The Price of Change: What Full Metal Jacket Is Really About (Pt.1) - Film Analysis 

Can’t say I’m surprised. I’m sure some took it better than others. And I wasn’t aware.

If you're gonna capitalize Marine, capitalize Soldier too, hero. I earned THAT title in 1988, not a damn thing wrong with it.

You may not like it but marines check two of the three boxes of the definition of a soldier. You only have to check one of them to be classified.

@@1pcfred mutual respect. Ever heard of it?

@@robzilla730 I have heard of it. I am a proponent of respect is earned myself. I am not into participation awards. Just showing up isn't enough to earn anyone any brownie points with me. Above and beyond is a nice start as far as I'm concerned.

Of course. Any DI would understand this implicitly.

Anyone who loves Jesus Christ would NEVER participate in the mass punishment those recruits engaged in. This is the same as doing this to Jesus himself !!! I would rather flat out refuse to do this torture to someone.

Their behavior was EVIL and DISGUSTING, PERIOD !!!! "Love your neighbor as yourself, for love does no harm to his neighbor; in so doing you have FULFILLED THE HOLE LAW' !!! and Jesus said, "What you do to others you have also likewise done it unto me" (!!!!!!)

Their behavior was disgusting and wicked. "Love your neighbor as yourself for love works no evil against his neighbor, in so doing you have fulfilled the whole law" (Romans 13:9-10). Jesus also said, "What you do to others you have likewise also done it unto me."

@@robertmckinley2886 I respect your beliefs, however, the point is making soldiers and marines who are capable of defending your God given right to believe the way you do by killing other people and breaking their things. Nothing about war or battle is supposed to be tempered by morality. The problem is not the military and its methods of converting normal humans into warriors capable of meeting and enemy and defeat him but also willing to sacrifice their life to do so, the problem is helping them deal with it or turning it off afterwards when the soldier leaves service. Maybe the lord can heal the heart afterward. One could hope.

Having been through Army boot camp I can tell you that the methods and logic of drill sergeants/drill instructors aren't complicated and haven't changed much over the years. Nowadays they can't physically strike a recruit or overly demean them, but things like smoking the entire group for one guy's mistakes are still very much a core tenet of training doctrine. You punish the group for one's mistakes so that everybody learns the price of "slipping up" when it matters, not just the one. And if somebody leaves their locker unlocked, it's getting absolutely trashed to teach the recruit the importance of securing not just his personal belongings, but the expensive equipment he will soon be entrusted with. You trash their locker so that way they learn to be more careful before they're given a set of night vision goggles worth ten grand, or to secure their potentially classified documents. What good is a guard who can't remember to lock a door?

@@WednesdayBLK “aren’t supposed to” physically strike recruits 😅😉

He wanted a ruthless killer ... he got one.

My absolute favorite branch of the Military is the Air Force, of which I always wanted to be a part of since I was little. Even the Air Force Military Training Instructors are strict with their recruits. When I was growing up, I would feel tears when I heard Drill Seargeants, Drill Instructors, and Military Training Instructors yell at their recruits from movies such as this one. But I understand why these individuals need to be yelling, and throwing insults: to toughen up the recruits for war. No one cannot scatter fuzzy-wuzzy, feel-good, huggy-wuggy, unicorns and rainbows, sunshine and lollipops on the warfront. War is ugly. There is no sunshine and lollipops, fuzzy-wuzzy feel good, unicorns and rainbows during war battle. And do these Drill Seargeants, Drill Instructors and Military Training Instructors cry? Absolutely NOT.

In that BUD/S class 234 documentary, the Chief Seal Instructor punished two guys for having candy where they weren't supposed to, and I remember it did feel more like he wasn't really mad, but still made them do a couple hundred push-ups. It felt like the Seal community has the same mentality regarding getting caught.

Well that backfired

​@@MASTEROFEVIL Quite literally

@@MASTEROFEVIL well in Hartman case the plan forward fired in front of him.

It's been years since I've seen FMJ, but I think you're right about Hartman's pride being both his and Pyle's undoing.

Yes, exactly. That is the reason that our modern military is volunteer and all parties involved agree that this is far superior to drafting and general enlistment.

