Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket HD DVD Review

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Title: Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket

Media: HD DVD

Genre: War Drama

Stars: Matthew Modine, Adam Baldwin, Vincent D’Onofrio, Lee Ermey, Dorian Harewood, Arliss Howard, Kevyn Major Howard, and Ed O’Ross

Writers: Stanley Kubrick, Michael Herr, and Gustav Hasford

Based On The Novel “The Short-Timers” By Gustav Hasford

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Feature length: 116 minutes

Extras: Theatrical Trailer

Languages: English, French, and Spanish Language Dolby Digital 5.1 Plus Surround Sound

Subtitles: English Subtitles For The Deaf And Hearing Impaired And French and Spanish Language Subtitles

Packaging: Elite Red HD Case

Chapter Stops: 39

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Plus Surround Sound

Year of Theatrical Release: 1987/HD DVD Release: 2006

Theatrical Distributor: Warner Brothers

Home Video Distributor: Warner Home Video

MPAA Rating: R

Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera

The first Stanley Kubrick film to be released on high definition DVD in the States is the Vietnam combat drama “Full Metal Jacket.” Although the film followed Oliver Stone’s “Platoon” by several months, “Full Metal Jacket” garnered a lot of interest as one of the best films to portray incidents in the Vietnam War released theatrically during the 1980s. Set in 1968, we follow Private Joker (Matthew Modine) from basic training by the Marine core on Paris Island with Lee Ermey delivering a standout performance portraying a Drill Sergeant. While Ermey has made a career for himself as an actor in feature films as well as television, Ermey along with Dale Dye are perhaps two of the most recognizable military advisors to work in both feature films and television. Dale Dye served as an advisor in “Platoon” and has appeared in many feature films, including “Platoon,” and like Ermey in many different genres too. Back in 1998 I worked with a Professional Job Developer who was also a semi retired Marine. We worked for the Research Foundation of CUNY and I was fascinated by his openness in discussing his time in the Marines, which included serving in the original Gulf War. He told me more about his experiences than my own cousin who was also a Marine. While watching the basic training scenes in “Full Metal Jacket” I was reminded about what he had told me were his experiences in basic training and was even surprised at how much of the dialogue Ermey says in the film was exactly what he had told me and I do not think he was pulling my leg either as a person who watched the film a lot and memorized dialogue. I believe he told me the truth because if one was going to lie, why would anyone lie about something like that in an office job where nothing could be gained? Sometimes I am not sure as a civilian whether or not to describe one who has served as a Marine as having been a Marine or is a Marine since I think once you are a Marine, in life and in death, you always are a Marine. So if there is anyone who reads this review and is or has served in the Marines or any of the United States Armed Forces, please excuse any possible misstatement I might have made. Nearly anyone can get a Bachelor’s Degree and even a Masters Degree, but not everyone can become a Marine. I sure know I can’t for a variety of reasons, but I admire those who try and those who make it.

Anyway for about the first forty five minutes or so we get a look at the training and to further help us get a sense for the tremendous pressure the privates undergo and resolve required to make it successfully through basic training, Private Joker’s character is assigned to assist another Private named by the Sergeant as “Gomer,” who is portrayed brilliantly by Vincent D’Onofrio, a vastly underrated Actor in my opinion. It is the contrast of how one is indoctrinated from being a civilian into becoming a soldier that comes through clear. While Joker comes out cynical, but still a bit of a smart ass, Gomer loses his humanity in trying to make it through basic training and ultimately goes insane.

The second half of the film takes place during the Tet Offensive with Joker meeting up with a platoon as a reporter for Stars & Stripes where he catches up with another recruit from his basic training days named Cowboy (Arliss Howard) and together along with the platoon, they face a deadly sniper. Adam Baldwin turns in a memorable role as well and there is a fair amount of dark humor and cynicism mixed in between the action sequences. Perhaps since the story at least in part illustrates how one can be dehumanized and indoctrinated enough to become a professional killer and then find his way back from the dark side enough to appreciate life regardless of the circumstances, Kubrick’s film at times seems too cold and impersonal. We don’t get as much character development as we do in Oliver Stone’s “Platoon,” but like Stone’s film, Kubrick’s film is still unforgettable and challenging.

If I am correct this HD DVD release of “Full Metal Jacket” is the first time ever on any optical disc format legally commercially distributed in the United States to appear in a (1.78:1) aspect ratio. Presented in 1080p though due to both to player and viewer constraints, observed in 1080i, one can truly appreciate the theatrical compositions more so since I believe the widescreen format does give the viewer a better idea of how Kubrick intended the film to be seen on the big screen as opposed to the unmatted standard definition DVD edition released a few years back. In an era where one almost takes digital technology for granted to create unique visions, it is amazing to see the scope of the production with the knowledge that no CGI was used to create the locales and effects. Now where I am a bit torn with regard to this HD DVD presentation has to do with the picture quality, which at times seems terribly grainy. I do not own the standard definition DVD for comparison and it had been years since I had seen the film prior to this HD DVD release, but I cannot help but wonder whether or not the film is supposed to be grainy at times or if the source materials used was made from an older master? I just can’t judge this disc fairly on that level except to say if this is the way the film should look on HD DVD then I have no problem, but if not then I want to know why better source material was not developed for this HD DVD release? The lack of any extra value features doesn’t really surprise me considering this is a Kubrick film, but I would have liked to have seen some new videotaped retrospective interviews with cast members and whatever crew or producers that could be available. The theatrical trailer (1:27) is presented in a (1.33:1) aspect ratio in 480p and there is a short Warner Home HD DVD promo at the beginning of the disc (2:00) before the film begins, but there is nothing else.

The English Dolby Digital 5.1 Plus Surround Soundtrack is excellent. The best sound mix I think I’ve ever heard for “Full Metal Jacket” and there are also French and Spanish Language 5.1 Surround Soundtracks along with English Subtitles for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired as well as French and Spanish Language Subtitles encoded onto the disc as options. The interactive menus, which can be activated while watching the film, are easy to activate and navigate. The HD DVD comes packaged in the Elite Red HD Case used to easily identify the HD DVD format by sight.

As a fan of Stanley Kubrick’s films I am happy that “Full Metal Jacket” is among the first of his features to be released in the HD DVD format. Definitely worth renting if not buying for any fan of the film especially since retail sales prices are quite reasonable. “Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket” is available on HD DVD now courtesy of Warner Home Video.

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