Flawed but sometimes fascinating film from Kubrick.

Rating: 8/10 (30 June 2005)

When Ordinary People are all plunged into a Boot Camp Hell pit bulled by a leather-lung D.I. (R.Lee Ermey) to prepare for the Vietnam War and the dehumanizing process that turns people into trained killers.
Produced & Directed by Stanley Kubrick (2001:A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, Eyes Wide Shut) made a savage Vietnam drama with a dark sense of humor. There's terrific performances by Matthew Modine, Adam Baldwin, Vincent D'Onofrio, R.Lee Ermey, Dorian Harewood, Arliss Howard, Kevyn Majoy Howard and Ed O'Ross. The First 45 Minutes is a Masterpiece and then the last 71 minutes, the movie turns into familiar territory with dark humor. But the real surprise is the Conculsion is Strong and Satifysing.
This newly restored DVD is better than the previous DVD Transfer. DVD has an sharp Pan & Scan (1.33:1) transfer and an strong digitally remastered-Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. This is a well made film which it might be far from Kubrick's best films but his elements are here. It's worth viewing. Based on the Novel "The Short-Timers" by Gistav Hasford. Oscar-Nominated Screenplay by Kubrick, Hasford and Micheal Herr. (****/*****).