Kubrick's Vietnam Opus

Rating: 7/10 (17 February 2000)

This is the first time I've commented on a Kubrick film on the IMDb. So much has been written about his work, I don't know what I can possibly add, but I'll give it a shot.
Of course, the first segment is the best. You get pure, unfiltered boot camp brutality that glues your eyes to the screen. Those scenes are absolutely wonderful. They make you squirm in your seats the same way "A Clockwork Orange" did. R. Lee Armey is excellent as the merciless drill sergeant. He deserved an Oscar for his riveting performance.
Surprisingly, the rest of the film, set in Vietnam, is more conventional, not what you'd expect from Kubrick. It seems a bit too long and disjointed, with an unnecessarily drawn out ending. Still, there are some good combat scenes, with some especially potent violence later on.
It's interesting to notice that Roger Ebert gave it only 2 1/2 stars, but the late Gene Siskel gave it four. I think this is a film that, like most of Kubrick's, really depends on your personal perceptions.
Overall, not a masterpiece, but still a worthy effort.
Rating: *** (out of ****)
116 min/Released by Warner Bros.