Mind-blowing war drama

Rating: 8/10 (15 September 2003)

Full Metal Jacket isn't the best overall Vietnam movie but it does the best job of capturing a Marine's journey from Boot camp to the Nam. The first half of the movie, set in the Marine training barracks of Parris Island, are spellbinding in their power and raw brutality. This movie is not for the faint of heart and makes you glad you didn't join the Corps. R. Lee Ermey is perfect as Gunnery Sargent Hartman, a role he used to fill in real life. Although he has proven himself a capable actor in later roles, this is the role that put him on the map and it remains his signature and best character. Matthew Modine plays the protaganist Pvt. Joker with grace, humor and humility. Versatile actor/God Vincent D'Onofrio plays Pvt. Pyle with such skill that his performance is painful to watch at times. The rest of the supporting cast is great as well. Kubrick takes on the war genre with skill and turns out a true masterpiece. He is probably one of the greatest directors ever. Bottom Line: If you like war movies and you haven't seen Full Metal Jacket, I pity you. Go buy it. You won't want to give it back if you rent it.