@@cyberpimp29 I have mixed feelings about the draft. On the one hand, yes - I agree. A volunteer military is going to be a better trained one, I would think. But on the other hand, it seems to me that if a country is determined - after exhausting every other possibility - that war is the only way forward, then everyone should be involved in some way. If not fit for a Marine or Navy or whatever - let them do whatever they can. I still remember Bush, Jr. telling everyone to go on that vacation, buy that new car - he even lowered taxes! And it became very easy for the public to ignore the cost of those wars - personal, and financial. We might have not had the mess we've had, if we had used conscription. Iraq and Afghanistan might have ended as Vietnam did. Just a thought.

@@curiousworld7912 appreciate the thoughts, but cannot agree. In a Republic with citizens that all have equal rights under the law, the draft is abhorrent. If a war is so unpopular that you cant find enough volunteers to wage it, then the war should not happen. I'm with you though that a draft could be implemented if its a WW3, America is invaded type situation...

@@cyberpimp29 Believe me - it's not how I'd like to think about this. I remember the dread some of my older sister's friends held for the draft, way back in Vietnam days. But I think it made the war so unpopular, and it was obvious there was no 'winning' going to happen, it finally ended. And again; my feeling that if a country believes it can't do anything but fight, then all should have some stake in it. If that was the case; perhaps we'd be less likely to get into some boondoggle. I don't know...

When did this happen?

Not only were the soldiers sent to war slaves, but mentally disabled as well.

@@Oliver0200 October 1st 1966: Google for McNamara's Folly, or McNamara's Morons. Not only did these unsuitable draftees die disproportionately, so did members of their squads and platoons. War had changed since the Revolutionary and Civil wars, it needed thinking men - all the way down.

And the ones that survived were COMPLETELY head-fucked....

I was low IQ and labeled border line retarded. They let me in and I was asked how the hell did I get past meps and basic training. They were nice and actually helped me grow mentally and now I can reid and right beter than ever.

Same. People are cruel.

Pyle's story made me pissed off because in my own cadet life I have to deal with shitbags like him that drag the rest of us down

Puked story is harsh because everyone turned their back on him even the one who understood him and knew it was wrong. Joker abandoned his better instincts even after seeing what that did to pyle

It’s sad that there are expectations for people to fit into places on this world they were never intended for and the truly heart breaking part is you need to sacrifice the very core of who you are to become a viable component within it. Like feeling the crushing weight of the true death of anything pure and innocent that the world rejects

It wasnt that he couldn't. He had no idea what he wanted as do most people that join the military. Pyle was a lighthearted guy who realized he dug himself into a deep grave. Regardless of what he wanted this is where hes at and at the end of it all if he didnt make that turn he wouldnt have made it in the marines especially in the middle of a war. But making that turn helped him realize that life wasnt the fairytale he once believed it to be and he made the very adult decision to take it into his own hands and end it. Now i know this sounds bad but life is hard and there are no breaks. There is a heightened level of responsibility you will have to continue to adjust to as you get older all the way until you leave this world. Some people recognize this and take their time to enjoy the small things and there are others who make it their primary fixation like the drill Sargeant who made his identity in the army his whole life. Pyle fell on the opposite side of the spectrum as one who doesnt participate at all

brought to you by Dunckin donuts!

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💯

Hahaha

is that you john wayne

The psychic break was the point, there was no portray of him as evil, atleast I never picked up on an evil pile interpretation

@@user-un5my5bw4j correct. Leonard was never evil. he was literally tortured into insanity. The dude had an obvious learning disability, and was dragged there along the hardass wannabes.

@@vittocrazi I wouldn’t jump to learning disability it’s just how some people are

@@fitnesswolf1065 yes. And some people have invisible disabilities that never get adressed. Of course, on a mediocre preparation to senda them to war they would not pay too much atention to it

He acts like being being pushed over the breaking point and killing your DI is the same as evil lol

That's probably where he drew his motivation from. Yet another masterful tact from the legend! RIP Gunny.

@@Rollercoaster555 dang man, i salute you, even tho i dont like this country, but im glad you made it out, was it scary there? i had a friend (im in rural alaska) whos dad was in vietnam. tl;dr : what was it like there?

@@Ronn_V swim ur ass over to Russia then.

@@Ronn_V Q10

@@Rollercoaster555 Thank you, welcome home, and Get Some!

Reminds me of my brother a bit. I took him aside and warned him that the cost may be high, we were supposedly Christian and I felt it was against our beliefs at the time. I kept bringing up, you know you may have to kill people, people that might not be bad, might have families, etc etc, on some meaningless government whim. All he said was, "Yeah? I know." After that he smiled at me and I felt sick to my stomach.

