Full Metal Jacket: Stories Behind the Underrated ‘Sniper Sequence’
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* With the support of Creative Europe - MEDIA Programme of the European Union *
In this video, I take you through Full Metal Jacket's sniper sequence and the stories behind its making. Like why the part at the low wall took a full month to film, the experimental techniques used to give impact to the climactic moment, and one of the most insane things Kubrick ever did to an actor.
BONUS VIDEO (Full Metal Jacket’s Gruesome Deleted Scene): bit.ly/388iYy1
BONUS AUDIO [Patreon-Exclusive]: bit.ly/3hzDRYz
BONUS PDF [Movie Location Trivia] ($1): gum.co/gtmFm
BONUS PDF [FMJ Trivia] ($1): bit.ly/2FLftD4
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#Kubrick #FullMetalJacket
Sources:
Behind the scenes photos by Matthew Modine
(FMJ Diary) Full Metal Jacket Diary by Matthew Modine - fullmetaljacketdiary.com
Cinephilia & Beyond - Run Through the Jungian: Stanley Kubrick’s ‘Full Metal Jacket’, a Phenomenological Treatise on War - bit.ly/3fconoP
Matthew Modine - Pinewood Dialogue (MOMI) - bit.ly/3fNPBmS
(Commentary) Full Metal Jacket: Audio Commentary
(FMJ Making) The Making of Full Metal Jacket
(Crowe) Conversations with Wilder by Cameron Crowe
(Filmworker Q&A) - Dorrian Harewood firing story - • Leon Vitali Filmworker...
(Sun Sentinel) www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-...
(theultimaterabbit) Matthew Modine Interview - bit.ly/3wBiyd9
[ITV] Pinewood Studios - bit.ly/3zePPgs
(Movie Geeks United) - Milsome Interview - • The Kubrick Series Unc...
[Paul Rust] / 1235968188795342848
(Seesslen) Shoot Me. Shoot Me. Kubrick Exhibition FMJ by Georg Seesslen
Clips:
Stanley Kubrick's Boxes (2008 dir. Jon Ronson)
Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures (2001 dir. Jan Harlan)
Kubrick Remembered (2014 dir. Gary Khammar)
Dr. Strangelove (1964 dir. Stanley Kubrick)
Eyes Wide Shut (1999 dir. Stanley Kubrick)
A Clockwork Orange (1971 dir. Stanley Kubrick)
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968 dir. Stanley Kubrick)
Barry Lyndon (1975 dir. Stanley Kubrick)
The Shining (1980 dir. Stanley Kubrick)
Making ‘The Shining’ (1980 dir. Vivian Kubrick)
Music
Artlist.io
I actually like the second half more. I fought in Haditha in Iraq and Now Zad and Dehannah in Afghanistan. All urban battles. I think one thing no one notices about the movie is that it captures the real transition between boot camp and combat. Boot camp is the most efficient and mind blowing experience. Every daily action is planned down to the minute, literally. If your platoon needs to be some where 3 minutes before the platoon in font of you the DIs will talk to the DIs of the platoon in front of you and you will do a marching swap when waiting in line for the chow hall or something. Then you graduate and go to the fleet and eventually combat. It is the complete opposite. Nothing is planned, everything is a joke. The withdraw of Afghanistan is a good example of this. This movie captures this. I don't know if it was intentional by Kubrik but it is perfect. Also the way they fight in the city is very realistic I think. Love this movie.
👍THANX for sharin. I always wondered how realistic that battle sequence was in FMJ. Hollywood has difficulty in capturing warfare I mean ultimately they can't capture 100% of course but opening of Saving Private Ryan on Omaha Beach is said to be pretty close. Again thank you for sharing.
I like the second half, when I skip the entire first half through the bathroom scene and start watching right as “These Boots Are Made For Walkin” starts. I think people like the first half better mainly because the second half is like a totally different movie, which you only see after being worn out by the first half. On its own, the second half is a great war film.
Did you ?…..
@@f87115 No, I just made a podcast about it and transferred some of it to youtube from my imagination.
Your freaking nuts if you liked the second half more than the first. First half is best piece of movie making I've ever seen. The second half feels like only a really good Vietnam movie.
The fade out from Pvt Pyles corpse, and Abigail Meads (ie Vivian Kubrick’s) score, to the fade in on Nancy Sinatra’s cheeky These Boots Are Made For Walking, Saigon, the streets and Papillon Soo Soo’s form is IMO the best scene transition in film history.
And when it's broadcast on commercial TV it's always the point they put in a break..... It's infuriating!
@@johnmunro4952 I know, it is so infuriating. When I first saw this film in 1999 on Channel 4 in the UK (at a time when they actually showed films on TV) the Stella Artois sponsorship clip came up and it ruined the momentum.
@@johnmunro4952 lol wat u doing watching this on commercial tv bro....
