Two movies merged into one, but only the first is a Kubrick's one.

Rating: Null/10 (27 May 1999)

If you watch the first half of Full Metal Jacket without previous information about this movie but you know Stanley Kubrick's work, you will perceive that's this is one of his movies. But you watch only the second half of the movie, you'll think is a Vietnam shorter-version of Thin Red Line.
The boot camp of Parris Island is like the hell in earth. R. Lee Hermey, as GySgt. Hartman is the devil. The training is like torture. The environment is torturing. Poor marine recruits. If Kubrick had filmed just this half of the movie, it would have been one of the greatest anti-war movies ever made. In Brazil, 18-years boys are obliged to present to the army to serve for one year. After watching Full Metal Jacket, one can't admit this passively.
The second half of the movie could be another movie. A much worse one. It shows some of the former recruits in battle at Vietnam. It's a bit like Save Private Ryan, a bit like Thin Red Line. But if you want to watch a good war movie showing a battle field go to Apocalypse Now. The only scene really worthy are the one with the Vietcong female soldier hidden in a building try to kill a full bunch of soldier, one at a time and Private Joker with the 'Born to Kill' message in his helmet and a pacifist button attached to his cloth.
It's pretty unfair to say that Kubrick hasn't done a great work. But if you want to see the autentic Kubrick's work, you'd rather watch Dr. Strangelove or Paths of Glory. Those are great, if not the greatest, anti-war movies.