The entire first half of the movie was mostly unscripted. R. Lee Ermey was an actual drill instructor with years of experience. Once they decided to put him in the movie, they just let him "do his thing" and film it. The results were absolutely incredible. This is why most Marines will state that the "basic training" scenes in this movie were more realistic than any other movie. R.I.P. R. Lee Ermey.

That's about how it was. I served 20 years in the Marine Corp and two combat tours in Vietnam. The first tour as a machine gunner (0331) in 1965-66 and the second as a Platoon commander (0369) in 1970-71. I retired after 20 years and had a 30 year career as a California police officer ( Marin County). What I learned in the Marine Corps has helped me all my life. I highly recommend it to anyone needing direction and wishing to learn self discipline . Tom Boyte GySgt. USMC, retired Bronze Star, Purple Heart

The buzz cut at the beginning of the movie served two purposes. It did take away their individuality and it also was a health measure. There were many men, usually 40 or 50 in a platoon, and they were in close quarters. It prevents lice from spreading through the unit.

I am ex army. In the military before the 1990s, the goal of drill sergeants was to remove people from service, to see how mentally weak they were. So the way the drill sergeant treated them, in my mind, was quite accurate. Our basic training class started with 240 guys. About 100 graduated.

R. Lee Ermey who played the drill sargent was originally just a technical advisor for this movie, but he had such a commanding presence and funny says that they gave him a part in the movie... RIP R. Lee Ermey, he really added a lot of needed realism.

Love how much you guys loved that opening scene! It's a jaw dropper if you've never seen it before!

I was in the army for a decade. This was pretty much my basic training experience.

Joker and Pyle (Matthew Modine and Vincent D'Onofrio) were good friends and Matt got the job for Vincent (he was working as a bouncer and trying to find acting jobs). The rest is history.

The scene where Joker shots the Sniper is supposed to show the moment Joker gets the thousand yard stare.

The role that put R Lee Ermey in the spotlight and solidified his career. He wrote most of his own dialogue and ALL of the demotivational lines. He was an actual drill instructor in the Marines and I would love to see some real footage of him when he was training real cadets. His role isn’t so much acting (in this movie) as it is just him being a real drill instructor for the camera. 😂 He was amazing. He is definitely missed. He can do serious roles like he did in the movie Se7en and hilariously funny roles like in Saving Silverman.

One of the very interesting things that is unsaid about this film is the way it portrays a very real program that the US Military ran from 1966 to 1971 called Project 100,000...Private Pyle is clearly meant to represent it, though Kubrick and D'Onofrio have never specifically stated that, as far as I can find. As more and more US troops were sent to Vietnam, the DoD calculated that they would not have enough to both escalate the war and meet their needs elsewhere. So Project 100,000 was initiated to see if the normal standards for IQ and physical/mental fitness to be inducted into the US Military could be broadened at all...to see if people who did not meet the old standards could still be turned into useful soldiers/sailors/airmen/Marines etc....the program was variously nicknamed "McNamara's Folly" "McNamara's Morons" and "McNamara's Misfits." 🖖💯✌

It's not shown in this movie, but you have a few different Drill Instructors in Marine boot camp. The Senior Drill Instructor is the "nice" Drill Instructor (Gunny Hartman here is the Senior Drill Instructor). Due to time constraints, they wouldn't be able to show all 3 or 4 drill instructors doing their own thing in their own way in this movie, so Senior Drill Instructor GySgt Hartman embodies them all for dramatic purposes. A Drill Instructor is pretty much never a Gunnery Sergeant, but R. Lee Ermey, a retired Marine who actually did spend time as a drill instuctor, at the time had the rank of Gunny, so that's the rank he played in the movie. Normally it's Sergeants and Staff Sergeants (and VERY rarely Corporals), and Gunnery Sergeants are the Company Gunny. Back to what I was talking about though, The Senior Drill Instructor is the "nice" one you ABSOLUTELY don't want to upset, then you have your over the top mean as fuck Drill Instructor, and one that's still mean, but a little more loose and makes jokes a lot (but if you laugh at those jokes, you'll pay hard). It's a formula. The comedy from these drill instructors is intentional. One of my favorite threats from Drill Instructor Sgt Bishop was "oh you want to play games? I've got more games than Milton Bradley" lol. If you laugh, you're screwed. It's a way to teach you to maintain discipline regardless of the situation. I've always found this part of the movie fairly realistic, but nowhere near as bad as it can get in real life boot camp sometimes. It was honestly worse than this depiction when I was in Marine boot camp in 1993, but they didn't show some of the more extreme shit in this movie (other than punching Joker in the gut and choking Pyle). I love that you guys found Hartman's lines funny, cuz that's how it is, it can get hilarious, but YOU CAN'T LAUGH lol. So hard not to do