@@jsXanatos everybody has a first time under different circumstances bro
It's definitely an interesting pick, if we're talking "best transition ever". I've made a lot of lists, but never that one specifically. Off the top of my head, transitions that I think are at least some of the best *I've ever* seen would be: 1) Tom Hanks' reveal as a long-haired, haggard quasi-cave man, after the time-jump in Zemeckis' "Cast Away". His spear landing expertly through the fish. 2) I've always liked the transition in the Coen Brothers' "Fargo" where Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare are having sex with the prostitutes in a static wide shot; we slowly fade to black, then cut back into the identical shot, all of them now silently watching late night talk shows in bed. It speaks to the emotional disconnect and desolation within the characters. It's sordid and sad. 3) The shot from Mike Nichols' "The Graduate" of Dustin Hoffman coming up out of the pool, then immediately into bed with Anne Bancroft. That jump cut is amazing. 4) Petty much...lol, any moment in any Nicholas Roeg film. Whether it's "Walkabout" or "Don't Look Now" or "The Man Who Fell to Earth", he played with time to such a degree his films could almost be considered endless transitions onto themselves. And they're pretty much all brilliant. 5) John Schlesinger's "Midnight Cowboy", when Jon Voight is walking down the New York street and multiple jump cuts are utilized from day to night and back again, illustrating his aimless isolation and loneliness. There are several other transitions in this film as well that are also pretty great...
One of my high school teachers was a vietnam vet. He told us about getting kicked out of the theater watching Full Metal Jacket because at the end of the sniper sequence he stood and started clapping. It was just so accurate to his experience he couldn't help himself.
Alright give me some evidence, because this seems like a “and then everyone clapped type story.”
@@AceOfBlackjack you want evidence of a guy watching a movie over 30 years ago that I heard about second hand? That's both stupid and ridiculous... His name was Mr. Barnes. He taught at Chippewa Valley High School in 2007. If you want proof you're gonna have to ask him... Or just dont believe me, IDGAF.
@@AceOfBlackjack Going CiTaTiOn NeEdEd on a guy telling about an anecdote another person told him has to be the single stupidest thing I read all month, thanks
So us GI mostly that dumb in vietnam ?
@@carval51 dumb? No. It was more about how the US was fighting even the women and children of Vietnam.
The sniper sequence has always been the most memorable scene from this movie for me. The reveal that a young girl was the ruthless sniper still gets me to this day
Young children often participated in the war over there. Suicide bombers, snipers, and everything in between. Its sad, really. Childhood should be filled with innocence, and not the burden of war.
Didn't gather it was a twelve year old what struck me was how pure and animalistic she looked in response to the surprise secondary was that the sniper was not who or what I expected. Her braided hair flopped around making her look cartoonish and alien like Goofy from Mickey Mouse. Still doesn't register with me as a 12 year old girl. Most striking scene for me.
At first, it was hard for me to believe that the sniper was a female. Then I had a roommate who was a Vietnam vet who told me that female snipers were common.
How is she such a great "Sniper"...with a shit AK & No Scope?
@@dizcret she shot from 50 meter range, its well within capabilities of even shittiest AKs. also at this distance you dont really need scope
That's an incredible insight from Modine about the end of the movie. FMJ isn't, in fact, a film about Vietnam, it's a film about a man's dreams and nightmares about Vietnam when he returns home.
Woooooah
that is so stupid.
Exactly. Just like the shining isn’t really a horror film. I think it’s a film about a man with writers block finally having his idea to write a story about killing his family like the previous caretaker story he heard. Just like this film switches midway, I believe the shining does as well and we start seeing shots of the characters inside the novel he’s writing instead of reality. It explains the name change of Grady and the changes to the hotel. Kubrick was the master of showing you the truth while telling you a lie. Brilliant.
pretentious crap.
@@plasticweaponCome on man. If you're going to troll my comment, give it some welly! Fill your boots!
Dude you literally have a PhD on this movie at this point.
haha he deserves one! Love you Tyler
hahaha this gave me a hardy belly laugh, cause it true!
i dont know if he has some diagnosis or something but this isnt why i subbed to this channel, the only thing he talks about is full metal jacket like he is obsessed
@@darknessviking No he doesn't, he simply does a series of videos on each film. He did a series on 2001. He did a series on A Clockwork Orange. And now he's doing a series on Full Metal Jacket. If you don't like it, don't watch, it's that simple...
@@darknessviking you do realise it's his channel and he can make whatever he enjoys, right? you aren't really entitled to something just because you subscribe, and calling him neurodivergent for that is not just wrong, but so inaccurate that you might wanna question things for yourself actually... No offence intended
The droning music of the sniper scene, where they're searching the building for her, still sticks with me. Something about everything there is off-putting - compile that with some great long, sweeping shots, and the tension is palpable.
I saw a video years ago on the internet made about the underground world of satanic ritual abuse/ sexual abuse, etc and they used that exact music in the background It was VERY offputting
Definitely! The scene is haunting!
What’s more off putting is all those innocents killed for nothing during that senseless war
It's a combination of the sharp yet dampened tones combined with the persistent drumbeat and drawn out drones in the background. The way I'd probably put it is the question "Am I hunter or am I prey?" as a soundtrack. The drums inspire a sense of strength and confidence but the sharper tones serve to remind that overconfidence is lethal. It's a brilliant score.
The sniper scene is one of the best war scenes ever filmed.
