Full Metal Jacket: The Vietnam War

Movie Review Full Metal Jacket was a 1987 movie that detailed the Vietnam War from a soldier joining to the Army, going through boot camp, the Post Dramatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and the mentality of war and killing other soldiers. Full Metal Jacket was an accurate presentation of the war and the way the general public thought of the war. There were many historical themes that were present throughout the entire film. The Vietnam War was the most prominent theme because it was the backdrop for the movie. The war was truly a controversial event that happened in United States history. The movie covers the controversial issues very well. The movie follows a young journalist soldier who is covering the war while being over in Vietnam. There

It was used as propaganda for the public to get behind and attempt to quiet the protest across the nation. The next major theme throughout the movie was boot camp. “Not everyone could handle training…different people were singled out over for different reasons” This occurs when Private Lawrence “Gomer Pyle” is singled out by his Drill Istructor for being out of shape and what his drill sergeant says as “no good worthless human.” Gomer Pyle goes through hell from his drill sergeant and his other company. Longley also states that soldiers would go psychologically insane and leave or be beaten by other in their companies. Both of these things happen in the movie with Gomer Pyle. After Pyle would screw up enough his entire company would hold him down in the middle of the night and physically beat him. Another time right before graduation Gomer Pyle goes psychologically insane and ends up shooting himself and his Drill Instructor. The stress on Gomer Pyle was too much and occurred in real life. The last main theme that occurs in the movie is when Joker ends up shooting a Vietcong. It took a toll on his conscious which happened to most all

The boot camp was up to the level of intensity that was described by several interviewees in Grunts. It gave America a different look at a war movie that does not use fighting the entire time. It showed the build up to the soldiers fighting and how they got there. The movie showed the brutal trials of becoming a soldier in the Army and then showed just how dangerous it is to be a soldier in war. It also examines the psychological toll a war and killing people takes on the human brain. With Gomer shooting himself before they ship out and then Joker shooting a Vietcong member. After killing that woman the entire platoon is heard singing “Mickey Mouse Marching Song.” Eye opening realization that soldiers are still humans and they find comfort in songs from their childhoods. Overall Full Metal Jacket is an outstanding movie. One hundred percent would recommend to a friend to watch. Let’s the audience experience boot camp and Vietnam first hand. It is a surreal feeling and keeps the audience hooked from the beginning to the end. One of Stanley Kubrick’s best