A Review of Full Metal Jacket

In 1987, a powerful anti-war movie hit theaters. Written and Produced under the guiding hand of Stanley Kubrick, Full Metal Jacket essentially followed the story of two recruits through boot camp and out of training into combat. One recruit becomes a combat journalist. The other, well, provides quite a story, since the movie is based on The Short Timers, a story by Vietnam veteran Gustav Hasford.¹

Full Metal Jacket was intended by Kubrick to be a stinging rebuke of war in general and Vietnam in particular, as Kubrick answers in an interview² with the Washington Post. As before, this rebuke is not readily apparent in the opening of the movie. R. Lee Ermey as the Drill Instructor is recognized by any viewer as an essential stereotype: aggressive, intimidating, a perfect storm of cursing, and the brutal destroyer of anything not worthy of his "Beloved Corps."

The anti-war message of Full Metal Jacket does get through, but anyone watching who is not politically active will not get beyond the explosions, the cursing, the utterly unnerving scene at the end of boot camp, or the sniper scene. The reviewer's personal favorite scene: our reporter, Private Joker, (Matthew Modine) and his assistant are sitting in a helicopter on their way to cover an appearance by Ann Margaret at a forward fire base shortly before the Tet Offensive is fated to begin. The door gunner is firing blindly from the helicopter. He brags of his own personal body count, and when asked how he can shoot women and children as he flies over in a helicopter, he simply replies: "Easy! You just don't lead'em so much!"

Overall, the movie rates very high, but is for adults only. It is, after all, a very graphic war movie. The noticeable undercurrent of political commentary in the movie soured me on a perfect movie, however. In the military, there is a sarcastic expression used by soldiers who know what they're doing is a waste of time - they call the operation they're on a "Mickey Mouse operation." Kubrick is a great director, no doubt. But even with the movie's layered ability to entertain and at the same time, comment on war and politics, the last two minutes of Full Metal Jacket made me wonder if I've just learned something, or simply given a couple of hours to Walt Disney.

If you would like to decide for yourself about Full Metal Jacket, the movie can be obtained for viewing online at these websites:

• Amazon.com The online media powerhouse itself.

• Netflix This site requires a membership.

• MoviesUnlimited.com An up and coming online provider of content.

• Blockbuster Check for discounts on previously viewed copies!

• ITunes. Find it at this site by clicking the word "Movies."

Sources:

1. Gustav Hasford, "The Short Timers.", http://www.gustavhasford.com/short.htm

2. Lloyd Rose, "Stanley Kubrick at a Distance.", Sunday, June 28, 1987, Page F01,
The Washington Post Company, Washington D.C.