I always had a different take on Joker. I think he retained his innocence. There is the moment where after Cowboy's death the guys all change and go into revenge/payback mode. ( the moment the Monolith shows up if you believe that sort of thing) All their faces change. They then go stalk the sniper but at the moment of truth Joker jams his gun. Then his true humanity takes over and he kills the sniper not out of revenge but out of mercy. Rafterman goes the other way, turning into a childish killer without remorse. A big change from when he was puking in the helicopter while the doorgunner fires at everything in the rice paddies. The end scene when they are walking out you kind of see a little smile on Joker's face. He's gonna make it and he's seen the evil that men do, yet he has remained innocent and good. He's the duality of Man....The Jungian thing! He's the other side of man that is able to keep cool while all those around him lose theirs. Just my interpretation. I saw this film in the theater and it was a damn gut punch. From the deaths of 8-Ball, Doc, Cowboy and the sniper until the double 1-2 combo of Mickey Mouse Club>Paint It Black was devastating. No one moved in the theater for a few minutes after the film was over. We were just flattened by emotion of the film.
lol The monolith is there mind you. It's not a mistake, though what Stanley means by showing it, that's for smarter minds than mine to explain. Lots of his films do it. The cinema showing Red River is a reference to the Shining...Red River, River of Blood...that can't be accidental either.
@@davidlean1060 Oh I firmly believe it's there on purpose. No coincidences in Kubrick films!
@@kowalski3769 No. He's always up to something!
First time I saw it was on my 36 inch Sony on a Friday night, after a rough late shift, with Saturday off. I turned on HBO, thought I’d selected Biloxi Blues, which I also had not seen, for some light entertainment. Took me ten minutes to realize “THIS is NOT Neil Simon”. I bought the VCR the very next day.
@@davidlean1060 i see that, shining, and barry lyndon as a thematic trilogy in a way. theres an offhand reference to Bullingdon going off to "fight some pesky rebels in the Americas" and of course every ghost in the shining is British for some reason? in the same way Strangelove 2001 and Clockwork clearly have some of the same concerns and overlap.
The zoom in on cowboy when he gets shot is honestly so well done. It shows the difficulties of fighting in an urban environment, there are so many angles to be shot from.
I never knew that Kubrick sought out ideas from his actors and used their input in the making of this film. This is reminiscent of Coppola's making of his Vietnam movie, when he asked his actors what should happen next. This is how Coppola devised the scene where the soldiers on the patrol boat investigate the sampan in the delta and wind up shooting all the sampan's occupants. The actors wanted to have a scene that would be something like the My Lai massacre. Thanks for this.
I read that Kubrick wanted to know everyones opinion, right down to some person sweeping up. Its what makes him great. There is nobody like him. Leone and Kurosawa come close. Thats it
@@Sdea1903 Too bad they murdered him because of Eyes Wide Shut.
@@benjamintherogue2421 It wasnt that bad ;)
It's too bad Kubrick wasn't involved in the first Star Trek movie.
Regarding actor input, it was Malcolm McDowell who thought of Singin in the Rain during the home invasion sequence in A Clockwork Orange. Kubrick immediately went out and secured the rights to the song.
Roger Ebert was one of the movie critics during the eighties, that brought out how generally useless movie critics were as a means to getting insight into whether you should go to see a movie or not. There were so many great movies that he said were not worth shit.
That only puts into perspective how easy it is to subdue the will of a person.
Not for nothing but his negative talk forced Siskel to put up a strong defense. Sometimes that adversarial method can force us to sharpen our arguments. And if I had been watching this discussion, I would have felt Siskel made the better argument.
@@x--. Just a fun bit of trivia: Siskel's all time favorite movie was "Saturday Night Fever" and Ebert's was, "Aguirre the Wrath of God."
Ebert really hated The Thing when it came out, which is just incredible.
Roger Ebert was extremely reliable: I used to watch him all the time. If he didn't like a film, it was a pretty sure bet that I would. Thanks, Roger! Reliable = always wrong
Your FMJ content is remarkably rich, I wish all Kubrick films had such a wealth of publicly available information regarding production.
can any of it be proved tho
@@dai19721 I love how Kubrik constantly triggered all these little Hollywood princesses. Sad how the little princess here still cries their preciously selfish little songs. This American Life isn't nearly as special as the publiclly fart filled fumed vacuum chamber of NPR would have you believe.
As a photographer working for Stanley I never expected to find myself shooting potatoes with a point two two air rifle at Delta Sound in near darkness so Ed Tise would have the sound he needed for the bullet hits on Doc Jay and Eightball.
LOL "point 22"? More commonly called .22
@@soakupthesunman what's your point?
@@nexpro6985 .22 is the point,
@@soakupthesunman you clearly missed the point. Fortunately I didn't miss the potato.
@@nexpro6985 You dont miss the potato? Damn man, thats cold. It really saw you as a good friend... point 22 or otherwise
*Without doubt, one of the finest researched and produced Y/T vids I have ever watched*
12:45 "Wait....who the hell is that guy?!" Holy shit I've seen this movie probably 100 times and I'm blown away that I never noticed that lol! Anyways, great little mini-doc on Full Metal Jacket. I totally agree that while the first half of the movie is clearly what makes it timeless (the quality of acting by Ermy, Modine, and D'Onofrio is unparalleled in any other war movies in my opinion. Ermy wasn't even acting, just being himself as he used to be while being a Drill Sarge in real life), the 2nd half is also very underrated it seems simply because it lives in the shadow of the first. Lots of credit to Kubrick, although his moral compass may be a little shaky in the treatment of his actors, in the end he knows and tries to instill in the actors that it's all for the purpose of completing the vision and being a part of a timeless piece of art
Your writing and editing is top notch Tyler, loving this series very much.
