Was this an amazing movie!? Yes. Was this unlike any war film we have ever seen?! Also yes. My grandfather was a Drill Sergeant.... I never saw him at this level but I am sure he had the capabilities to verbally shred through people! Thank you for all the support!

I met Gunny about ten yrs ago, he couldn't have been more humble and kind to my wife and I. He was more interested in talking about my military career than his own. He was a great man and will be missed.

My dad was a Vietnam veteran and this was the only war film he ever refused to watch with me or anyone else in my house. He said it was too vivid, accurate and made him sick remembering the awful time he had there.

This movie is easily the most chillingly accurate portrayal of my own experience at Parris Island in 1975. Very little is exaggerated in this movie. My platoon began with 89 and graduated only 41 of the original group. Nothing short of brutal.

R. Lee Ermey (a real-life Drill Instructor) is the only (THE ONLY) actor to ever be allowed to adlib lines of dialogue in a Kubrick film. Thats how PERFECT he is in this role.

R. Lee Ermey, the drill Sargeant, was a real combat and Vietnam Veteran. He stayed in character halfway through the movie. He was a Marine Corps Drill Sargeant from 1961-1972. He passed away in 2018 due to a heart attack at the age of 75.

I saw this movie as a teenager but I don't think I was mature enough to understand how incredibly dark this film is.

“You’re so ugly you could be a modern art masterpiece.” Genius. My favorite line from R. Lee Ermey (RIP).

Vincent D'Onofrio killed it, especially considering this was one of his very first roles.

The reason why it's so uncomfortable for a lot of people is the exact reason this movie is so amazing. It's about as real as it can get with the Interactions, dialogue, what it takes to make a soldier, and the inconvenient truths about war and what it really does do a person both physically and mentally.

Fun Fact: Kubrick shot his entire film in England, outside London. The sniper building is also the same building used for the alien hive in Aliens.

As a veteran I can say without a doubt this move is by far the most accurate war film covering veitnam

“So far, this movie is painting everyone negatively” Welcome to the Vietnam war, kids.

5:00 - He was impressed that he had the guts to stand up to him. That's why he made him Squad Leader. If someone is willing to risk getting beat down for his ideals, he's willing to risk his life in combat.

R Lee Ermey my he rest in peace

During my first week in boot camp, two ambulances waited outside the barracks to take away anyone who couldn't make it. Some passed out it was so physically insane. So, this was quite realistic!

This movie came out before I joined the Marine Corps. Even after watching the bootcamp scene I still ended up joining. What's ironic is that when I was in the Fleet Marine Force, I was sent to 2nd Bn 5th Marines, the same Marine unit in Full Metal Jacket.

They did desensitize us. You couldn't let emotions guide your thinking process. You only reacted to your training. It helped your chances of surviving.

When they beat private "Pyle" in his bed, that was called a "blanket party". It's a very old tradition to let guys who aren't hacking it know they need to change up whatever bad behavior they are in to. Bars of soap wrapped in towels hurts a lot, and does leave bruises...lots of bruises.

I saw this masterpiece in Japan in April 1988, soon after its release. Needless to say the Japanese audience did not get the dialogue of the Senior Drill Instructor. As a result, my American buddy and I were howling with laughter in a silent theater. That I will never forget. Enjoy

And that my friends is the way it was. Tom Boyte Gy. Sgt. USMC, retired Vietnam 65-66/70-71 Bronze Star, Purple Heart 0331/Machine Guns

When I came home from boot camp in early 88 Full Metal Jacket had finally made it to my hometown. My sister asked if I wanted to go see it with her and her bf at the time. We went and the first few minutes of the movie was like a flashback to what I had just left. My sister was slouched down in her seat and her bf was laughing, because I was responding like I was there. Shouting at the top of my lungs "Sir Yes Sir" with the recruits on the screen. It was amazing. My sister did not believe my stories of the training until she watched this movie. It was almost exactly spot on to what I experienced. Will remain one of my favorite movies of all time.

TBR Schmitt happily: "Well he made it to graduation day" Me: "Oh no"

"I was trying to speak to the duality of man, that Jungian thing."-Joker

I strongly suggest watching Ken Burns "The Vietnam War", a ten episode documentary about the war starting from colonial days until the end in 1975. It's brilliant stuff and gives you a great insight about the War and the men and women (US as well as Vietnamese) who fought in it.

