The Marines aren’t interested in robots; they want killers. This is the story of Private "Joker" J.T. Davis, from grueling training to Vietnam itself. As many are aware by now, Full Metal Jacket is structured into two distinct sections, and these halves reveal both the strengths and weaknesses of Stanley Kubrick's considerable talent as a director. The initial portion focuses on the harsh training endured by young men about to become Marines facing the realities of the Vietnam War. It’s genuinely dehumanizing, powerfully portrayed thanks to drill instructor R Lee Ermey’s performance. We witness how these recruits are molded into unemotional killing machines, and Kubrick skillfully connects this brutality with the moral questions raised by the war. One recruit in particular, Private Gomer (played exceptionally well by Vincent D'Onofrio), serves as the film’s focus, representing writer Gustav Hasford’s perspective from his novel and co-screenwriting work. It is through this storyline that "Jacket" leaves a lasting impression, intended to prepare us for what will be Private “Joker's” (Matthew Modine) experiences in Vietnam. Then comes the second half... What happens next? We already know that "Joker" and his traumatized companions have lost much of their humanity. They are soldiers prepared to kill, a difficult truth. But Kubrick has already shocked and overwhelmed us with the “Boot Camp” sequence. Modine’s character, "Joker," now becomes central to the film, an intelligent and articulate man thrown into the confusing combat of the Tet Offensive. It essentially amounts to a drawn-out series of reflections and philosophical discussions about the futility of war. Kubrick even seems to play it safe with an awkward narration delivered by “Joker.” Full Metal Jacket is a good movie, but not the masterpiece it could have been. If you’re willing to invest time in the second half, it doesn't live up to the promise established in the first. Technically, it’s impeccable and beautifully designed, with Douglas Milsome's cinematography strikingly effective. However, I will always believe that Full Metal Jacket ended up being visually striking rather than a deeply moving and terrifying work of art. 7/10

Source on TMDB