@@AffyisAffy that’s not your brother anymore that’s a government war criminal :(

@@AffyisAffy in the bible doesnt it say, if ure a soldier "just" dont do evil. But one can be one.

It's based of a book called the short timers... the sequel is called the phantom blooper

@@AffyisAffy It's something that people that join the military don't know until they're already in. Everyone thinks they're cool and badass until they get in and actually do their job. Then people wake up usually. The people that don't realize something is wrong at some point are too far gone. Nearly everyone in the military hates something that goes on, whether it's the way soldiers are treated, bad leadership, politics etc. The ones that join the system and forget what it was like to be a private are the ones who usually make things worse and perpetuate the system.

That's literally the least shocking and most satisfying scene in the movie. In a way it is too satisfying and reduces the tension. I would have preferred if Hartman got away with it.

he didn't die, he killed of the 'weak part' of himself and now he's Animal Mother.

I'm an old Marine..E-5, six years. Offered E-6 to re-up. Proud, but, turned it down. I agree with your viewpoint.

He and Kathryn Erbe are hands-down the best detective team in the Law and Order-verse.

I couldnt see anybody else playing wilson fisk now same goes for charlie as daredevil

@@tomh.2405 Goran even outplayed Brisco.

@John S. Right? hahaha

Ur mom is

They know they’ll motivate him - he just doesn’t know how they’ll do it. That was my point. And what they did to Pyle was evil in my opinion.

Not a question of Pyle’s motivation. It is assumes that no matter who it is, when “properly” motivated, they will respond. Yeah, they will, sometimes badly. Pyle could have killed many in his barracks, not just Hartman. All men are NOT the same. Pyle might have been just fine in a non-combat, support roll...that actually happens in the Marine Corp. and there are NO combat Marines without a ton of supporting personnel...who are also Marines.

@@Timinator2K10 That's exactly my point. Some men will respond better. But some men, like Pyle, who clearly aren't fit for this environment, is it worth the experiment? I suppose many would say, yes. Hartman would. I'm not sure I personally would agree with him. I have no problem with what Hartman did up until he gave a vague instruction.

@@LifeIsAStory I agree with the OP, Hartman knew precisely what kind of motivation was going to be provided. It was the norm to do so in the Marines, or worse - ala the "Code Red" of A Few Good Men. Is it "evil"? I don't consider that to be a simple question with a cut and dry answer. And I say that as a devout Christian. I think it ~could be considered evil. I would say, in this instance, it was certainly misguided. It was the wrong action for this individual. I think Joker's actions are more important than the actions of the others. I think it is a much easier argument to make that Joker's act of betrayal was an evil act. I think Pyle doesn't snap if Joker doesn't join in. I definitely don't think Harman's "suggestion" was evil. It was, again, par for the course in the Marines. The second thing I would mention is that it is often difficult for us, in this hyper aware, psychologically sensitive day and age, to review such movies - or more precisely, the actions and time in which such movies take place. Trying to impart a modern sensibility on a 1960's mentality, and a military mentality at that, is a precarious thing to attempt. There was no catering to weak, sensitive types at that time, especially not in the military. That's not to say that our assessments are necessarily wrong, but I would argue that they are moot to a large degree, b/c we are bringing sensibilities that simply did not exist back then. My dad was a Marine (deceased), and it was not uncommon - at all, for recruits to die, as Drill Instructors marched them off through the swamps with full ruck sacks on their back, knowing there was a real chance that a recruit was going to drown when he stepped into a deep pocket/hole. My dad said 2 recruits from other companies died while he was on Paris Island, from drowning in the swamps. It was a very different world back then - mid 50's for him. As for myself, I joined the Navy in 1989 (19 yrs old). I am a very sensitive person. I was also a very soft person back then. Bootcamp was a nightmare for me, and I hated every minute I was in the Navy. Sure, I changed on the outside, but inside, I was deeply, deeply miserable, b/c that was not who I "was". But even at that time, no one was interested in catering to my soft nature. Nor would I have expected them to. That being said, I found your overall thematic interpretation very interesting.