The whole theme of this movie is basically "the duality of man". Joker even says that in a line when asked about the peace sign and helmet. It's very much representative of the Vietnam War. America was there to "protect democracy" and save Vietnam, but often committed the most vile atrocities. Joker wears a peace sign and a helmet that read "Born to kill", again the duality of man. Pvt Pyle was a kind-hearted person that became a deranged killer (duality). Even Gunnery Sgt Hartman represents this. He is hard and cruel at times, but it comes from a place of caring. He is turning these "boys" to men, and preparing them for war and the worst experiences anyone could imagine. He is hard because he wants them prepared. You even said after boot camp, "it's like two different movies" (duality). It's also about propaganda, and messaging that brainwashes a population to support wars that are truly hell on Earth, but is sold as this glorious and patriotic heroism. Joker is a reporter, and they are shaping and bending the stories covered to fit the message the military wants to portray.(They have a meeting to discuss how to word what they writing about) However, you see that actual effect of the war as each of the people get more jaded and cold-hearted. Pvt Pyle has a mental breakdown, soldiers shot civilians and mutalate dead enemies, and even when Joker kills the sniper at the end, he has an emotional crisis when he actually has to kill face to face. He realizes the ramifications of the psychological and emotional changes made to him. He became what his helmet said and the Marines/ America created and shaped, someone "Born to Kill". I think the Mickey Mouse song at the end represents good old fashioned innocent Americana. What's more innocent and wholesome as Disney?? These Marines just go about their business singing a child's song after all that violence, as if it just an everyday experience. Life goes on, and America and it's culture, military, and economic empire spreads around the world washing away any horrors committed in the process. This movie is a dark exploration of the human psyche, American culture, the military, and American society as a whole. The more I watch it, the more I discover little gems.

My brother did 2 tours in Vietnam. When he came home he was never the same. He eventually committed suicide. Before he died he told me that of all the Vietnam movies, Apocalypse Now was the most accurate, at least compared to his experience. He was on one of the PBRs (Patrol Boat Riverine) for his first entire tour. I miss him terribly.

The film was a metaphor for the the war itself. No purpose. No resolution. (in the aggregate - not taking away from individual experiences or contributions) Masterful piece of cinema.

This movie always reminds me how much respect I have for my youngest brother who became a Marine.

I actually watched "Full Metal Jacket" for the first time with a group of around 20 other people the night before we all shipped to boot camp (August 2005 -- the height of the Iraq War). The day before you take the oath of enlistment and ship out, the US government puts you up in a hotel nearby the military processing station. And there was about 20 of us and we watched this movie in the hotel lobby or common room, whatever it was. We laughed our asses off at the first half, but at the same time, there was this pervasive thought of "oh sh*t, is this what boot camp is gonna be like tomorrow?" And yes, it is very accurate-- aside from the drill instructors beating the recruits, they can't do that, at least not anymore. Yea, this movie is not like most war movies. There's no real plot or "mission" that needs to be accomplished. It's more of a psychological character study of the dehumanization effects that war can have on the human psyche-- as we see what happens to Gomer Pyle in basic training. And then later in the second half, we see how actual combat can turn men into sociopathic monsters, like Animal Mother. Can you imagine what Animal Mother will be like when he reintegrates back into society?

21:05 - "Very unique, I've never seen anything like that." That's Stanley Kubrick for you........

7:37 You are correct. Putting the soap in a towel still provides pain from swinging it but normally prevents any marks from appearing. Basically there were some (like Joker) who did not want to be involved. But everyone had to be involved so no one could rat anyone out without incriminating themselves.

I saw an interview with R. Lee Ermy and he said when he auditioned for the part, he had some silly dialog to read that never would have been said. He went into full Drill mode and the rest is history.

"How can you shoot women and children?" "Easy... you just don't lead 'em so much!" When I got that joke years later I laughed... and immediately felt terrible for it!

Stanley Kubrick was brilliant

I saw this movie in a theater in Beaufort SC and being 14 miles from Paris Island, it was full of drill instructors. It was an amazing experience.

In the end, in the real end, war is pointless. We fight, we die, we stop. We start again. No one ever truly wins on this tiny little planet where we all must live together, all alone in the night.

What makes this film sensational is that it does not try to create heroes or villains. It just shows the war as it is, the horrible way it is and how it transforms the people who are involved in it.

