Full Metal Jacket (1987)
TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: Intense, tightly constructed, and darkly comic at times, Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket may not boast the most original of themes, but it is exceedingly effective at communicating them.
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Cast
as Pvt. J.T. 'Joker' Davis
as Pyle
as Hartman
as Pvt. Cowboy
as Lt. Lockhart
as Lt. Cleves
as Rafterman
as Rafterman
as Animal Mother
as Eightball
as Touchdown
as Payback
as Da Nang Hooker
as ARVN Pimp
as Chili
as TV Journalist
as Crazy Earl
as Doc Jay
as Crazy Earl
as Donlon
as V.C. Sniper
as Motorbike Hooker
as Motorbike Hooker
as Stork
as Daytona Dave
as Poge Colonel
as Doorgunner
as T.H.E. Rock
as Hand Job
as Snowball
as Daddy Da
as Daddy Da
as Camera Thief
as Dead NVA
as Marine
as Marine
as Marine
as Marine
as Marine
as Marine
as Marine
as Marine
as Marine
as Marine
as Marine
as Dying Soldier (uncredited)
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Critic Reviews for Full Metal Jacket
All Critics (75) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (71) | Rotten (4) | DVD (14)
If his considerable achievement in this long- awaited film falls short of his Olympian standards, there is a reason that ought to give Kubrick some satisfaction. The world has caught up with Kubrick and what he has to say.
It may seem too spare, too clinical, its moments of war even too familiar for some. But, aiming for minds as well as hearts, Kubrick hits his target squarely.
What gives this story its power is not really its originality, but the relentlessness of Kubrick's black-comic vision and the tightness of his focus.
There is a real fear at the heart of this monstrously armored, desperately defensive film.
It's a great piece of filmmaking, diminished only by a second act that fails to live up to the first act of the Marines in training.
Full Metal Jacket is not a realistic film -- it is horror-comic superrealism, from a God's-eye view -- but it should fully engage the ordinary movie grunt.
Audience Reviews for Full Metal Jacket
While certainly qualifying as quality film-making, Kubrick's Vietnam entrée also shows signs of aging. Much of the dialogue has that grammar school feel of trying one-ups-manship that was tiring in grammar school (except for the remarkable Lee Ermey, who stills radiates like nuclear meltdown). Still a work worthy of your time.
Super Reviewer
A powerful and cynical film that portrays with dark humor and acid criticism the dehumanizing side of war, with R. Lee Ermey and D'Onofrio stealing the show in the most memorable scenes. Still, the second part never achieves the level of excellence of the first half, turning into just another war movie.
Super Reviewer
Dark humor, sharp dialogue and R. Lee Ermey's terrifyingly excellent performance. Full Metal Jacket is a gripping portrayal of the dehumanization and transformation of the US soldier in the midst of the Vietnam War. Kubrick's tactical direction and nasty-good production on this film is one of his best. 5/5
Super Reviewer
Full Metal Jacket Quotes
| Gunnery Sgt. Hartman: | Well here`s something you won`t like, Private Snowball! They don`t serve fried chicken and watermelon down in the mess hall every day! |
| Gunnery Sgt. Hartman: | Well it looks to me like the best part of you ran down the crack of your momma's ass and ended up as a brown stain on the mattress! I think you've been cheated! |
| Gunnery Sgt. Hartman: | What is your major malfunction numbnuts? Didn't mommy and daddy show you enough attention when you were a child? |
| Gunnery Sgt. Hartman: | Didn't mommy and daddy give you enough attention when you were a child?! |
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