WHAT ‘FULL METAL JACKET’ (1987) GOT WRONG ABOUT MILITARY LIFE
Full Metal Jacket is one of the most popular depictions of the military on the big screen. In the years since its release, few other military-based films have the same intrigue and memorability that Full Metal Jacket did back in 1987. Full Metal Jacket’s cast of expertly acted characters and the symbolism that’s weaved throughout the narrative really make it stand out amongst the rest. But despite how popular this movie was, and has remained, it doesn’t paint the military in the most accurate light for the entirety of its runtime. Join us as we take a closer look into what Full Metal Jacket (1987) got wrong about life in the military.
Full Metal Jacket (1987) and Its Inaccuracies About the Military
Full Metal Jacket, as a military film, manages to do a lot of things right when it comes to the accuracy of the military. However, it doesn’t keep up this trend throughout the entire film. Let’s see how Full Metal Jacket (1987) presents its portrayal of the military.
1. Inaccurate Treatment of Recruits
The first inaccuracy to mention is during the opening act. Here, we see Hartman, a Parris Island drill sergeant, physically assaulting the new recruits. Though this may make for a good way for the film to establish the gritty and no-nonsense tone that it was trying to establish, this conduct is simply not permissible whatsoever within the military. Drill sergeants are not permitted in any way to physically assault any of the recruits, which is an illegal offense. Though harsh toward recruits, drill sergeants will never attack a recruit.
2. Troops Aren't Treated That Poorly at Bootcamp
The second inaccuracy piggybacks off the previous, with that being the treatment of recruits during boot camp. While yes, boot camp is very demanding and stressful for fresh recruits, they are not as demeaned or belittled like how we see it portrayed in Full Metal Jacket (1987).The over the top, constant berating of the recruits from Hartman may seem accurate based on what we have been taught by the stereotypes, but it’s not the case here. A drill sergeant’s role is to toughen up recruits and turn them into reliable Soldiers. While they don’t show any leniency, drill instructors don’t typically rely on humiliation and belittlement during bootcamp.
3. The Battle of Hue Depiction Was All Kinds of Wrong
During the Battle for Hue City, we see a lot of tall buildings like a typical city. The reality is that the battleground consisted of tightly grouped, low buildings that made for a densely packed space. This means that there was barely any room to move for the Soldiers who were fighting. This is due to the filming taking place just outside of London, which was not the ideal location to represent Hue city’s actual layout.
4. The Battle Scenes Aren't Exactly Realistic
When you watch Full Metal Jacket (1987), you may not think much of the battle scenes as being inaccurate, as that is such a pivotal element to get right. However, they aren't entirely realistic. Once again taking place during the Battle for Hue City, we see the Marines moving behind the tank as it takes the lead. This is accurate to start, but it’s what comes after that takes a turn. Once the Marines pre-sight the area, the Soldiers immediately go forward to where they just pre-fired. This would realistically then leave them open to be gunned down by the enemy the moment that they entered the area in which they just pre-sighted. This is not how a ground assault would typically be done.
Notable Full Metal Jacket Quotes
With a movie as iconic as this one, it’s no surprise that Full Metal Jacket boasts a number of memorable quotes. Here are a few: “The dead know only one thing: It is better to be alive.” - Pvt. J.T ‘Joker’ Davis. “You’re so ugly you could be a modern art masterpiece.” - Gunnery Sgt. Hartman. “Without my rifle I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy, who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will.” - Recruits. “There is no racial bigotry here. Here, you are all equally worthless.” - Gunnery Sgt. Hartman. “I wanted to see exotic Vietnam… the Crown jewel of southeast Asia. I wanted to meet interesting and stimulating people of an ancient culture… and kill them. I wanted to be the first kid on my block to get a confirmed kill.” - Pvt. J.T. ‘Joker’ Davis. “You put ‘born to kill’ on your helmet and wear a peace button. What’s that supposed to be? Some kind of sick joke?” - Pogue Colonel.
A Time and a Place for Everything
Despite its inaccuracies, Full Metal Jacket (1987) remains a beloved film that shows what it could have been like to be a Marine during the Vietnam War. While it may have some details that have been embellished by Hollywood, it doesn’t get in the way of its well-written plot and iconic characters. As long as nothing is being used as a way for up and coming recruits to base their enlisting decisions off of, then there’s no harm done. There’s a time and a place for everything, and sometimes a romanticized take on the United States military just hits the spot. Read next:
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Sources:“What They Don’t Tell You About Marine Boot Camp” https://thebrrksblog.com/index.php/what-they-dont-tell-you-about-marine-boot-camp/ “The Battle for Hue City” https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1999/july/battle-hue-city Image source: IMDb