When I was in college back in the 80s a good friend of mine was a Marine Vietnam veteran M60 gunner who served in 1967-8 who said this was the most accurate movie about the war from his perspective from the basic training to his experiences in the Tet Offensive and Hue City.

I saw this movie in theater with a friend who was in Korea and two tours as an advisor in Vietnam and a Drill Instructor in the Marines during Viet Nam. He didn’t say a word durning the movie or on the drive home, he had a far away look on his face very unlike him. Later that evening he said it was the closest movie he ever saw to being there and experiencing everything from boot camp to coming home. Remember there was no draft for the Marines, (just the Army) so each of these Characters chose to be there.

one thing i'd always wondered was how Pyle managed to smuggle live rounds from the firing range. normally in Basic, the DI's are VERY careful in searching recruits to make sure that none are taken. hell, DI's dont even allow spent cartridges to be taken. however Pyle managed to smuggle all those live rounds back to the barracks without anybody seeing it, he was extremely clever about it.

my best friend is a former Marine. he says this is the best representation of Boot Camp. when i was going thru Air Force Basic Training we used to randomly yell at each other "A JELLY DONUT?!?!?" it was hilarious.

That first scene with seargent Hartman is one of the greatest improvisation scene in cinematic history ! You can't write something that crazy !! Kubrick is a mad genius...

This movie came out just a couple of years after I got out of the Marine Corps. The depiction of Boot Camp was the most realistic of any movie I have seen right up until the end when The Drill Instructor got shot. That was pretty unrealistic. I am glad you reviewed it the way you did. Good Job!!!

I was a kid in the 70’s and 80’s when Vietnam was still fresh… I was really young, but I remember.. Those guys were treated soo bad and it was such an unpopular war and I didn’t completely understand until I saw movies made in the 80’s depicting exactly what happened…being drafted during Vietnam was not like being drafted during WWII, completely different wars and all the movies made about the Vietnam war reflect a reality that’s not very flattering…There is another extremely good Vietnam war movie called Hamburger Hill I’d recommended

Vincent D'Onofrio going from normal dude to insane is amazing acting ! It's like his model for all his future unhinged character in the future like Kingpin in Daredevil or the killer in the Cell !

I think the point of the marines singing the Mickey Mouse song at the end was to remind you that these marines were kids. Six months ago they were graduating from high school.

This movie helped to inspire me to take the Parris Island challenge back in 1996. Best decision I ever made.

Seeing bits of this over years, I finally watched it from start 2 finish in lockdown. Absolutely blew me away! It felt so modern, so relevant 2day!

Hamburger Hill should be on your watch list. It usually gets overlooked because of this film and Platoon, but according to my father, a Nam vet, it was the most realistic movie about the war that he's seen.

I am 61 years old. I had a friend in the early 1980's who was a Chopper pilot in Vietnam and the stories he told me were chilling. I have never served but I have GREAT RESPECT for all those who did. THANK YOU and God Bless.

I've met R Lee Ermy (the Drill Instructor) he was a great contributor to so many veteran and Marine Corps programs. Really nice guy, RIP. My Marine Dad actually fought at Hue City which was the urban battle they fought in this movie. He went to boot camp at the Marine Corps recruiting depot in San Diego in 1968 and he told me that this movie was so incredibly accurate, the DIs were even meaner back then he said, they could beat them. He showed this movie to me before I went to talk to a recruiter to join the Marines after I aged out of the Young Marines LMFAO he thought it would scare me but it just made me want to do it more. My Dad died in 2017 of Agent Orange that he was exposed to during the war. Semper Di do or Die!!!!

I highly recommend "Paths of Glory" from Stanley Kubrick too. It's one of his earlier movies, from the 50's, black & white, stars Michael Douglas' dad; Kirk Douglas(they look and sound almost the same!) and it is one of the best war movies ever also, set in WW 1. It still holds up to this day beautifully and it's probably Kubrick's shorter film; under 1,5 hours.

This movie was released shortly after I was discharged from the USMC. The boot camp scene's brought me back to that time, such great detail put into those scenes. When I went through boot, my Senior drill instructor's was a Vietnam vet on his last cycle . Semper Fi!!!!!

The movie was meant to be an anti war movie but ironically it became credited for the surge of new volunteers for the Marines

I fell upon your channel by accident today, and this was the first video I saw. You guys gave an excellent review. This movie has been a huge part of my life, and it's always great to see people really appreciate it.

