MovieChat Forums > Full Metal Jacket (1987) Discussion > Not realistic, overrated

Not realistic, overrated

posted 7 years ago by Badlands1
21 replies | jump to latest

FMJ is a boot camp movie, not realistic at all to the Vietnam war.
They never made it into the jungle, or even into Asia! It was shot in cold England, in a 6-7 story warehouse district, while Hue was a lush tropical 2-3 story city.

Kubrick never had a planned ending and it fails. He even asked the actors how to finish the movie, hence the dumb mickey mouse ending.

R Lee Ermey was so disappointment in Kubrick's direction he made his own Nam' flick Siege Of Firebase Gloria, much more realistic.

[–] stevekaczynski 7 years ago

There was a fair amount of urban fighting at Tet that year, in Hue and also Saigon and elsewhere. In 1972 Quang Tri in the north of South Vietnam was also the scene of heavy fighting which I believe left it in ruins. Urban fighting was unusual in the Vietnam War but it did happen.

"Chicken soup - with a *beep* straw."

[–] Badlands1 7 years ago

Yes but not in a cold 6-7 story British warehouse district. Also grunts wouldn't have gone after a little sniper with all their strength like that, something called air support.

[–] stevekaczynski 7 years ago

I know they were trying to pretend they were sweltering in the tropics and it was in fact London.
As to getting air support, Cowboy probably tried but perhaps there was none, and I don't know if they had Phantoms or even helicopters to spare for every sniper during Tet. There were tanks not far away but they can be vulnerable in built-up areas.

"Chicken soup - with a *beep* straw."

[–] Badlands1 7 years ago

So do you think FMJ was a realistic Vietnam war movie?

[–] stevekaczynski 7 years ago

As far as Vietnam realism goes, Platoon nudges it. But I don't know - is the first half a realistic portrayal of Parris Island? Is The Shining a plausible Colorado hotel? This is Kubrick we're dealing with. He had a reputation for being a control freak and I have some trouble believing he did not know how to end this film.

"Chicken soup - with a *beep* straw."

[–] Badlands1 7 years ago

I agree Platoon is way more realistic and probably the best war film there is, it's one of the few films that shows the mud, and dirt of infantry life, fraggings, rape, drugs, racism etc.
Hamburger Hill, 84 Charlie Mopic, and A Rumor Of War, are also more realistic than FMJ

Oh for sure Kubrick didn't know how to end it, just watch the documentary on the film, the actors admit he came to them for advice on how to finish it, I can provide that link if you want.

[–] MovieChatUser497 (18943) 4 years ago

I do think it's a Nam film but I don't think it explored any kind of themes that other Vietnam films hadn't already done. I also think some people only watch it for the boot camp scenes and think it's a comedy which it isn't.

[–] sparker21 7 years ago

It may be set in Vietnam, but it's not about Vietnam. Physical realism in place and time is not at all the point.

[–] Badlands1 7 years ago

it's not about Vietnam

What's it about, because all I hear is that FMJ is the best Vietnam war movie ever, I don't see why or how?

[–] sparker21 7 years ago

I once read that Kubrick considered Paths of Glory his war film and FMJ his film about warriors. It's about the experience of becoming a soldier (marine in this case) and the experience of war. With that as its subject it could be set in any war at any time, at least any time since the mid 1600s.

[–] Badlands1 7 years ago

Weird you say it could set at any place any time, yet he makes the story take place in the Vietnam War. I think that is misleading, and dishonourable to the vets. Or let alone the younger generation that may be swayed into believing that's realistic.
A Korean War movie that takes place on Mars.. Why not?

[–] MovieChatUser497 (18943) 4 years ago

I don't think where it was filmed has any bearing on the quality of the film. The sets at least looked like they took place in Vietnam. I think FMJ suffers because it explores the same ideas that we have seen in other films (how war destroys people's morals and principles because if they don't resort to brutality they won't win the war and their men are going to get shot). Also the whole peace symbol vs. born to kill is a little on the nose.

[–] NutMustardx 7 years ago

Who said it was the best Vietnam war movie? You lack intelligence, who gives a *beep* where the movie was shot? Oh gee...Apollo 13...they weren't really in outter space..lol..oh gee..In jaws they weren't really in the Atlantic Ocean. Are u a tardo?

[–] Iwatchondrugs 7 years ago

Apocalypse Now and Platoon weren't filmed in Vietnam either.

Apocalypse was filmed on the island of Luzon in the Philippines,.
Platoon was also shot on the Philippines,on 5 locations.

Saving Private Ryan was shot in England and Ireland,except two shots in the opening and ending,the military cemetary.

A far superior film than all these(in my opinion),The Thin Red Line(1998) was in part shot in Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands,where it took place.
But they also shot in Australia and California.

[–] fleischwolf (294) 6 years ago

Actually, Jaws was filmed in the Atlantic Ocean.

[–] Gd5150 (11016) 4 years ago

Back to the future was shot in the past.

[–] LukewarmCereal (88) 4 years ago

It's true.

[–] Holmezy005 (1) 4 years ago

I agree this movie was definitely overrated and not realistic, I like most enjoyed the first part but the second half was utter shit imo. You never got the feeling they were in Vietnam, you could tell it was filmed somewhere in Europe, the effects were bad (old movie so can forgive this) but the sound effects were also terrible, don't even get me started on the dialog. Also some complaining here saying who cares where it was shot? It matters, making a Vietnam war movie in England is basically like making a movie about the Sahara desert in the Amazon Rainforest.

[–] chilone (17266) 4 years ago

I love Full Metal Jacket.

[–] LockardTheGOAT (342) 4 years ago

Kubrick asked the actors how to finish his own movie? He seemed too much of a control freak to do such a thing

[–] Jones70 (6195) 4 years ago

Maybe about dialog but not what actually happens would be my guess.