hard to watch for some
...little details. Say that though it was still very watch able. The rest of the film was shot on location showing us the war in Vietnam. I found the scenery and sets to be very authentic and they all looked great and not out of place.
The effects in the film were good and made for some good viewing during the war scenes. I found that a lot of time and effort were put into these and the creators of them deserve a lot of credit. Some of the wounds which the soldiers got during battle looked so real that they actually made me feel slightly sick! The music thought out the film was good and very appropriate for the places in which it was used.
The DVD which we have does have some bonus features which includes:-
Commentary by Adam Baldwin, Vincent D?Onofrio, R lee Ermey and Critic/Screenwriter Jay Cocks
New Featurettes ?FullmetalJacket...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Special Features, interactive menus, scene access, Trailor. Disadvantages: 18yrs and over
...Most war films that you watch these days are set amongst the war zone, and early on in the film your thrown into a ferocious battle, FullMetaljacket however, starts you off at the basics.
Your called up or sometimes there are volunteers, to enter a war that no one wanted. Your a young 9 1/2 stone weakling fresh from high school, some as young as 17-19, cocky but still wet behind the ears.
Your rudely brought down to earth by the most volatile man you have ever met, a man who has so much to say about you in so many ways, but the strange thing is, he's got you down to a tee.
Thats right, you have just been introduced to your new mother, in the guise of Lee Ermey who plays a tough talking drill sergant, it is his job to pull these young kids off their mother's breast, and whip them into a frenzied pack of human destroyers, in...
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Advantages: A great unknown, one of the best of its kind Disadvantages: nothing
...kind of disappointing since the film is by far one of the greatest western films on celluloid. The acting is very strong and the costumes are very authentic. A very fine addition to anyone's western collection.
Who's in it? And partial discography
««««««««««««««««««««««««««««
Armand Assante:1492: Conquest of Paradise, Judge Dredd, The Odyssey, American Gangster
Robert Davi: Licence To Kill, Halo 3 {voice of Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadumee}, Stargate Atlantis
Elizabeth Shue: The Karate Kid, Cocktail, Back to the Future 2 & 3, First Born
Adam Baldwin: Independence Day, Wyatt Earp, Predator 2, The Patriot, FullMetalJacket
Director: Richard Spence
Released:1994, on DVD 2001
Genre: Western
Certificate:18
Similar Films & Genre
««««««««««««««««««
Blind Fury: Rutger Hauer {Modern action}
Zatoichi: Beat Takeshi {Samurai...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Plot: The story follows marine Private Joker, from his extra-tough boot camp training through to climatic involvement in the Vietnam War and particularly the heavy fighting at Hue during the bloody 1968 Tet offensive.
Release details
DVD Region: DVD
Studio(s): WARNER HOME VIDEO; CINRAM LOGISTICS
Release date: 01/04/2005
No of Discs: 1
Catalogue No: D 021154
Barcode: 7321900211543
Screenwriter: Stanley Kubrick, Michael Herr, Gustav Hasford
Author: Gustav Hasford, Stanley Kubrick, Michael Herr
DVD Description
In this riveting look at military life during the Vietnam conflict, Stanley Kubrick, who made the powerful antiwar classics PATHS OF GLORY (WWI) and DR. STRANGELOVE (the cold war), once again explores the behavior of men in battle. FULL METAL JACKET, adapted from Gustav Hasford's novel THE SHORT TIMERS, is broken down into two very different parts. The first half of the film focuses on the training of a squad of Marine grunts on Parris Island, and more specifically on the troubled relationship between the brutal drill sergeant (a frightening Lee Ermey) and an oafish misfit (a brilliant Vincent D'Onofrio) who just happens to be a sharpshooter. The first half ends with a devastating, unforgettable scene, leading into the second half, which takes the grunts to Hue City, the climactic battle of the 1968 Tet Offensive and the turning point of the Vietnam War. The story is told through the eyes of Private Joker (Matthew Modine), a cynical aspiring photojournalist who is soon forced to fight for his life and the lives of his fellow recruits. The sniper scene, which takes place amid bombed-out buildings (rather than in the familiar jungles), serves as a microcosm for the Vietnam War--as well as war in general. FULL METAL JACKET is an unrelenting, intelligent, and challenging examination of war told by a master filmmaker.
![Full Metal Jacket [1987] [DVD]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78525362.jpg)
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12.09.2005
02.12.2007
