Kubrick's take on the Vietnam War is haunting and powerful, with amazing performances from Vincent D'Onofrio and R. Lee Ermey. This isn't Kubrick's best movie, or even his best war movie, but it's definitely a memorable look at the horrors of war. "Full Metal Jacket" is Kubrick's deepest exploration of the duality of man, with the movie divided into two halves in order to demonstrate humanity's contradictory nature.
The first half, which focuses on boot camp training, is by far the best. It has the finest performances, cinematography, and pacing in the entire movie. The second half is still really good, but it suffers from unsympathetic main characters and a sometimes unfocused story. But despite these flaws the second half is one of the most entertaining and shocking depictions of war ever put on film. The climax in particular is truly amazing with its intense, horrific portrayal of a futile conflict. "Full Metal Jacket" isn't the best movie about the Vietnam War (that would be "Apocalypse Now"), but it's still a must-see. 9/10.
The first half, which focuses on boot camp training, is by far the best. It has the finest performances, cinematography, and pacing in the entire movie. The second half is still really good, but it suffers from unsympathetic main characters and a sometimes unfocused story. But despite these flaws the second half is one of the most entertaining and shocking depictions of war ever put on film. The climax in particular is truly amazing with its intense, horrific portrayal of a futile conflict. "Full Metal Jacket" isn't the best movie about the Vietnam War (that would be "Apocalypse Now"), but it's still a must-see. 9/10.