Kubrick's Vietnam Masterpiece

Rating: Null/10 (28 January 2001)

Stanley Kubrick is synonomous with genius. His films truly are works of art in that they have countless themes and meanings. And all those profound themes are hidden under highly enjoyable movies. Movies like "The Shining," "2001: A Space Odessey," and "Path of Glory" are great examples of Kubrick's utter brilliance for conceiving films.

"Full Metal Jacket" is one of Stanley Kubrick's greatest films. It is literally divided into two chapters: the training, and when the training is used. The first part of the film, the training, portrays vividly the incredible mental and physical terror that the would-be marines go through. At times, the training seems unbearable, sadistic, and cruel, but in reality, that is exactly what they needed. Stanley Kubrick shows how the Marine training camp dehumanized the trainees into killing machines. Many people who have seen the first half of the movie describe it as being "one good line after another." They're describing the lines of the drill instructor, played by former drill insrtuctor Lee Ermey. In the pre-production of the film, Kubrick told Ermey to just make it real, something that he did with great skill. One of the best scenes in the first part was when the marines gathered for the "persuasive" meeting with Private Pyle. Even when they weren't in any training or combat, the marines gathered and executed the mission with total perfection and synchronicity, the sign of a true military force. The first half of "Full Metal Jacket" is perhaps one of the greatest chapters in film history in that it showed development and dehuminization like only Kubrick could.
The second half of "Full Metal Jacket" is when the intense training goes into use: combat. The battle scenes in this movie were just spectacular. Violent and brutal yes, they showed correctly Kubrick's style: dark but true. If you like great combat sequences and action, you'll like this film. If you like artistic films but are sick of lighter, somewhat dull plots, then "Full Metal Jacket" is a film for you.