Hi, I am Guy,16. Very busy with my AS Levels, taking 5 :( Not much time for ciao, but will keep chec...
Hi, I am Guy,16. Very busy with my AS Levels, taking 5 :( Not much time for ciao, but will keep checking my GB if you want to leave a message.
Member since:19.06.2007
Reviews:17
Members who trust:58
◊^^^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.
Production Year: 1976 - War - Director: Jack Smight - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, James Coburn, Robert Mitchum, Glenn Ford
One of a series of revisionist Vietnam cinema released in the late 1980s, Stanley ... 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...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
One of a series of revisionist Vietnam cinema released in the late 1980s, Stanley ... 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...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
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), E...
Advantages: Thought provoking, great one liners, great acting, good story Disadvantages: Too short for both parts. Maybe there should have been 2 separate films?
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
Advantages: Thought provoking, great one liners, great acting, good story Disadvantages: Too short for both parts. Maybe there should have been 2 separate films?
![Full Metal Jacket [1987] [DVD]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78525362.jpg "Full Metal Jacket [1987] [DVD]")
Jul 1st, 2007
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