@@vijabe I appreciate it. And I appreciate the comment. I get where you're coming from. It is difficult to define evil. And I've had people in the comments say that what they did is just the price paid to create competent soldiers. Fair enough. I think Kubrick was worried about what this was doing to the minds of soldiers. If you look at the second half of the film, sex is emphasized very heavily (as it is in other Kubrick films) and the scenes feel useless in a sense, but it appears to me that Kubrick felt that humans in general (not just soldiers) had become too overcome by their human instincts (violence, sex, ext.). Did the Marines dehumanize themselves when they did that to Pyle? Tough question to answer. So I suppose what I'm trying to get at is, there isn't just a cost for Pyle, there is a cost to the Marines who did what they did. I think that what Kubrick is trying to get at. And remember, although Kubrick surely knew the military well, the Vietnam War is simply a place to put forth themes and ideas. He put them in many different settings during his career.

Although that would be nice on paper, it makes the next scene (his su1c1d3) way weaker

God I wish The Shorttimers would go back into print. I like to make a point of reading the source material, but the book is a bit out of my price range right now.

Omg that should’ve been shown!

It doesn't happen exactly like that. It comes off as more of a final plea in my opinion. He starts chewing him out and then flips his strategy. Pyles death is I bit ambiguous, yes he shoots but the whole time he's begging his gun no. It's different for sure

I didn't read the book, and you give a crutial point ! For me the suicide of Pyle in the film is the wrong thing that kills the film. It's just Pyle turning crazy and Hartmann barking as usual. If Hartmann had say in the film what you explained, I would have an other opinion of this scene.

Which has more horror, the killing machine or the trainer that trains you to be a killing machine?

@@theyear750bc yes i found that the horrific part of it was how this lifestyle, military basic training, and the turning of men into killers, is glorified. that's the truly horrific part.

NOT MY FUCKING TEMPO

Makes me wonder what Full Metal Alchemist could be about

@@fgp0032 That's what they should have called Breaking Bad

@@filmishit HAHAHA

Not quite my tempo. NOT MY FUCKING TEMPO!!!

I mean he still acts.. he’s in a few big name productions. He was kingpin in the punisher/daredevil for one.

He ruined his health getting fat for the role, he never really got his physical health back but he’s a terrific actor/

@@lunadarling5598 He was the alien in an Edgar-suit in Men In Black!

@@lunadarling5598 I knew I recognized him from somewhere

his name is Vincent D'Onofrio.

Absolutely! Just made the same point before seeing your post lol.

And why? Think about it! There is no more a question of western values, free speech, free though, not at all! Poor Pyle was trained to defend rich people's prosperity, golden watches, diamonds and other useless stuff! Sarge Hartman was a tool, which was made to kill softness, love, empathy, heartness from these poor lads. Lads, who were educated by their mothers and other female siblings. Everyone could remember, how USA messed itself to 'Nam war: president Ike was scared shit to his pants, when someone joke-thrower yelled: COMMIES ARE COMING! So, American elite does not be afraid that communists are going to kill them. No. They were afraid, that communism will take their prosperity (which are made by greed and robbing!). This will lead that political power is no more in the elite's hands. Look at Vietnam now. How many solfiers were killed or mentally ruined for nothing? President Tricky Dick masturbated in his Oval Office every time, when he got reports telling B-52 bomber raids. Tricky Dick, elite's reliable lap-dog! Why the hell we even have a God's Law in our Bibles: "Thou shall not kill"?

"lower their standards" I dont understand what that means, i see that phrase used a lot. what, someone who does 15 pushups isnt qualified to become a soldier, but someone who can do 20, is? a war is won by doing 5 extra push ups in PT? because the requirements for the role of a air force accountant is the same as a marine infantry? come on dude, what are you on about? some people are fit for the life style, others aren't. Pyle should've been washed out, or different methods of training should've been tried. this isnt a matter of "standards lowered". nobody has ever used the phrase "lower standards" with good intentions. usually it's loophole language to discriminate on the basis of gender or skin color.

@@jsmith434w Lower their standards? Its just a simple thing: collect all the heroinists and other black drug abusers from Bronx and send them to Nam. Problem solved, when these youngsters returned to USA in coffins. Police officers laughed loudly!

this is a current problem in south korea due to declining birth rates

Some people broke simply because they actually thought the fleet was gonna be like boot camp. These were the sheltered but those of that grew up with the faja and the yelling from momma and daddy had a blast.

