Full Metal Jacket (1987) Handout

Context

How long did it last? – By the most accepted metric, it’s said to have lasted 20 years.

When did it start and when did it end? – It started on the 1st of November 1955, and ended on the 30th of April 1975

Who won the war? – It is said that Northern Vietnam won the war, but it can be hard to define in some people’s opinions because the U.S never officially declared war, but it is widely said Vietnam won.

How many lives were lost? – The death toll at the end of the war was 1,353,000 total. 282,000 of these deaths were US and Allied Military Deaths, 405,000–627,000 of these deaths were Northern and Southern Vietnam Civilians, and finally 444,000–666,000 of these deaths were PAVN/VC military deaths.

Research iconic images from the Vietnam War:

War Zone ‘C’ – Ambush of the 173rd Airborne, 1965.

Released prisoner of war Lt. Col. Robert L. Stirm is greeted by his family at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, Calif. 

Philip Jones Griffiths—Magnum Photos

Film Discussion

How do you perceive the relationship with the characters and their rifle? It’s almost like a father and child relationship in the sense that they love it so much, but that’s the only ‘relationship’ I could get out of it. The way they treat the rifle is ridiculous, they nurture it like it’s helpless, literally not leaving it’s side for almost all hours of their day, constantly cleaning it, having songs about it, it’s definitely a relationship.

Is the gun worshipped? Yes. Most definitely, it’s the most cherished item to the in-training marines, they sing songs about their guns, do routines with them, clean them often; it’s the most nurtured thing we see in the film.

Does this film bring to our attention some problems regarding the use of firearms? In my opinion, yes. I think that it shows that practically ANYONE can gain access to a firearm and it isn’t as hard as you’d imagine, and these people could be incredibly mentally ill people who could act out and kill random people.

What happens when the army tries to uniform soldiers? Not sure.

Is the film about individuality? I think it is in the first half, in the first half you see all the characters and their different characteristics, and how they act and how their personality affects their training in the marines.

Do you have to loose your humanity in order to kill? I think that is entirely situationally dependant… for some people in real life, when they’re in a life or death situation that someone might be trying to kill them, striking back and killing the person who is trying to do the same to them is a matter of self defence, so I don’t think you HAVE to loose your humanity to kill as sometimes for some people; they’re not given a choice.

Did you watch other Vietnam war films? No.