Hard to Watch, Impossible to Forget: A Review of Full Metal Jacket (1987)

by Morris Tu (Grade 11)

Full Metal Jacket (1987) is not an easy movie to watch, but that is what makes it powerful. It does not attempt to excite war or portray it as heroic. Instead, it shows how people are pushed, shaped, and sometimes broken by the system around them. The movie is split into two parts, and even though they feel different, they work together to show how soldiers are made and what happens to them after.

The first half of boot camp is the most memorable part of the movie. The drill instructor is terrifying but also pretty funny at times. His insults are so extreme that you almost laugh, but then you realize how serious the situation is. The recruits slowly lose their personalities and become more like machines. Watching Private Pyle change is really shocking. You can tell he is struggling, and when everything finally goes wrong, it feels shocking but also expected.

The second half takes place in Vietnam. It feels messy and chaotic, which matches the reality of war. There is no clear goal, just soldiers trying to survive. They joke around, talk nonsense, and try to stay calm in a place that is constantly dangerous. The sniper scene near the end is one of the strongest moments. It is slow, tense, and shows how scary and confusing combat really is.

What makes the movie stand out to me is how real everything feels. The dialogue does not sound scripted, and the soldiers feel like actual people instead of movie characters. Even in serious moments, there are small jokes or casual conversations that make it feel natural. It shows that in war, people try to hold onto humor and friendship just to stay sane. That contrast between normal human behavior and extreme violence makes the film hit harder.

What I respect about this movie is that it does not tell you how to feel. There is no dramatic music guiding your emotions. It simply shows events as they are, which makes everything feel real and serious. Some scenes feel a little long, and the second half is not as strong as the boot camp part, but the message still came through.

Full Metal Jacket is not a movie you watch for fun. It is a movie that stays with you. It makes you think about how people are influenced, shaped, and changed by authority. When it ends, you do not feel entertained. You feel like you experienced something heavy, and that is exactly the point.

4 1/2 out of 5