Perhaps having obtained physical fitness is a sign of self reliance and pride which clashes with being turned into a bitch.

@@MrCmon113 Not a Bitch, a "Tool" being turned into a "Bitch" would be a lot less involved, and Demeaning. lol

Sometimes, it's the DI's who crack. I won't out anyone, but I've seen one thing that would have gotten a DI arrested, and another DI in another platoon was arrested for punching a recruit. Of course, you hear about the occasional DI suicide. I remember my platoon's senior drill instructor was much more of a asshole when he found out that he'd have one more cycle after us. They're under tremendous pressure.

Agreed, I think they deserve a lot of credit for forcing themselves to have to play the badguy only so their men can be tough enough for actual war

very good, we had some great DIs, many WW2 and Korean War vets, we respected most of them because like many of them said, "I didn't plan on staying in the army after Korea, until I realized the best thing I could do was train young men how to survive combat, and these are the guys you really love, cause being loved by someone in the chain of command is most important for soldiers.

@@davisworth5114, I’m so glad you added your comments. Thank you for sharing your observations. This topic might not be Earth-shattering, but I still think it’s important for people hear.

@@davisworth5114 Revisiting your comment, I hope you stop by again. I think there’s more to what you wrote than I recognized when I read it the first time. Can you expand on why the emotional connection between soldiers and those further up the chain of command was so important? I apologize if it’s obvious, but it’s not obvious to me (I can be pretty slow on the uptake) and I’d like to really understand what you said.

Rightly So, in all branches of the US Military!Blessings to all my Brothers & Sisters in Arms. Very Sad indeed it those day, we all had no respect of our citizen counter parts. However, I can personally say as for myself I never lost respect of us all who served and what I was called to do.

Uh... but you went into the Army...

I went to boot camp for the Marines. It didn't disappoint at all. It was worse than the movie.. one of the worst experiences of my life. Graduated and never looked back. I flip it off Everytime I fly into San Diego.. what the movie doesn't capture is how they are able to make a place so completely devoid of any kind of happiness or joy, only pain and misery exist there. Don't laugh, smile or show any emotion that isn't stoic or miserable. i guess you might get away with it in those 3 to 4 hours you get on Sunday. The only time the D.I.'s aren't breathing down your neck. In a letter i wrote to a friend of mine I said "there are no good days here, they are all fucked up. All you can do is hope the next day is less fucked up then the day before.". I hated boot. I'm glad i did it, but I would NEVER do it again.

@@TheMonkeygrunt Yep, me too. I distinctly remember writing a letter to my friend and telling him "you don't know what you got till it's gone". USMC in the 70's could inflict way more punishment on you than would EVER be possible in prison. Recruits had no rights. But now and for the rest of my life... everything is easy. And I mean everything!

@@lewjames6688 >USMC in the 70's Yeah, and now our grand fucking military is a pathetic joke.

@@Aqueox Yep. My son just finished 4 years in the USMC. EVERYTHING has changed. I'm very glad he's out.

Most soldiers do not take part in blanket parties, but it is good to learn who the sadists are. You keep ignorantly stating the faulty premise of this vid. is to "cut off their humanity", just spouting absurdities.

Exactly, evil cannot conquer good, and when it came closest to doing so (in my own belief, the death of Christ) that only ended up working against evil because Christ's death led to good for all who believe Him, God made it so that even what was meant for evil, would turn around for good, putting evil to an absolute shame

@@alexm7627 I think you switched good and evil in your first sentence

@@mariaelenaelena8774 thanks for pointing that out! My bad! 😅

I don't think Kubrick "stumbles" into anything. He knows exactly what he's doing. There isn't another director as sure footed a Kubrick.

@@mariaelenaelena8774 Lol I didn't realize the other dude edited his comment and I thought you were just being edgy

Was marine bootcamp even more intense than army basic training back then?

i think qhat really broke Pyle was Joker taking part and beating him hardest. it was a betrayal in Pyle's eyes. i forget, but were Joker and Pyle still Battlebuddies after the blanket party?

Could he have represented macnamara's morons? Was that only an army thing since they got most of the draftees? I don't know branch but I do know that all attempts to get rid of lower IQs were ignored after the IQ standards were lowered.

I met a man 30 years older than me who was drafted into the Army. His IQ was so simple that his job became setting up volleyball nets, taking out the trash, etc. for his time served. When I met him, his job was the basically the same in a different setting.

