Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2958 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-03-03
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 112 minutes

DVD Description
Full Metal Jacket begins by following the trials and tribulations of a platoon of fresh Marine Corps recruits focusing on the relationship between Gunnery Sergeant Hartman and Privates Pyle and Joker. We see Pyle grow into an instrument of death as Hartman has foreseen of all of his recruits. Through Pyle's torment and Joker's unwillingness to stand up against it, the climax of part one is achieved with all three main characters deciding their fates by their action or lack there of. The second chapter of Full Metal Jacket delves into Joker's psyche and the repeated referral to the fact that he joined the Corps to become a killer. When his mostly behind the scenes job as a combat correspondent is interfered with by the Tet offensive he is thrusted into real combat and ultimately must choose if he really is a killer.

Special Features
Commentary by Vincent D’Onoforio, Adam Baldwin, Lee Ermey, Jay Cocks, Full Metal Jacket: Between Good and Evil, and the Theatrical trailer.

Synopsis
In this riveting look at military life during the Vietnam conflict, Stanley Kubrick, who made the powerful antiwar classics Paths of Glory(WWI) and Dr. Strangelove (the cold war), once again explores the behavior of men in battle. Full Metal Jacket, adapted from Gustav Hasford's novel The Short Timers, is broken down into two very different parts. The first half of the film focuses on the training of a squad of Marine grunts on Parris Island, and more specifically on the troubled relationship between the brutal drill sergeant (a frightening Lee Ermey) and an oafish misfit (a brilliant Vincent D'Onofrio) who just happens to be a sharpshooter. The first half ends with a devastating, unforgettable scene, leading into the second half, which takes the grunts to Hue City, the climactic battle of the 1968 Tet Offensive and the turning point of the Vietnam War. The story is told through the eyes of Private Joker (Matthew Modine), a cynical aspiring photojournalist who is soon forced to fight for his life and the lives of his fellow recruits. The sniper scene, which takes place amid bombed-out buildings (rather than in the familiar jungles), serves as a microcosm for the Vietnam War--as well as war in general.

Customer Reviews

At last... a widescreen version!
I won't go into any detail about the film as most people already know what it's about. This review is about the DVD itself.

Just to let you know that the film is finally available in 1.85:1 on this DVD. I waited years for this release as I have a widescreen TV and I always get my films in widescreen if possible. I had the original 1.33:1 R1 version, but sold that and bought the R4 (which is EXACTLY the same DVD) of this about six months ago as I couldn't wait for the R2 release. The sound is now in 5.1 surround and the picture quality is much improved with the anamorphic widescreen. There is also a new featurette made for the DVD and various commentaries, including Gny. Sgt. Hartman himself R. Lee Ermey.

Incidentally most Warner Bros., Universal and 20th Century Fox R2 or R4 DVDs are actually both R2/R4. They don't always tell you this on the casing, but it means they only need to produce one PAL version of a DVD for the world.

Still great 20 years later
This stands the test of time well. More than 20 years after its release, there are few better films that demonstrate the horror of war. Whether Kubrick was anti-war I don't know, however this certainly gives that impression.

Told largely from the point of view of Private 'Joker', who once in combat wears a peace symbol (better know in the UK as the CND symbol) on his uniform. I suspect this wouldn't be allowed....

The first half of the films deals with the new recruits brutal training, and those who aren't up to the training can only expect humiliation and brutality. Private 'Pile' is the example in this film, who suffers greatly and eventually cracks.

The second half of the film deals mainly with one platoons attempt to deal with an enemy sniper. Prior to this we are shown the long periods of boredom that soldiers have to deal with. However when the combat comes it is nightmarish in the extreme.

This is all wonderfully filmed by Kubrick, with the training camp scenes and the shattered Vietnam like town near the end being memorable highlights. R Lee Ermey steals the acting honours without actually acting! As Gny Sgt Hartman he is perfectly cast for one very good reason. He served 11 years in the Marine Corps. He totally dehumanises the recruits, which of course you have to do if they are to become good soldiers.

If I had one criticism of the film its that sometimes it was little to clinical in the messages it sent out about the horrors of war - maybe preachy is a better way of saying it. I agree with many of its sentiments, however it might have been a better film without so much of that element.

This doesn't detract though, from what is still one of the great war movies. Add in the commentary track as a bonus and its easily worth 5 stars.

Widescreen not
I bought this copy thinking I was getting a widescreen version.But unfortunatly, although this the aspect ratio is indeed 1.78:1 , it is in fact just a cut down from the 1.33:1, so a waste of money.I dont think Kubrick shot in 'widescreen' looking at his other films,but I thought I would take a chance.So keep your old version and expand it to fit your widescreen telly.The film it's self is superb.But you already know that.