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Full Metal Jacket

Full Metal Jacket

Drama · War · 1987

A pragmatic U.S. Marine observes the dehumanizing effects the U.S.-Vietnam War has on his fellow recruits from their brutal boot camp training to the bloody street fighting in Hue.

Movie details

Full Metal Jacket

“In Vietnam, the wind doesn't blow. It sucks.”

1987 Drama · War 1h 57m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

8.1 / 10

Community rating

A pragmatic U.S. Marine observes the dehumanizing effects the U.S.-Vietnam War has on his fellow recruits from their brutal boot camp training to the bloody street fighting in Hue.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Full Metal Jacket?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

Apocalypse Now

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Born on the Fourth of July

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Heartbreak Ridge

Heartbreak Ridge

War · 1986

A hard-nosed, hard-living Marine gunnery sergeant clashes with his superiors and his ex-wife as he takes command of a spoiled recon platoon with a bad attitude.

Birdy

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Drama · 1984

Two young men are seriously affected by the Vietnam War. One of them has always been obsessed with birds - but now believes he really is a bird, and has been sent to a mental hospital. Can his friend help him pull through?

The Thin Red Line

The Thin Red Line

Drama · 1998

The story of a group of men, an Army Rifle company called C-for-Charlie, who change, suffer, and ultimately make essential discoveries about themselves during the fierce World War II battle of Guadalcanal. It follows their journey, from the surprise of an unopposed landing, through the bloody and exhausting battles that follow, to the ultimate departure of those who survived.

Casualties of War

Casualties of War

Drama · 1989

During the Vietnam War, a soldier finds himself the outsider of his own squad when they unnecessarily kidnap a female villager.

The Killing Fields

The Killing Fields

Drama · 1984

New York Times reporter Sydney Schanberg is on assignment covering the Cambodian Civil War, with the help of local interpreter Dith Pran and American photojournalist Al Rockoff. When the U.S. Army pulls out amid escalating violence, Schanberg makes exit arrangements for Pran and his family. Pran, however, tells Schanberg he intends to stay in Cambodia to help cover the unfolding story — a decision he may regret as the Khmer Rouge rebels move in.

Heaven & Earth

Heaven & Earth

History · 1993

In a small Vietnamese village torn apart by war, a young woman faces unimaginable horrors before deciding to escape to the city. There, she encounters a compassionate Marine who offers her hope and a chance at a new life, igniting the possibility of a future together.

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk

Drama · 2016

19-year-old Billy Lynn is brought home for a victory tour after a harrowing Iraq battle. Through flashbacks the film shows what really happened to his squad – contrasting the realities of war with America's perceptions.

Redacted

Redacted

War · 2007

A fictional documentary discusses the effects the Iraq war has had on soldiers and local people through interviews with members of an American military unit, the media, and local Iraqis.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Stanley Kubrick

Written by

Michael Herr · Gustav Hasford · Stanley Kubrick

Matthew Modine

Matthew Modine

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Adam Baldwin

Adam Baldwin

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Vincent D'Onofrio

Vincent D'Onofrio

Pvt. Pyle

R. Lee Ermey

R. Lee Ermey

Gny. Sgt. Hartman

Dorian Harewood

Dorian Harewood

Eightball

Kevyn Major Howard

Kevyn Major Howard

Rafterman

Arliss Howard

Arliss Howard

Pvt. Cowboy

Court is in session

Put Full Metal Jacket on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.