@@robzilla730 I got betrayed by 5 Christians in a row. I broke. Took me years to heal, speaking Bible verses over myself, and worship. Now better than ever, praise the Lord.

The way that the acting was able to so accurately depict a man at that point is just...........scary good.

No the same facts were told to our platoon during the two weeks at the rifle training range. And this was in 1979, years before this Kubrick film was made. This was a case of art imitating life. Semper Fi

@@uberknott4472 ? Dafuq did this comment come from? My comment and the OP's comment are both focusing on the look on Pyle's face. The fuck does that have to do with what you're saying out of left corner, Crayola Muncher?

@@uberknott4472 The same facts? What are you talking about

Do Any Of You people Know Who Charles Whitman was😆 Yeah a lunatic

MARINES HAVE DRILL INSTRUCTORS DROP AND GIVE ME 50 !!!!!

@@184876ela kek

The common mentality I’ve heard from a former DI is that they are terrified of sending someone improperly prepared for battle. They push recruits to the end of their rope without compassion because there is none on the battlefield. We are now a purely volunteer force and all the more effective for it. In modern times a draft would not work at all and much of why started in Vietnam.

You cannot tell who is evil and who is not everyone of us has an inner demon inside why? Humans are not created perfect we all have evils and madness but war is the only environment were all humans worst trait and inner demons shows. It's understandable in training that the drill instructor push every recruits to the limit even encouraging one to be a trained and cold blooded killer in war there is no mercy and a weak person is as good as dead as he is alive why you cannot survive even a single day in combat if your weak

Negative. They are not "murderers", they are killers. There is a difference.

On you for being his joker at the very least you can definitely say that you did try

Or maybe the current President. Just sayin'

@@txdrmr trump was a draft dodger. He never served. Biden on the other hand was in university.

@@txdrmr the current president is like 500 years old

@@binbows2258 he’s literally 3 years older than the last president

I laughed and got sick to my stomach while watching a video when a colonel or general of some sort was interviewing a recruit who was in the midst of his first day of what passes for Army boot camp now. He asked the private if what he was doing was stressful, and the private said flat out, "No, sir! I thought it would be worse." More than that, the NCOIC who was with the recruit, actually corrected him and got the recruit to say it was stressful. But nothing of what they showed would have even taken place on the most relaxed day when I went through even only 30 years ago. We are so screwed if soldiers today are ever sent to a stressful place, because they will have never experienced true stress until that moment, and none of their fellow soldiers has any idea how they will perform.

@@desertrat7634 That's absolutely unsat. No way they're going to be able to function in combat. I don't even have the words my friend, I feel sorry them. Thanks for your service and sacrifice, Semper Fidelis.

Yeah, making your so called “brothers” turn on you and hate you. Makes you feel real safe and capable to go into combat when you are depending on them to have your back 🙄

@@dylanroemmele906 The record of the Marine Corps in combat speaks for itself. Yes, it's harsh to say the least, but combat is no day at the playground either my friend it's brutal, incomprehensibly so.

@@chrisnizer5702 Compared to other similar forces, they aren’t all that good :/ higher casualties, higher suicides, and a bad win loss ration in comparison to other forces. Even in the U.S they aren’t all that, Army Rangers slap them around. The whole Marines are the best and few is just recruitment propaganda. In terms of skills the average marine is the same as an average us army soldier.

Yeah I think that’s a good breakdown of both of them. Much appreciated. I didn’t want to spend too much time on them although I was tempted haha

The Marines break you down for your own good and the rest of your unit you might come in as a hustler.. akid from the country but when you get through basic hopefully you you understand that you're a marine part of something bigger than you trained to kill and not just murder people combat is a bit ch when you go home you're not a killer you're a vet most who survive will never talk about it I have a friend that is an army ranger Vietnam era he can't watch combat movies and shows it to real you carry out with the rest of your life if the di s did what you see in this movie it was to give you the tools to survive. War is up close and personal crazy if you make it home that basic training help you get there I was in n the army basic had the most unreal feeling at times it was just like this it will change you just wrapping you head around the purpose of it took a lot yes we trained to pull the trigger it's the only way to go we're put in situations nobody should be in this movie always puts me back there some of the others washed out no shame...the dis we had were crazy the ways to train us were better than this but when you and your squad crawled through the live fire course m60 rounds three feet over your head you will be different I just kept thinking to myself damn damn tracers over my head lucky me they're not shooting at my training makes the odds better that you make it home

Well in that case then Hartman accomplished what he set out to do... the senior drill instructor is the enemy and the recruits become a cohesive unit and don't rat on each other , will gladly suffer together , by the end of recruit training they have figured out that daddy was actually the enemy. That he was ordering the junior drill instructors to cause chaos and stress you the fuck out.