Thanks!
Dude top freaking notch, you're so right. Great movie, great analysis, great video.
Underrated sniper scene?? It's THE sniper scene that all other sniper scenes are measured against!!
That one guy’s movie review aged like milk in the Sahara
You mean all of enemy at the gates right?
Saving Private Ryan for sure
I think the most iconic parts of this movie come from the first half in the lines and story telling, but I think the more emotional and cinematic parts come from the second half. The setting, the fires, the wreckage, the tension. Sometimes I see the film on and jump in to watch the second half only. Other times I watch the start and jump once the "full metal jacket" line is done. Sometimes I watch it start to finish. It's a movie made of two movies. Either or both are cinematic excellence.
My GF is a naturalized citizen from Vietnam and remembered the "Toothpaste man" signs from when she was a little girl...and thought it was a great movie BTW...
WTH u talking about toothpaste man? This means nothing to anyone here.
It apparently means a lot to YOU! It shows the authenticity of the signs in Saigon and Hue and I'm sure you realized that.@@philmcclenaghan7056
it was always upsetting that this was the kubrick movie that most kids knew about in high school and they all echoed the same 'i only watch for the first half' sentiment. depressing really.
As a kid (had the movie on VHS) I liked to skip the first part and start in the Nam.
Do people say that? I think it’s specifically the second act that is lacking comparatively, but the third is as good as the first
I have never heard anyone say that. Kid usualy implies pre-teen. So I wouldn't really think it is a good idea for adults to take advice on movies from a 10 yr old.
Wasn’t expecting to see you here! Hope you’re doing well, man.
Gotta wonder how many people empathize with Pyle more than Joker.
This was filmed near where I lived. I remember after it was done, there were huge holes on either side of the road where the palm trees had been to make it look like Vietnam.
Wow, what Modine finally said about the ending was primal. Perfect elemental emotion of an ending.
“In my next video, I will take you through a pixel by pixel breakdown of Kubrick’s movie!” I’ve never seen such a comprehensive breakdown of such a specific part of a movie; from the lenses and lighting, to the relationships between the actors and director, you left nothing out! Impressive much! ✌️👍
u mean frame by frame. pretty sure movie was on film pixle is digital
@@rocketsmall4547 pretty sure Ash's point was to exaggeratedly describe the level of detail of CinemaTyler's breakdowns..
@D no, but in this case a pixel is a metaphor for the intricate level of detail CinemaTyler puts into these breakdowns..
Kubrick is a genius. He new Modine would give him the ending he wanted, he just needed to push him enough.
He is like that teacher that annoyed and tortured you but then looking back you realize they taught you the most.
@@edwardschmitt5710 exactly what I was thinking
Bullshit
Is it genius to not have an ending to your own movie though?
@@markrainford1219 doesn't need to be, that's how art works sometimes
Tyler you should watch Masaki Kobayashi’s “The Human Condition” because the second movie in the trilogy came out 25 years before FMJ and it definitely seems like Kubrick was inspired by it. Too many similarities to be ignored also the final movie is one of the best I’ve ever seen.
He’s spoken about the connection before in an earlier FMJ video. :D
Absolutely incredible movie! Tatsuya Nakadai did a Q&A after a screening of Sword of Doom that I went to and all I could think about was his performance in The Human Condition. I talk about it a bit in the video on Pvt Pyle here: kzhead.info/sun/rMZxpd6kiquZbJs/bejne.html
I went to and became a Marine at MCRD Parris Island 1988. The color scheme and layout of the squad bay scenes were almost exactly what barracks looked like at 3rd Battalion...
Excellent work as always, Tyler! I can't believe the level of detail that you get into with these videos. The amount of research that you do must be crazy! Add that on top of the fact that it is all available for all to watch for FREE.
How do u end a war movie? The movie ends with the soldier going home at the end of the war and achieving everything that they loved before the war. And then the character is bored with everything, and they find themselves wanting to go back to some war that they hate.
Apocalypse Now already did that though with Willard being desperate to be back in the action
As otherwise forgettable as The Hurt Locker was, it did have a pretty great ending.
I recently heard a Vietnam veteran talking about this. 'When we were there, we hated every minute, and couldn't wait to get home. Now, I would give everything for one more minute back there.' Everything after seems grey and pointless. Something like that.
@@bs4209 I don't remember the source anymore, no. I was surprised when he said that. There's a lot of stuff out there like that. (Even a Ted Talk called 'Why veterans miss war')
Actually a lot of us have no desire to go back. We do, however, want to get back all that we've lost.
As a Brit I've never understood the reverence for Ebert's reviews.
Well, one of his favorite films of all time is 2001, so he’s definitely not a hater. Ebert was a critic’s critic. Whereas Gene Siskel preferred more pop-culture type of films, his favorites being “Saturday Night Fever” and “Babe”. So “Two Thumbs Up” meant a film should appeal to both the serious film fan, as well as more casual film fan. Being from Chicago, their show was on a few times a week, late at night. I was just really getting into Kubrick and film around 13-14 years old in 90/91, when their show was prominent, and “Two Thumbs Up” still meant something.
The thing about Ebert is he wrote a screenplay held in high esteem. Both him and Siskel would go on and on and on about the lighting, the cinematography-everything that mattered only if you were a film student or director. For joe six pack like me....ZZZZZzzzzz...