Check out Platoon, written and directed by Oliver Stone, based on his experience in Vietnam. Great movie and stacked cast. Most vets of that war say most realistic depiction.

I know you are both interested in the American Civil War also. I would reccomend two for your enjoyment. "Glory", and "Gettysburgh". Please take them into consideration. Both are well done and thought provoking. Thanks and Enjoy! 😁

Oh yes the dualities of the universe life and war. Much like joker's peace symbol and born to kill writings this entire movie is ambiguous and vague. A masterpiece

Animal Mother was actually the best most real soldier...even telling the reporters, how to win the war.

What I like about full metal jacket reactions is that some people are completely horrified by the drill sergent but other people like you two (and me) find him and that scene hilarious

I always assumed that Pvt. Pyle was one of the so called "McNamara's Morons", which was a goverment program around that time trying to find a place and meaning to those lacking in intellect, in the service of the military. The idea was that the military lifestyle would teach them the vital skills they would need to survive in life. Pyle wasn't exactly the "sharpest tool in the shed".

M-16s were notorious for jamming (feed jams especially). That's why they would bang the magazines against their helmets; to make sure the first round was seated all the way to the back of the magazine.

The opening scene is one of the most iconic in movie history. Matthew Modine (Joker) and Vincent D'Onofrio (Pyle) were friends before the movie was made. In fact, Modine helped D'Onofrio get the part of Pyle.

Great reaction, in breaking down the movie into 2 parts. I went through Basic Training, and you have to go into it with a positive attitude. We had 2 people in our group, that had no clue what was going on, and they washed out (flunked out) of Basic Training. Basically, they were what we called, "momma boys," and never took responsibility for themselves or their actions.

The sad part about the beginning of this movie is that Joker, and Gomer Pyle, and the other guys were most likely draftees. Last time I saw this movie, I didn't believe the Marines drafted anybody, but I looked it up and found that during the Vietnam war the Marines did indeed draft people at times.

Joker had no choice but to participate. If he didnt take part, he could have been used as a witness to what happened, which means he could've been their next target.

I apparently had an uncle that return from Vietnam, never spoke another word the rest of his life. I never knew my father or his family directly, only through stories my mother told me, or genealogy online. I still believe the politicians at that time had no intention of ever winning that war. Quite the opposite.

the drill instructor was a real DI and he ad-libbed all his lines

I don't find the first part particularly hilarious although I understand what you mean, but find it increasingly oppressive as it moves on and the second part feels like an isolated apocalypse. It's a brilliant film in which the writer/director is revealing war as absolute madness.

What you have to understand is not everyone is cut out for being broken down and them built back up for the services. Some people break and that's what happened here.

Another military related movie that I think you will enjoy is Men of Honor. It is based on a true story and stars some great actors.

The fact that you loved the training scenes so much is funny to me because that for sure traumatized me as a child

The soap in the towel they are giving Pyle a blanket party

Agreeing with Bob Freiday. I served in the US Marine Corps and this is the most honest and true rendition of USMC boot camp - I have ever seen in a movie. My drill instructors said most of these words - and it was not uncommon for the DI to holler (when needing a volunteer) "Give me one motivated baby-killer!" - sadly - I remember responding once "Sir, one motivated baby-killer reporting as ordered Sir!" Not my proudest moment - but what they are teaching 17 year old kids to believe :(

the gunner in the helicopter was going to be the Drill Instector until R Lee Ermey took the role

What a fun video, i've never seen anyone enjoy this movie so much before. I'm going to check your channel for other videos i might like, i think this will be a fun ride through your past videos.