My father spent 30 years trying to break me down, but im still ....me 😎

I was there in 76 and I never saw a jelly doughnut either.

Just think of what Pyle had to do to get that jelly doughnut.

I went to Great Lakes and I didn't see em either

My brother spent the summer of 1954 there as a 17 year old. What guys called the old Corp. In 1955-1956 a DI managed to get a bunch of his recruits killed by March them through a swamp at night carrying full gear weighing in excess of 50 lbs. Basic was changed with a heavier emphasis on PT after that. rather than brutality. My brothers stories made this movie seem like child play.

Mess and maint week, they are there

Ha, I've seen this movie so many times and have always thought, how the HeLL did Pyle get a gun into the shower?

Doesn't matter. The barber will still cut the fuzz.

@@stevenbass732 the fuzz, any moles, bumps or lumps. You don’t come out of a 30 second haircut without some collateral damage. I loved how after we got ours cut the DI told us to remove our cover and rub our head once before replacing the cover. He said that was it and he didn’t want to catch us rubbing it again. Lll

@@chrissmith7669 Yep. My fondest memory of the first haircut was when a black guy came in with a gorgeous afro. The black barber asked him if he'd like to keep the fro. Of course he said yes. IDK how the barber did it, but he made 5-6 cuts lifted the fro off and set in the guys lap. BTW, you're right about the collateral damage.

@@stevenbass732 thats hilarious. "keep the fro", lol.

@@maxten I know. I still, after all these years, haven't figured out how that barber did it.

@@Javitravels95 they say go as a man not a kid

Once you break a child, you'd better have a fucking manual because you're gonna create a monster if you don't know what you're doing.

We had a guy flip like that in AIT, he didn't kill anyone, but it was a trip. He went over the edge over a weekend and I was on fire duty that weekend. Last I knew he was under 3 point restraint. He never came back, so I never got my jumper cables back that were in his trunk.

Yup. I saw how recruit training changes someone. Also, processing and serving in their unit changes them as well. Basic is just the beginning of a major transformation. A person changes in Basic, in his unit and on deployment. Each challenge is more difficult than the last, with the VA (Veteran Affairs) being the most difficult in many ways.

@Jonathan Spier Mainly just marines with a retention rate of 18% compare that to the army’s 92%

@Jonathan Spier i would say its more bc of chain of command

Yeah, _hazing_ is common in other organizations too.

Ni

No

Missing alot of the ass play though

@@bigdbob7929 you must have been in 2nd battalion haha

3rd BTN MCRD SD 1963, the close a movie has ever come to the real thing. SF

@@bigdbob7929 Soaps were dropped intentionally?

@@dexterlacroy4132 nut to butt is how the showers work my dude

Good thing I'm not in boot camp or I'll kill every single one of my comrades, leave me alone and there will be no bloodbath

Would you consider that hazing or you know torture?

@@camrenmugabe3062 I'd call it retaliation or payback. When one guy causes 49 other guys pain and disgrace for weeks, guys get fed up with that.

@@therealstubot Thank you for the clarification.

@@therealstubot It's torture and bullying, there's no two ways about it. In normal jobs it would land you with the sack and possibly even jail time. If the person isn't up to the job, fire them. There's never an excuse for physical and mental abuse.

I did my recruit training at MCRD San Diego. We had to button our top button all through 1st phase of training (there were three phases when I did it in 86'). Once we moved on to 2nd phase we unbuttoned the top button. By the time I went in things had changed dramatically in recruit training from prior years due to some seriously excessive recruit deaths as a result of batshit-insane DI's. In 83' one fuck-O DI marched an entire training platoon into the swamps of Parris Island which resulted in the drowning deaths of five recruits. Then in 85' at MCRD another nutjob DI who was pissed at his squad made them run the tap water until scalding hot then ordered the recruits to fill their canteens and then forced them to drink the scaling hot water. One recruit died and about 20 were seriously injured. So when I went in July of 86' DI's could no longer punch or slap you. They had workarounds though, they would spit on you and even kick you on occasion and if you were a real fuck-up they would take you into the "whiskey locker" which is the supply room, close the door, and beat the shit outta you but that rarely happened.

