One of my top ten

Rating: 9/10 (4 August 2013)

This movie is great. Great story, great acting and a lot of memorable scenes. You know a movie is good if you here quotes from it on a regular basis from people who probably don't even know where the saying came from (ie the younger generations).
I love how it takes you from boot camp to the war and lets the viewer experience every aspect of the Vietnam war. It was a gritty time and the movie pulls no punches: if you are creating killing machines you have to be tough. Unlike todays army that is volunteer, most were there not by choice and the basic training scenes show the deconstruction of a boy and the construction of a soldier.
The war scenes show these newly minted soldiers struggling to maintain their human element. We watch as the try and find balance between taking lives and knowing they will have to live theirs upon return.
Many of these actors went on to play other great roles and I can't help but think it was due to their involvement with Full Metal Jacket.