Full Metal Jacket

Rating: 10/10 (30 April 2020)

Stanley Kubrick delivers a film that makes a huge statement about war, the dehumanization of man, the duality of man, and the descent madness. Full Metal Jacket is unlike any other war film, as it blends humour with the harsh reality of what war does to a man. It is a film of two halves, both showing the decension into madnes, how man becomes an animal, and how psychologically tortured a man is, after boot camp and actual war. Full Metal Jacket really isnt about the Vietnam war, it is about the loss of indulviduality and human quality, to fit a system, which can be applied to more than just this specific topic. Kubrick'w use of Black humour is perfect. As the drill instructor degrading of the recruits in the first half of the film, shows the glamorfication of the destruction of a man's humanity. The second act shows the duality of "Joker", as he represents the duality of man, by maintaing some of his indulviduality, but with killer instincts. At the end of the second act, he kills a young girl, causing him to now lose his humanity, pulling him into his molded form of programmed killer. "Pyle"' and "Animal Mother", display the theme of the duality of man as well, as "Pyle" was coming close to becoming the ultimate marine, "Animal Mother", but ends up killing Sgt. Hartman, and himself. While "Animal Mother", was what he was on the way to becoming. A killer with sense of individuality or humanity. This film operates on many thematic levels. Also showing man becoming what it hates, and descending into its evil side. Technically, this film is great, with stellar cnematography and editing, along with the soundtrack.
The performances are great, especially the realistic portrayal from R. Lee Ermey. Full Metal Jacket also has a theme of childhood, teenage years, and cultural influence. As well the idea of connection between sexual frustration and violence. This film could be perceived as Kubrick's critique of old fashioned american ideals and culture. Essentially, the marines are brainwashed, and Hartman uses things like Religon, sex, and the marines. The use of religon to justify killing, the use of sexual insults to implement frustration, to then awake violent urges, and connect violence and sex. Like Full Metal Jacket is a masterpiece. Stanley Kubrick is genius