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Full Metal Jacket (1987)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
26 June 1987 (USA) moreTagline:
An Epic Story of the Vietnam War [Australia Theatrical] morePlot:
A pragmatic U.S. Marine observes the dehumanizing effects the Vietnam War has on his fellow Marine recruits from their brutal basic training to the bloody street fighting set in 1968 Hue, Vietnam. full summary | full synopsisAwards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 5 wins & 5 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(26 articles)
Matthew Modine: The Hollywood Interview (From The Hollywood Interview. 2 November 2009, 10:20 AM, PST)
Artists Celebrate Stanley Kubrick in Dublin
(From Cinematical. 2 October 2009, 11:32 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
A Movie that you will always wonder about more (531 total)Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Matthew Modine | ... | Pvt. Joker | |
| Adam Baldwin | ... | Animal Mother | |
| Vincent D'Onofrio | ... | Pvt. Pyle | |
| R. Lee Ermey | ... | Gny. Sgt. Hartman (as Lee Ermey) | |
| Dorian Harewood | ... | Eightball | |
| Kevyn Major Howard | ... | Rafterman | |
| Arliss Howard | ... | Pvt. Cowboy | |
| Ed O'Ross | ... | Lt. Touchdown | |
| John Terry | ... | Lt. Lockhart | |
| Kieron Jecchinis | ... | Crazy Earl | |
| Kirk Taylor | ... | Payback | |
| Tim Colceri | ... | Doorgunner | |
| Jon Stafford | ... | Doc Jay (as John Stafford) | |
| Bruce Boa | ... | Poge Colonel | |
| Ian Tyler | ... | Lt. Cleves |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
116 minColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 moreCertification:
Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Italy:VM14 (re-rating on appeal) | Italy:VM18 (original rating) | Portugal:M/16 | UK:15 (2007 Re-rating) | Canada:18A (DVD rating) | Hungary:18 | Brazil:16 | Ireland:15 (2007 Re-rating) | Malaysia:U | UK:15 (re-rating) | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 (original rating) | France:U (re-rating) | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Israel:16 | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:18 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Vietnam:(Banned) | West Germany:16Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Former US Marine Corps Drill Instructor R. Lee Ermey was not originally hired to play Gunnery Sgt. Hartman but as a consultant for the Marine Corps boot camp portion of the film. He performed a demonstration on videotape in which he yelled obscene insults and abuse for 15 minutes without stopping, repeating himself or even flinching - despite being continuously pelted with tennis balls and oranges. Stanley Kubrick was so impressed that he cast Ermey as Gunnery Sgt. Hartmann. moreGoofs:
Anachronisms: A modern communications tower is visible in a shot of a helicopter taking off after they enter the city and it is being strafed by the tanks. Occurs during the scene of them being filmed by the film crew while they are sitting down waiting for orders. moreQuotes:
[first lines]Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: I am Gunnery Sergeant Hartman, your senior drill instructor. From now on you will speak only when spoken to, and the first and last words out of your filthy sewers will be sir. Do you maggots understand that?
Recruits: Sir, yes sir!
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Bullshit I can't hear you. Sound off like you got a pair.
Recruits: SIR, YES SIR!
more
Soundtrack:
Chapel Of Love moreFAQ
A Note Regarding SpoilersIs this movie based on a novel?
Why does Sgt. Hartman call Pvt. Lawrence "Gomer Pyle"?
more
more (531 total)
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"Full Metal Jacket" is one of the legends of any service person in basic training. As a young recruit in the Army, we talked about it, and we talked about it further and it is one of those movies that you always find something new to say about. The beginning, the young men come to be trained as "killers." And it is at this point where you may realize later that not everyone is meant to be in the military, example, Leonard (Pyle.) He is a nice kid with probably a good sense of humor, probably liked among for his sense of humor and would have done better in college, but instead is in the Marine Corp where he does not fit in well. Then you have Hartman (excellent portrayal by Gunny Ermy) who has the heartless job of making killers out of these young men. It is here that you question if he is truly mean spirited or is doing what he knows he has to do by being as hard as he can so that these young men will survive the horrors of war. This is a point that I think is sometimes missed. Joker, a rather smart young man, attempts to take Leonard under his wing and the two become friends until Leonard messes up and is given a "blanket party" by the rest of the platoon. Hartman is the reason for this, but behind this hides another reason; he has to make them tough and solid so that they will work as a team and have each other's backs in combat. He knows this to be true, but no one else does. This sends Leonard into a psychotic break and for a while, Hartman begins to show interest in Leonard due to his progress. Joker, noticing the change in Leonard, does not bring this to anyone's attention and thus begins his journey through his own private war because he believes from his inaction, he may have been the cause for the aftermath of the confrontation of Leonard and Hartman and the eventual fate of Leonard.
After that, the movie shifts and they are in Vietnam and only then does Joker begin to see why Hartman was so mean as he sees his friends become more like Leonard and may be destined to share his fate. When the young sniper is shot is when a part of humanity returns to Joker and we are left to guess at what follows.
The performances by Ermy, Modine and D'Onofrio were remarkable, especially D'Onofrio. I often wonder what went on behind the scenes, especially with a seasoned Marine war vet such as R. Lee Ermy on the set. I often wonder how much he contributed to the movie as an actual adviser.
By the way, I am a Gulf War I Army Veteran and I am female, so it could be that I may be looking at this differently. Females usually were not in combat situations, but some were. I do wish the movie would have shown that a little, but as far as making you think, I think the movie did what it was suppose to do.