The overall rating of a review is different from a simple average of all individual ratings.
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
Recommendable
Yes:
Detailed rating:
Did you enjoy it?
Story
Characters / Performances
Special Effects
How does it compare to similar films?
SoundtrackGood
How does it compare to others by the same director?Good
The damn best footballer in the universe who doesn't play pro football, yet!!!
The damn best footballer in the universe who doesn't play pro football, yet!!!
Member since:18.09.2001
Reviews:8
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 effort from one of the best directors in cinema history.
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, a screw-up who finds out that he's good with a gun and slowly loses his mind. There's also private joker who we follow through the first half and into the second half, which moves onto Vietnam.
The jokes and quotes coming from Sergeant Hartman are sheer genius and his character is presented brilliantly, showing us really what it was like. And maybe still is today. After we are departed from the Sergeant, it starts a different story line. The War.
Oliver Stone has presented many films showing just how awful Vietnam was and it looks to me like, Kubrick has done the same. The torture, the endless miles of walking, and the fact that the people of the country knew it better than any member of intelligence could tell them. Every where they went they were walking into a death trap
The picture looks at the day-to-day life of the soldiers in Vietnam; the horrors of being woken up by attacks and other terrifying experiences. Kubrick's surreal, haunting images are hard to forget and although he doesn't really let us get to know any of the characters in great deal, it almost adds to the feelings that the soldiers have had emotions stripped away from them after being in the middle of the chaos.
Although the film has been "remastered" for this second try at the Kubrick Collection, the feature is doesn’t seem to show us anything new. The only significant difference, in my opinion, is a new Dolby Digital 5.1 audio presentation.
A must have for all of the Kubrick collectors, but maybe a shame for DVD collectors.
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Production Year: 1970 - War - Director: Brian G. Hutton - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, Carroll O'Connor, Donald Sutherland, Don Rickles, Gavin MacLeod
As you say both a fantastically well done film and a disturbing one, Kubrick's touch is very apparent. Despite this I still prefer Platoon, both as a Film and as a DVD. The special edition was released a week last monday and it is FANTASTIC with tons of extras Cheers-Matt :)
charliegould 19.09.2001 23:15
what i found sad was that Kubrick was constantly pre-empted by other movie makers; it took him so long to make what was going to be the first vietnam film, but then when he finished there was already Platoon, and several others out. great op though.
superpricee 19.09.2001 18:12
The main I liked about FMJ was thecity setting of the War section - it's the only Vietnam film I've seen that's shown us something other than jungles and paddies. Great op. Cheers - Ricky
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Advantages: Thought provoking, great one liners, great acting, good story Disadvantages: Too short for both parts. Maybe there should have been 2 separate films?
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Sep 19th, 2001
very helpful by (100%):
