top | item 37324148

‘Full Metal Jacket’ Seduced My Generation and Sent Us to War

5 points| EstesPark | 2 years ago |nytimes.com

4 comments

order

hotpotamus|2 years ago

Should probably have 2018 in the title. While I agree that R Lee Ermey was incredibly well cast, and would be quite charismatic as an envoy for the American armed services later in his career, I can't believe that anyone who has seen "Full Metal Jacket" would be enthused about going to war.

injb|2 years ago

>>> I can't believe that anyone who has seen "Full Metal Jacket" would be enthused about going to war.

I don't know. I'm definitely not blaming the film or its maker. But I can't deny that is does kind of awaken a fantasy in me. I have never been involved in any military, but a part of me has always wanted to be transformed like the men in that film.

The thing is, when I imagine being in the story, I don't see myself like Private Pyle or Cowboy. Their stories don't discourage me. So I do wonder if Kubrick missed the mark by making a film that horrified him but actually inspires others. Maybe there's just something wrong with me. Even Platoon has an allure to it. Even Barnes was a hero in some ways. I could be like Barnes without the evil parts.

Apocalypse Now on the other hand, now there's a movie to kill recruitment if ever there was one. There's literally no upside in that movie and very few characters have any redeeming qualities.

Spastche|2 years ago

this has "conservative who listens to rage against the machine" vibes. ...did they pay attention AT ALL?