This is the most important war film ever. It is uniquely focused on how war changes people and dehumanizes us. All it does is ask questions, it doesn’t really suggest answers, and that’s a mark of true art in my mind.

Notice how the moment Joker shoots the sniper, his peace scene becomes obscured by his jacket. I remember someone pointing that out to me, cool detail.

5:18 This obstacle is so intimidating when you first see it, especially if you are afraid of heights. Eventually, you can literally throw yourself over the other side and control your fall with your arm strength on the way down.

watching people watch a kubrick movie is almost better than the movie. the emotional reactions in a span of seconds is incredible

R Lee Ermey visited my unit while I was in Iraq in 2003. Very nice guy. Really just liked to bring everyone up around him. Good review!

I'll give you two reasons why this is my favorite Vietnam film, R. Lee Ermey and Vincent D'Onofrio.

We actually watched this in Media Class in grade 10. I immediately went to the mall at lunch that day and bought the VHS. Amazing film.

R. Lee Ermey, the actor playing the Drill Seargeant, was a real life Drill Seargeant before he started acting. He originally was brought to the set as an advisor to Kubrick but convinced the director to play the role himself by showing him a video of him swearing and yelling uninterrupted for minutes while being shot at with tennis balls.

This one, Platoon and Apocalypse Now. The 3 important movies about the Vietnam War.

I had a friend who went to Vietnam. He was a mechanic and spent his entire time there in a city repairing vehicles for the army.

Just discovered your channel and I love your content. Full Metal Jacket is a favorite of mine but not one I watch often because of how dark it is. It leaves the viewer in a strange mood. Full Metal Jacket is very much an anti war film. Its very effective. I would love to see you both react to First Blood. Keep up the great content.

It was not until after my father died in March of 2020 that my family told me what happened when he came home from Vietnam after loosing 5 friends there... Both of my aunts went to pick up him at the local international airport, when he got off the plane in his dress uniform (that is all he and most other soldiers had), and my two aunts had to shield him all the way out to the car from all the demonstrators trying to spit on him. He was drafted, he served, he managed to survive, and it helped ruin the rest of his life... I had heard about spitting incidents happening to other soldiers, I had no idea it happened to my own father.

4:36 That trash can toss is my favorite part of this whole movie. It never fails to make me laugh.

Fun Fact: The gunner in the helicopter was supposed to be the original Drill Sargent. But the guy who played the DS in the movie was a real DS. Edit: Sorry I meant DI not DS.

Private Gomer Pyle was played by Vincent D'onofrio. D'onofrio was from Law and Order Criminal Intent as well as playing Kingpin in the new DareDevil series. He was also the alien roach in the first Men in Black movie.

Pledge from those fortunate enough to make it through Drill Sergeant School in the 1960's: "Let no man die on the battlefield because you, his drill sergeant, failed to train him properly." I was a twenty-year-old Drill Sergeant after returning from Vietnam. I was only one of fifteen of the original 42 sergeants that began the class. I am 73 years old today and I have never forgotten that pledge or the twenty-two platoons of 50 men each I trained back then. It was one of the most important jobs I ever held. God Bless the men and women that protect our country today for without them, we lose everything.

This movie has always left that uncomfortably dark feeling inside. Even though, I've watched it a number of times. Speaking of journalism and the military, you should watch "Good Morning Vietnam" based on a true story of a radio jock who is assigned to the U.S. Armed Services radio station in Vietnam and really shakes things up. Starring the incomparable Robin Williams.

My dad was in the army during Vietnam, served mostly in Korea as an ambulance driver. Forbid my sister and I from ever joining an armed service because, in his words, you're selling body and soul to the government and he didn't want his kids to be slaves. It's a lot different today, but his words still echo in my heart. This shit made good soldiers, but terrible human beings. Vincent DiNofrio is so amazing as Private Pyle. Such a great actor.

Rest In Peace R. Lee Ermey. We will always remember and honor you. SIR YES SIR!!!!

The first 45 minutes Pyle story arc is incredible, the final 35 minute sniper scene amazing as well. I often wish the first 45 was just a short film.