@@The_Dudester with S&E it was more about the texture of the film than the film itself
I presume his relevance came from the context of his time. He came off as relatable yet intelligent, and well spoken. Perhaps he shined when compared to his contemporaries. I feel the same about Kermode today, that compared to the general incompetency of modern journalists, his personality and ideas generate something special.
@@bryan.e And he happened to be the guy to end up on TV reviewing movies, so he wasn't just a name above a piece in a newspaper. Much the same as Mark Kermode. He's been a recognizable face going on 3 decades now.
This was really an extremely well made and thoughtful video, thanks so much for putting the time and effort into making it. I remember seeing this movie in my early 20s when it came out and it was extremely impactful, a very formative experience for me in understanding the war that had ravaged the generation just before me. Thank you for this retrospective.
Directors taking revenge on actors reminds me of a story from the Jaws shoot - the two men on the pier baiting the shark were not actors and frustrated Spielberg when they couldn’t take direction well (their voices were later dubbed by actors) - he had them do a lot of takes painfully scratching their way out of the water.
Kubrick was a bit of a sadist, imo. At least he didn't mind inflicting pain and discomfort upon his cast and crew. Take the stuntman on '2001': Kubrick had this guy hanging from wires for many weeks while filming the 'Frank rescue' scene. The suit had no ventilation at all, so once the air had gone out, the stuntman began to suffocate, frequently fainting for lack of air. One time the crew went out for lunch and Kubrick left the poor guy hanging there for hours. The stuntman was so furious that Kubrick didn't show up at the studio for a couple of days, afraid the guy wanted to kill him.
You create these videos with a meticulous attention to detail that Kubrick would appreciate. Excellent job, as always.
This movie has been one of the most powerful audience experience in my life. Thanks for making this video and helping me understand the process behind it. So well done.
Really interesting stuff. There’s so much that goes into making a classic film: things you’d never know unless you’re treated to a detailed investigation like this.
This is the best study of Full Metal Jacket I've ever seen; Highly recommended. You delivered great detail and 1st-hand perspectives into Kubrick's genius & unique style without being judgmental or biased. Awesome video quality too.
I'm a "going deaf" dude. and watch a lot of subtitles. I find it fantastic that not only is this not autogenerated but there are reference citations for every quote. 2 thumbs up my man
Modine is a genius for coming up with that perfect ending. The ending is what makes the movie.
It's like watching two different movies staring Matthew Modine.
So glad to know I'm not the only one that loved the second half of Full Metal Jacket! My favorite thing is the bit of comic relief thrown in after pyle kills himself, and it kind of gives you a few minutes of these guys laughing and joking around so you get to know them all right before they get caught up in conflict, and half of them die. Truly one of the greatest films ever made
Gene Siskel: "I have never felt a kill in a movie quite like that. Ever, in any Vietnam film." Roger Edbert: "Not in Apocalypse Now? Not in The Deer Hunter? Not in Platoon?" There are times I wished many people who heard of those movies, actually heard of 'Hamburger Hill' film. Seriously underrated film but it pulls you in for an intense ride.
To be fair to S & E, Hamburger Hill was released two months after FMJ in 1987.
@@christophermacintyre5890 Good point, I just wish many people who saw popular Vietnam War movies try Hamburger Hill, it's worth the watch I'd say.
13:11 Oh my god the framing of this shot!!! The face that you can see the muzzle flash in the distance timed with the squid is amazing
21:15 It's actually nice to hear Kubrick doing something nice to one of his actors/actresses
Most of the actors had and still have nice things to say about Kubrick. Look up the documentary on 2001 by CinemaTyler here on KZhead. Keir Dullea talks about how much Kubrick made him feel at ease. I think the stories of people complaining he was 'difficult' reflect more on the people telling the stories than Kubrick.
Kubrick was a family man at the end of the day, seeing a kid sad like that probably tugged on his heartstrings and voice of reason.
Amazing video as always! Thank you very much for making it.
You're so good at this dude. Please keep making content forever!
This book, called "The Short Timers" is free as an audiobook on KZhead. Highly recommended...
I agree. It's by Gustav Hasford, if I remember correctly, one of the best I read on Vietnam, and I read quite a few in the 1980s. And the movie used plenty of good lines from the book too, which is always a positive. It shows the Director really wanted to animate the story and capture it's true esscence.
Did you ever read the novel's sequal by Hasford "The Phantom Blooper" from 1990?
These fascinating videos by Cinema Tyler should be included as part of the official making of Full Metal Jacket. They're that good!
Books bruh, you can see the citations. So much has been written about Kubrick there is probably a lot more that could be made into a feature length documentary (which a few exist already for this movie).
@@EricHamm Perhaps. But it takes a lot of time and effort to produce a video of this quality nonetheless.
Another excellent addition to your collection of work, CT. Beautiful.
I don't normally watch videos that are much more than 10 to 15 minutes long but this kept coming back in my feed. So glad I watched it. Instant subscriber. Thanks Tyler
I always assumed the "steam" they breathed out was smoke from the bombed out areas. It made it more beliveable to me!
@D Did you watch the movie? Burning smoke was everywhere. And if youve been near smoky fires such as campsite fires, you breathe in and out some of that smoke. Hence the "steam" added to the realism.