Vincent D'Onofrio in this film showed everyone, how much range and dynamics he has as an actor!

This lady is absolutely beautiful.. is she a sister? Cousin? Both of you are good souls.

If you liked this film, the first film Lee Ermey was in is called "The Boys in Company C" Its worth watching.

This movie is very different from other American War movies. Mostly because there is NO patriotic mythologizing. Makes it feel more real. Scared the shit out of me the first time I saw it. Doc J's death was awful.

It is because of this movie I have personally used "If it Short-Dicks every Cannibal on the Congo* in my life 😂😂😂

I love how she drones on and on. You guys are too funny. Love this

Full metal jacket is a great film but if you want to watch the best Vietnam war film and probably the best war film of all time ( until saving private ryan came along ) then watch " Platoon " won a few Oscars and had a very young Charlie Sheen and Jonny Depp in it , very tense very gritty , very realistic

This guy giggling is hilarious 😂.

This film although well done is not a good representation of how this war progressed or how it became a real tragedy for Americans. A better film reflection of the War in Vietnam is the motion picture 'Platoon' directed and written by Oliver Stone.

As of 2023, this remains my favorite Vietnam War film to date.

This is where, 2 Live Crew, got the line for their song, Ahh me so hourny, Me Love u Long Time!

brilliant introduction from her... just great.

Younmentioned that "He came" but we had a draft at the time which compelled young men to enter the military against their will. it is highly unlikely that Pvt Pyle volunteered.

4"57 - The guy that played the drill Sargent was actually a MARINE drill Sargent and that is the only position he tried for. Another thing his lines were not scripted. The director just told him what they wanted and followed his actions with the camera.

I see why y'all were laughing so hard. This scene always makes my day even though I had to endure something like it in Navy bootcamp. R.Lee Ermey made this movie unforgettable with his Don Ricklesesque put downs. FMJ has withstood the test of time because of the Gunny, and I believe it will be a classic long after I am gone.

damn this reaction and the good parts where taken out especially basic training beginning scene

I like this man's sense of humor lol

What a refreshing review!

Pyle is an example of real soldiers who were recruited for the Vietnam War after US Secretary of Defence MacNamara lowered the educational standards for admission into the Army and Marines so that young men could be recruited from hospitals and special schools for the mentally handicapped. Thousands were signed up by recruiting sergeants who didn't understand what they were signing, and really weren't capable of fighting, because their situational awareness and reaction times were too poor. They hardly knew why they were there or what they were supposed to be doing, and they suffered a terrible casualty rate as the result. The reason was because the US Congress had agreed a law to conscript a set number of young men every year - the draft - and they needed more than that because US casualties turned out to be higher than expected, leaving units shorthanded unless extra "volunteers" could be found somehow. Asking for a larger draft would have looked bad, and risked refusal by Congress, as well as signalling to the world that the US was losing. So poor educationally subnormal/mentally handicapped/retarded/learning difficulties/special needs - whatever euphemism is imposed - were sacrifced for the sake of MacNamara and President Johnson's careers.

My favourite Nam movie is Apocalypse Now and my favourite Kubrick film is A Clockwork Orange.

I am writing this to help out the loud guys and this video and this channel with the algorithm ✌️❤️😚☺️

the Vietnam war movie you must watch that is focused on the Vietnam war is "Platoon"

During the Vietnam era, it was illegal to strike a trainee and racial slurs were totally forbidden, Sgt. Hartman was an amusing sadist who drove an unfit trainee to madness, murder, and suicide.

In bootcamp they are trying to break you down to then build you up to be one cohesive unit. Pyle was a slacker and the whole platoon was being punished every time he made mistakes. I served myself. Messing up isn't an issue. Not trying or caring and messing up is serious. Because it's a direct correlation to the battlefield. You not caring and messing up kills someone. It's not just your life, but your platoon's as well.

Great reaction ya'll 😄. Great Vietnam movies to react to: Apocalypse Now Platoon and Tropic Thunder 😁

This whole movie was filmed in England

Marines.

A Stanley Kubrick film...any of his are great! This is not a true story but does show the insanity of wars, particularly the wars, where no one really knows, why they are fighting. The best of these types are Catch 22, Paths of Glory(Kubrick) hamburger hill, Platoon, Heaven and Earth, and the most satyrical two--- Apocalypse Now, and the masterpiece, Dr. Strangelove.

