Review of Full Metal Jacket (1987) by Eric M — 28 Apr 2015

It's first half is definitely stronger than its second half, Kubrick clearly a bit out of his element filming combat zones encumbered by some awkward dialogue, but the entire film is a remarkably effective indictment of the Vietnam War and the destruction of youth by the U.

S. military industrial complex. The hoo-rah Marine Corps mystique comes under fire in particular, with a stunning analysis of the mental and emotional breakdown of recruits at Paris Island, with some harrowing twists and turns (fired by a remarkable depiction of drill sergeants).

The Vietnam act suffers from Kubrick's obvious struggle in effectively filming combat zones and firefights, but his narrative is constructed so well in its bleakness and despair that it doesn't matter too much.

Juxtaposition of period rock music is unsettling as well. An excellent example of an anti-war-film-film, it may not quite reach the heights of "The Thin Red Line" in deconstruction of the genre, but it doesn't fall short by that much.

Necessary viewing for those who seriously want to consider the dehumanizing nature of war.