I did not pick up on when that billy wilder quote ended. You were still talking a minute later and I thought we were still on this long ass quote. Maybe the entire video is just one Billy Wilder quote
🤣🤣🤣🤣
I had the exact same problem lol. I realized the quote ended a lot earlier than I thought
Perhaps Billy Wilder has never stopped commented on the film, even from beyond the grave?
Just finished all your videos about Full Metal Jacket. What a great work, man, thank you so much!!!
Magnificent episode Tyler. Thanks for your dedication dude!
What's the fuss with Roger Ebert? That guy was so full of shit. Btw Tyler, you absolutely nailed it again, love your work
I wouldn't say full of shit, but he was unpredictable. He properly skewered Patch Adams, but then gave The Majestic a near-perfect score; he was all over the place and didn't seem to have a set standard or rubric.
Thank you! I never followed Ebert, but when I came across this clip while researching, I thought it was interesting how he didn't connect his idea of the cliché to all of the other references to John Wayne/cowboy/war movies. It was also interesting to think about the difference in the experience of FMJ between me and Ebert. I was born in '85 and FMJ was the first time I had seen a crash-zoom whereas Ebert was obviously very familiar with the Republic war movies that used the technique. It reminds me of 2001: A Space Odyssey when the younger people (at the time) loved the use of the Blue Danube Waltz over the rotating space station while the older people, who were already familiar with it from the Palm Court Orchestra, had trouble letting go of their previous associations with the music.
@@blaisetelfer8499 I think when it came to old war movies, he probably had seen them all 100 times, so when FMJ came out it was too close to things he had seen countless times before and this colored his opinion of it.
Both of them were! Siskel AND Ebert. I would watch their show then reverse their opinions to decide what film to see. One they hated was obviously the one to watch, if they raved, it was going to be an insufferable bore-fest
@@robertmaybeth3434 that’s the dumbest thing I’ve read for a long time
Having read Matthew's FMJ Diary I can tell just how well researched this is, the man tells it all in his own words, detailing the friendship with Kubrick, the falling outs with Kubrick, the man's genius and demented genius, every step of the way. Just a remarkble man, Kubrick was himself, the duality of man. and I personally quite like Adam Baldwin's suggestion, to go through the end of the movie, only to see that short post credit scene of Joker taking his laundry to the cleaners, only to meet Animal Mother, an old comrade in arms, but in such mundain surroundings, would have been the cherry on the cake.
Amazing as always, Tyler. Thank you for this.
Man... thank you for this. I went from "how many videos does this guy make about Kubrick" to being absolutely fascinated. Thank you for bringing all these interview clips and factoids to us. I'll be looking for more!
The announcer says the Capa photograph “falling soldier” was a Civil War photograph. To clarify, the famous 1936 photograph was taken during Spanish Civil War.
Good call. Clearly an early mid 20th century photo. Thanks for clarifying.
And there's also some debate as to its authenticity, but that's beside the point - it IS an iconic image of war.
It's funny you mention Siskel and Ebert. Gene Siskel was actually in the Army Reserve and was a combat journalist, just like Joker and Rafter Man. Ebert doesn't know anything about that life or the military, so he's down on it. Kubrick got it right. In fact, he got both the Basic Training and in-country parts so right, that people who have never served pick it apart. The attitudes, the banter, the action. All spot-on.
Totally great. Thanks for these essays. So well done and so valuable.
I think that the fact people draw such a distinction between the first and second half of this movie and favour the first is actually a huge compliment to the film. What people find better is that the first half has structure, purpose, a clear goal whereas the second half is chaotic, disjoined and it feels like in the end there's no resolution or point to any of it. To me that's the greatest representation of the contrast between the lies these men were sold and the reality of what they ultimately went through. In the end there was nothing but the man next to you.
I love learning about the behind the sceans production in movies. this was very enlightning. thank you. from what I understand, Papillon Soon Soon, who played the Da Nang street prostitute, and was also a Bond Girl, still signs her autographs, "Me love you long time."
I'm with Siskel. I love the whole damn thing. That scene made audiences fear the AK-47 and it essentially ends in a sadistic gang murder where Joker is made to prove what side he's on.
ebert talked poorly about A LOT of great films. he was such a hack.
@@bluetextonwhitebg you can say that again! 🤣The amount of times I saw his old reviews and asked myself if he'd even seen the film he was talking about.
Yet the girl didn't have an ak, it's a VZ58
@@thevally6127 oh my god can you gun neeks shut up about it, for the majority of people it doesn't matter. It looks enough like an AK to serve the same purpose in film.
Tyler, this show is perfect entertainment. Keep up the good work!
Thank you for this video and the work you did on it. I learned a lot from it.
The more I think about Kubrick. The more I am becoming convinced his behaviour would not be tolerated in a non-artistic work environment. I mean. I would never argue that he made anything but stellar films once he made sure to have full control. But the things he did to achieve them makes one hesitate at times.
Old school movies were fucked up. There's a shot in the Exorcist where the mom gets thrown back into a wall which they did using a wire rig. The director told the actress they'd just give her a little tug then they put her through the wall. The director would also fire off blanks from a revolver without warning and slap his actors in order to get a genuine fear response from his actors during scenes.
