Something about the duality of man

Rating: 9/10 (9 August 2019)

Kubrick strikes again with a great, fun and genius film about this wild and nightmarish thing called war. Just like with some of his previous films like Paths of Glory or even A Clockwork Orange, Kubrick is not a director that gives a focus on facts but instead empasizes on the effect on human nature. In Full Metal Jacket, we carefully see how war targets at gradually dehumanizing every bit out of a human being. We want killers!

The first act is a clear example of that, with a private being the tragic victim of the sickness of war. I have to admit I loved the first act, because it is fun and funny but at th same time it rips my heart and challenged my mind. The characters are brilliant to watch, the humour is so spot-on and there is so much meaning behind everything. The introducton scene is probably my favourite Kubrick intro ever. The clever use of the song, the symbolism behind the idea of it, the first look to our characters who lose a part of themsleves even rom the first scene.

Now, the second act might be really slow-paced and kind of all over the place, but it is as meaningful as the first act. Our main character, Joker, though being a soldier, has maintained his morality and personality, he is not cold and still has not become a complete war machine, thuswe have the perfectly placed and written "something about the duality of man" scene. He has a heart, he cares for life. And then we see him fail to keep going like that, he has to comromise to the brutality of war and beocme a killer, a man born to kill, a war weapon and completely lose his individuality and character traits and morals.
The second act might be hard to follow, because of the lack of fast-pacing and humour, but it really takes the story to a meaningful finale and we are lead to a realisation about the cruelty of war and how it forcefully transfers a human into a war ultra killing machine. Just take a look at the first and last scene and you can see the transformation

Perect camera move, even greater cenmatography, realistic sets and the soundtrack is a blast.

One of the most meanigful and important war films ever.