Most accurate portrayal of how training was during the Vietnam era, training was cut short and the classes were doubled in size. These Drill Instructors would definitely lay hands on you for some Corrective Action during those days

The drill instructor having a good recruit teach one that's struggling is perfectly normal. This happens all the time in boot camp. There are always going to be recruits that lag behind. But it's also the drill instructor's job to make sure everyone passes recruit training. Obviously, this doesn't always happen for one reason or another. Still, a drill instructor is going to do everything they can to help a recruit get through boot camp.

This movie is unique not because of the war it portrays but how it's portrayed. This is all due to Stanley Kubrick direction, a genius of movie making.

trivia about this film - was originally going to be called 'shove tuesday'

The Drill Sergeant scene is amazing!

My step-dad was drafted for Vietnam and he says this kind of training was pretty standard. To break you and re-make you. Not always for the better.

In combat, there’s no time for, “that a boy” and these maggots will then know what stress is really about.

"Hes got so many more bullets", 19 more to be exact.

Billy Wilder, one of the greatest filmmakers that ever lived, said that the first 40 minutes of Full Metal Jacket is the greatest movie ever made. Hard to argue that one.

There’s a theory out there that Pvt. Pyle and Animal Mother are actually the same person. Pyle’s “suicide” is supposed to represent him being “reborn hard” and turning into the killing machine that is Animal Mother. It also kinda explains why Joker and Animal Mother already kinda seem to know each other.

My dad is involved with the Young Marines program. He and one of his friends in the program visited Las Vegas a few years back and got to meet Mr. Ermey.....my dad said he was a super nice guy, very patriotic.....the real deal!

The Man that played the role of Gunnery Sargent Hartman, R. Lee Ermey was actually there at first as a Marine Drill Sargent consultant...but the original actor lost his voice, and since he knew most of the part...he fit right in! What you see in the film is Gunnery Sargent Ermey at his best!

Stanley Kubrik the director made an anti-war movie. That's why its so dark and there are no heroics.

Apocalypse Now should be on your list. Nominated for 8 Academy Awards. Won for Cinematography and Sound. Platoon is another classic Vietnam movie. It won 4 Academy Awards. Best Picture/Best director/Sound/Editing.

I recommend the movie "Come And See" directed by Soviet filmmaker Elem Klimov. It shows the war highly accurate and drastic from eastern europe perspective through the eyes of two children.

You two should really watch "Casualties of War ". It's based on a true story, and is another Vietnam war movie. While not very well known, and not a box office hit, it has stood out over time and received a lot of critical acclaim. Stars Michael J. Fox and Sean Penn in some of their earliest roles - and they do it amazingly. De Palma invited Steven Spielberg to a private screening of the film, and after the screening ended, Spielberg said to Columbia Pictures executive Dawn Steel, "You'll be thinking about this for a week."

Everyone remembers the first part so well because it was so iconic , second part is so different from the first part that it feels like two different movies.

Lawrence Of Arabia, Bridge On The River Kwai and Come And See are three war films I cannot recommend enough.

so many great sound bytes from this movie used in music... 'me so horny' saw sampled in 2 Live Crew's song of the same name and Sir-Mix-A-Lot's 'Baby Got Back'.. 'get up get on your feet' and 'you will not kill' and 'I can't hear you' used in 'Thieves' by Ministry

The Tet offensive (the attack) and the battle of Hue (the urban warfare) were the turning point of the Vietnam war.

Back in the 90's you could walk into any Marine Corps barracks and find this movie and the movie Sniper on vhs floating around.also Heart break Ridge.

Most Marines, including myself will tell you that the favorite parts of the movie was the boot camp scenes and I watched it for the first time while stationed in the Philippines with a theater full of Marines which made it that much more fun. The Drill Instructor actually used to be a Marine Drill Instructor when he used to be on active duty. The crazy machine gunner inside of the helicopter was originally supposed to play the part of the D.I. Much of the sayings, the set-up, etc. of boot camp is right on the money, but people have to realize that it was a different era (i.e. during the Vietnam war) so much of the physical abuse and the outright cursing doesn't really happen anymore and you have 3-5 Drill Instructors whom seem to see and hear everything in real life.

The biggest thing missing from this review was the incredible music that accompanied it. and really NO comment about it. the music from this film is as epic as the film.

Stanley Kubrick’s major theme in his movies was the dehumanization of man. This movie stresses that theme the most. I always thought it ironic that the drill sergeant’s surname was Hartman. Trivia: this movie was filmed in England as Kubrick had a fear of flying. The palm trees were imported in from other countries.