Thomas Little said:
The Departed vs. Full Metal Jacket is really tough. FMJ is always a hard movie for me to rate.
1st half of FMJ = one of my absolute favorite movies
2nd half of FMJ = a pretty crappy movie. It's a very generic war movie.
This movie falls off a cliff after they leave boot camp (or after Gomer Pyle shoots himself). The Departed though only gets better as the movie goes along.
Disagree but I get it. Sort of. But when I'm watching FMJ I'm not dreading the second half. It's like a classic football game though where there are two completely different halves. Still great overall.
Personally I loved both halves of FMJ.... the second half has great quotes and is a more realistic war movie than many - the depravity, the absurdity of it all, the senselessness, etc. The first half was a complete masterpiece I agree; with a tour de force performance by Gunnery Sgt. Hartman (Lee Ermey) and that alone has 50 quotes.
But the 2nd half has just an incredible array of humanity on display at it's worst. And there is Joker who has seen some **** and is smarter than most soaking it all in and commenting on it in heavy sarcasm. The big block quote with the Colonel below sums up the second half of the movie basically - the duality of man indeed. The sniper situation in the ambush in the city is so well done. What a waste. It was definitely some commentary on the war.
"How can you shoot women or children?"
"Easy! Ya just don't lead 'em so much! Ain't war hell?"
"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. "
"The dead know only one thing: it is better to be alive."
"Well, baby, me so horny. Me so HORNY. Me love you long time. You party?"
Pogue Colonel: Marine, what is that button on your body armor?
Private Joker: A peace symbol, sir.
Pogue Colonel: Where'd you get it?
Private Joker: I don't remember, sir.
Pogue Colonel: What is that you've got written on your helmet?
Private Joker: "Born to Kill", sir.
Pogue Colonel: You write "Born to Kill" on your helmet and you wear a peace button. What's that supposed to be, some kind of sick joke?
Private Joker: No, sir.
Pogue Colonel: You'd better get your head and your ass wired together, or I will take a giant **** on you.
Private Joker: Yes, sir.
Pogue Colonel: Now answer my question or you'll be standing tall before the man.
Private Joker: I think I was trying to suggest something about the duality of man, sir.
Pogue Colonel: The what?
Private Joker: The duality of man. The Jungian thing, sir.
Pogue Colonel: Whose side are you on, son?
Private Joker: Our side, sir.
Pogue Colonel: Don't you love your country?
Private Joker: Yes, sir.
Pogue Colonel: Then how about getting with the program? Why don't you jump on the team and come on in for the big win?
Private Joker: Yes, sir.
Pogue Colonel: Son, all I've ever asked of my marines is that they obey my orders as they would the word of God. We are here to help the Vietnamese, because inside every gook there is an American trying to get out. It's a hardball world, son. We've gotta keep our heads until this peace craze blows over.
Private Joker: Aye-aye, sir.
Personally I thought the Departed drug on a bit in the second half. But I dod love it too.