@@TheManCalledDrHorse Yeah. Friedkin also was/is one of those ends justify the means kinds of directors. I mean. We can laugh and joke about it now, how John Woo repeatedly endangered the lives of his Hong Kong stars. Or Werner Herzog driving his cast and crew insane. But imagining that same behaviour in any other work environment puts things in a very different perspective. I mean. I love the final products these people makes. But to quote another director I also live the works of: "You don't have to suffer to show suffering." - David Lynch
he had autism and ocd, and yeah the only place these lunatics can work is in the media area, he would have been fired on the spot on a normal job, or reported. but because media has this loose kind of way idiots like taht could find work.and all these cowards that worked for him didnt dare say a word, instead they praised him in interviews.
He also worked in a less pussified time. His behavior isn't that outlandish. Dude would fit right in on big city job sites and construction/contractors union.
Nonsense. There are plenty of corporate types that act in a reprehensible manner, but they hide it in corporate business speak. You think Steve Jobs acted in an admirable manner while becoming rich?
Makes my day when Tyler releases a new video exploration of these films. Thank you for what you do Tyler! Edit:Spelling
Thanks for watching!
You're really awesome Tyler. Outstanding as usual.
Wow. All of your FMJ analyses are so excellent. Thank you.
That tactic to frustrate & bore soldiers with repetitive training before attacking is a real military tactic. They bored us until we couldn't wait to finally go in there. There was no hesitation nor any noticeable fear.
Kubrick was a nut job.. Made his movies 10 times as difficult as they had to be.
he could've just not abused his actors all the time as well.
superb video, and I rarely use that word to describe a youtube video. incredibly entertaining thank you, I can tell this took a lot of hard work and research. I'll subscribe for your efforts.
I gotta say GREAT video man thanks for the 30 min of knowledge about film making and entertainment
People who only like the first half of FMJ are missing the greatest English-language Vietnam War movie ever made.
Why do you say English-language vietnam war movie? I ask bcause it seems like you know other language better vietnam war movies and id like to know them.
@@carlossoyyo29 Good catch. I'm leaving the door open to French and Vietnamese films that I either haven't found yet or are yet to be made.
According to a giant survey that was done of Vietnam veterans a few years ago, out of all the films about the war made, they chose both "We Were Soldiers" and "Platoon" as the most accurate to their experience in the war. Just thought it would be interesting to know what actual Vietnam veterans think which ones are the best. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean the best *cinema* - but it's just something to note. A separate survey done by the Military Times also named "Platoon" as the best and most accurate to soldiers' experiences in the war. "Full Metal Jacket" came in at #4.
@@redadamearth Wow i'd never thought platoon would be first, i mean, even in terms of realism or something i dont consider it quite telling, even if it focusses more on the US military experience it seemed more like entertainment to me, i dont know. Well its just my opinion i guess, i think id put Apocalypse now first it is even quite horrifying, but hey i wasnt even in this world when that happened.
@@redadamearth "Platoon" was directed by Oliver Stone, who fought in Vietnam. So that makes sense... Kubrick, on the other hand, was never interested in making realistic films, he was interested in filming deas.
For me, the first half of this Film is great.. but the second half is superior.
This channel is incredible. Thank you.
Fantastic analysis of one of the most powerful films I've ever seen, thanks for the effort you and everyone involved put into it .
Thank you for the breakdown and the insight of one of my all the favorite movies. As a Marine myself, I can add that it takes such a strong mind to even become a Marine. Along the way you meet many other people, some strong some weak and you have to make a decision to be part of the problem or part of the solution. So taking care of the weak gives the others a form of respect your brothers regardless of what you might think. Being a Marine after your time is something you carry throughout your life-could be good could be bad but, it is you who makes something out of what you have. Semper FI
Semper Fi
@@68chargercrazy Oorah!
You kill children for oil
@@willywonka7812 How could they kill women...children?
@@Icewalker946...?
Fun fact, the training scenes were partly filmed at what used to be RAF Bassingbourne, The B17 bomber Memphis Bell was based at RAF Bassingbourne during WW2.
Really Enjoyed this. Been suggested this for a Month or so.
Amazing presentation here. Great editing. No rambling BS. Well done.
Janusz in Janusz Kamiński i pronounced something like Yanoush. But it would be best to check the pronunciation as he's in my opinion one of the greatest cinematographers today.
As a Pole i approve that pronounciation
I find the second half more fascinating. First one is easier to (mis)understand and be entertained with - hence its popularity. Vietnam parts (2nd and 3rd act) is why I've spent so much time with the film and content such as your videos.
I remember seeing it in the theater, and there were a bunch of bro-types who thought Hartman's drill instructor stuff was hilarious... until Pyle shot him and himself. They were quiet after that.