I love your guys reaction!

Another great Vietname War movie is Apocalypse Now.

Yeah we had people when I was in Basic Training literally snap.

You should check out The Deer Hunter. Great movie about how war effects people.

watch Saving Private Ryan next......it made vets cry....war is hell.

Other great war movies are We Were Soldiers and Lone Survivor

The best Vietnam War movie is Apocalypse Now. You should watch it.

Private "Pyle" is a reference to Gomer Pyle, a TV character from the sixties

Peter Griffin does the best version of, Surfin Bird!

It's so Indian.

Gunny was a great guy. Got to meet him once.

Watch Indian version of Full metal jacket its name was tanakkaran tamil film .

You might like Passchendaele 2008.

Watch The Sands of Iwo Jima. Semper Fi also Kelly's Heroes

I'm sure you know that he was an actual drill sergeant....I have a friend who is a drill sergeant who is the sweetest guy ...but I've never seen him In action I don't want to

There was a draft in the Vietnam war

This was a good reaction! Thank you for sharing with us! When will you upload the "The two Tower" movie, from "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, reaction?

To hear it from former marines to be a good drill instructor you have to be part tyrant and part stand up comedian to come up with the creative insults.

Kubrick is my favorite

Television and technology: Vietnam would be the time period. That visualization changed. If one civilian is killed on camera. Has more weight. Than hundreds of thousands of civilians killed off camera.

I love this dude

People were forced to join the army, not everyone wanted to be there.

Private Pyle was broken that’s what caused him to snap but he was likely someone who wasn’t psychologically fit to even be sent into combat. Joker made the comment about the phony tough himself and the crazy brave Animal Mother. Joker talked a big game but pushed he wasn’t as tough as he thought he was. You should read up on Project 100,000 in which men were drafted who weren’t mentally or psychologically fit for the military. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_100,000

I think you guys mistakenly thought this movie was a comedy

another movie i totallly got wrong i never thought this was a comedy:)

Have you two reacted or seen Platoon? If not, consider responding to that movie.

probably wasn't think of that kind of motivation

Mu pops told me yeah ot was that way. What happened? Im embarrassed by what things become.

Watch Braveheart you'll love it 😁

17:15 if you arent picturing peter griffin right now.....your wrong

Greetings from Finland!!! You should definitely check out JFK movie by Oliver Stone it's based on the facts that were known to be true about the case by 1991!!! "I'll be back" 😎

It’s not the army!! It’s the Marines

Yesssss

To hit a moving target, you have to shoot ahead of it. The faster the target, the further ahead of it you must shoot. This is called "Leading the target". He asked the helicopter doorgunner, "How can you shoot women and children?!?". The guy answered, "It's easy... you just don't lead them so much"... meaning they don't run as fast as the men. He didn't take the question as "How can you do such a terrible thing?", he took it as "How do you do it?"

i like your shirts

welcome to basic mk ultra

1. There are always more than one CC in boot camp (at least in the Navy) where partially recruits can't be abused. Verbal abuse is one thing but physical was a NO GO. 2. Vincent D'Onofrio played the Bug in MIB and had to put on 50lbs for this role 3. Hardman was out of control. Others outside his recruits would have noticed and he would have been held accountable. 4. "I don't know, but I've been told. Eskimo pussy is mighty cold." was used in my Navy recruit company in 1981. 5. In the US Navy real live ammo was always accounted for, and Pyle wouldn't have had it on his person in the head. 6. The lights in the head are always lit. (lighting I suspect). 7. "Blanket parties" were a real deal. We didn't have one because we didn't have a Gomer Pyle. 8. The hooker in Saigon is just distracting them so the motorcycle guys can steal the camera. I saw that happen in the Philippines. 9. Favorite character: Mother because he's nutz 🤪 10. Even by Hollywood standards, Kubrick went overboard with excessive bloodletting.

This is the U.S. Marine Corps.. not the ARMY! 😎

This was my Gramps favorite movie. He was a hard nosed WW2 veteran. This is my rifle! This is my gun!