"Looks like some more of that John Wayne stuff today..."

Rating: Null/10 (12 August 2000)

Or words to that effect, said by one of the recruits jest loud enough for Sarge to hear it, he goes ballistic and screams bloody murder until he finds out Who.
Ermey and D'Onofrio are the two major reasons to see this. Like everyone else, I am very impressed by the first half and like the second part but realize it's nothing special. They shot some of the Nam scenes in an old Tractor factory if I remember right, and it shows. I remember the long tracking shot of the whole line of GI's talking to the camera and saying who they are, etc. That stood out.
But the first half--brutal, effective, sad, frightening at times...you have to like that, Kubrick there was at his best. If he had been able to maintain that intensity in the second half, this woulda been the equal to Platoon or Ryan. As it is...still pretty good.
*** outta ****; its worth yer time, even now.