I'm literally obsessed with Kubrick's films. But particularly Full Metal Jacket. What many people do not understand (and underrate this movie because of missing it), is the uncountable different nuances and hidden meanings within the movie (almost like easter eggs for me) and it is not just another Vietnam movie of fighting and killing. There are so many different philosophical topics, foretelling, and purposeful contradictions (ironies). It goes from the range of big topics such as the Jungian theory to little details like where Cowboy tells Joker to "shutup" and subsequently Joker telling Cowboy to "shutup" in his own sad ironical way as Cowboy is dying... Then there is the whole topic of Private Pyle (which could go on for days of talking about) with boot camp being fascinatingly accurate and climactic even before the climax of the movie then transitioning to the war - it is like you are there with them in both the first and second part (very first person camera angels, too) and sequentially perfect. Then, lastly, the ending where if Joker shoots the sniper, he would be helping her as she wished of putting her out of her misery/but then he also could "leave her for the rats which would be cruel to leave her that way alive for the tediously painful time she would remain conscious but refusing to murder... It truly is a genius movie than people do not see the little details in every sequence within the movie. It is in my top 3 as a movie buff and I absolutely never get tired of it. Anything about this movie I really dig for any theories and info I can for as again it was such a genius movie. Let's not forget how realistic the people getting hit by bullets were and all the meticulous Military formations they had gotten correctly. Then the timing of the 60's and how historically accurate it was (it was like it was filmed exactly in the 60's). It was also NOT politically correct and FUNNY at times for how serious it was... Lastly, it was ground-breaking because yes there was Apocalypse Now and Platoon - but these were very long movies that were not as straightforward for the action in their movies... The film was probably was very fun to produce too with these actors perfect fir their roles. Thanks for the incredibly informative video and long live Full Metal Jacket - I look forward to seeing more recent videos of it!.. :)
Love the content and would really appreciate your continuing of the apocalypse now series
Imagine this to be two separate movies. Full Metal Jacket & Full Metal Jacket: Welcome to the Jungle
The second "act" is so profoundly good. I have to watch the whole film as Kubrick's craft is so superb. Everyone has opinions, but I totally appreciate the way he tells a story. Great Video!!!!!
Really in-depth, seems thoroughly researched, great video :)
(though I must admit it would be so cool to see more not Kubrick-related content, pretty like the Akira or Blade Runner videos did for example)
Best behind the scenes insights ever, thanks
Honestly calling kubrick an "expert crafter of actors psyches" is just a nice way of saying he knew how to manipulate people. And what he did to Duval was not arguable, it was just wrong.
He also just overall treated her like shit. Kubrick is an amazing director, don't know how I feel about him as a person.
I feel sorry for Kubrick to have to work with such a nutcase wacko like Duval. Sure that's what he hired her for, but she put him through hell & high water with all of her shenanigans but Kubrick managed to put all her madness & twisted views into the film by treating her like she treated him.
@@southpakrules She did seem a tad high maintenance at that time, I can't argue. I wouldn't mind, but she is fabulous in the role!
@@Trve_Kvlt probably similar with Akira Kurosawa. Superb and awesome director and movie maker. But an absolute shite human being[referencing how his kids described Kurosawa the man]. He threatened the lives of his actors for scenes and killed horses for his movie. We therefore have to seperate the achievements of the director and the rest of their lives and how they lived.
Are actors even people?
'Full Metal Jacket' is based directly on a semi-autobiographical book 'The Short Timers' by Gustav Young. He also wrote the screenplay along with Kubrick and received an Academy Award for it.
Gustav Hasford. It is a brilliant book, sadly now out of print. I had 2 copies which I lent out over the years and never got back.
I found the movie a superb depiction of the American attitude held by those who were in Vietnam. Was right at home again in the boot camp beginning, And then the casualness, surreal reality, of war. Oh, sh"" this is what I was trained to do while being slammed. I am alive because of my drill sergeants in basic training - Army. Two tours Vietnam. 18 yo, 19th and 21st birthdays. A great and informative commentary about this movie. Thank You.
Another awesome Kubrick video man!
The boot camp beginning and the sniper ending of FMJ are the two bits that always stuck in my mind more than any other parts of the movie.
I always said it was like 2 movies in one.
Kurbriks’s directing style sounds kinda similar to George Washington who is often considered to not be a particularly amazing general but that he was always willing to confer with his officers and mesh their ideas together to make some very successful plans while simultaneously mentoring a series of highly skilled generals.
I heard he did the same with his slaves
Brilliant video Tyler.
Jeez, man, these are fantastic videos. Thanks much.
I honestly believe that Lee Ermey is the only reason this movie was such a hit. His portrayal as a marine drill instructor is what caused most of the audience to stay glued to the film
Great analysis, but why was there no mention of the book FMJ was based on? It's called The Short Timers by Gustav Hasford and is drawn on his time in Vietnam as a marine combat correspondent - Joker is basically a semi-fictional Hasford. Many of the most memorable lines and scenes are taken from the book in one way or another. I was really looking forward to hearing someone mention his work during the discussion of the Mickey Mouse ending and its meaning, because the song is evoked in the book at some disturbing moments - but apparently Hasford and Kubrick didn't get along at all, so maybe it's not a surprise that he never mentioned his name when discussing FMJ in retrospect. Unfortunate because without Hasford there would be no film. The guy was eccentric and probably difficult to get along with at times, but I'm sure Kubrick was as well. Really disappointing to see the lack of credit given. Totally recommend anyone interested to read the book. It's out of print but you can find a PDF version with a quick google search. Super dark, enigmatic, sometimes feels like a rambling stream-of-consciousness from a disturbed veteran - but there can be no complete discussion of FMJ without The Short Timers.
Thank you Kenny. I've had 2 copies of this great book over the years which I've lent out and never gotten back. As it's out of print and ridiculously expensive to buy I'd given up on ever reading it again until I saw your post. I've managed to dl a pdf of it. Really wouldn't have been able to read it again if I'd not read your post. Thank you again. 👍😊
Thank you this is brilliantly done spot on Kubrick
Man you make the best film content, especially about Kubrick