I did in 1974, MCRD San Diego. 1st phase. Do your research, pilgram.

@@lewjames6688 What does MCRD San Diego have to do with anything.

@@lewjames6688 Having gone through Parris Island, I can tell you unequivocally that recruits do not button their top button. Perhaps you should learn your place. San Diego isn't real boot camp anyway. Why would anybody admit that. A So.Cal. beach and boot camp?... righhht. There is no boot camp without that swamp smell and 17 acres of grinder.

@@jimangela4589 Well supposedly both follow the same rules.

Well said Marty. I live inner city, can be a rough place. I was asked why I grab my med bag, glove up and get emergency services to the degenerates of society. My answer always has been, wouldn't you want someone to help you?

@@Pd-17 Great work, Mate. If society could only look at all the great examples of selflessness and try to reflect them, things would be different. My best wishes go with you, every time you step out the door. Take care.

I’m glad you were able to retire from your profession. If I may ask, what sorts of changes did you notice about yourself?

@@Will-ud4wr Ummmm.....Many, I guess. I wake up to any flickering lights and fireworks, even at a distance. I've become a bit emotionally detached, but extremely emotional, at times. I value life so much more than I can say. Any life...period. I work very hard to be understanding of peoples circumstances and cultural differences. Violence is a huge no. And, number one....the smell of death does weird things to me.

The bird died though

you should read up on Mcnamara's morons. there legitimately was a period when people who scored below Average were thrown into the thick of the fighting.

@@boarfaceswinejaw4516 Yup! Not to mention Vietnam forced the Draft. Lots of folks who weren't "cut" for service.

You were probably the Pyle

I was.

We also had a Pyle, I even called him Pyle. That guy was such a fuckup while we were supposed to be straightening up our areas before getting our graduation release brief.the idiot fell asleeep.. our TI had to wake him up. He kept denying being asleep. Finally he admitted it. When the TI asked why, instead of saying he was tired he said it was because he was bored lmao. He didn't get to leave the base with his family for graduation celebration lol.

Every platoon has a least one "Pyle" They are not usually bad people, just unfit for the task. The problem is when you cannot send them off but you are obliged to work with them, train them and try to make them deliver... Most of times they are a danger to themselves and their teammates

The other problem is Pyle didn't willingly join

duh

You are absolutely insane. Hartman had no reason whatsoever to abuse Lawrence.

Hartman was part of the military that demanded him to deliver 'killing machines' (not 'thinking soldiers') as they have to act on (learned) 'instinct'. In a sense, Hartman was a victim of that mentality as well - if he had dismissed Pyle, he would have 'failed' and been reprimanded. So, the Army/Marines rather cracks recruits past their breaking point than realise maybe some people are truly not a good match - maybe put him in supplies where he might do a better (great?) job? However, with a sociopath like McNamara, cranking out his 'optimized' Army, he figured even low-IQ recruits could win the war for him and his incompetent boss. Not to dismiss the Army's inane doctrine - they were still training for WWII - making it way too easy for the Communists to send them home in a bag. So it was a top-down issue - Hartman was just a insignificant cog in it - and obviously failed, but that is where the system broke down.

@@MrCmon113 It was Hartmans job to prepare them for war, I would rather have a drill instructor abuse me because I'm weak to prepare me for whats to come instead of treat me with softness and gentleness just for me to get slaughtered.

Modern army basically had an open door policy. We had someone who broke mentally and they just had someone walk with them to a DS and they spilled their heart and guts out. 5 weeks later she was gone

@@hackermangage1703 Okay, so about the same as when I was in. For the record, I never saw (I don't think anyone saw) are REAL "stress card" - it would have to have an National Stock Number as an official Army form, DA-Something-or-other. Never heard of such a form. I think the stress card, in reality, is right up there with, "The Buffer Hanging" urban legend. It was *always* "Not my company, but another company in my training battalion..." level. LOL I wonder if Mythbusters ever tested the buffer cord myth on Buster?

@@wallaroo1295 yeah, stress cards are bullshit. When I went to basic, Mfs would make jokes about it but nobody was ever actually given a “stress card.” It was a load of bullshit

@@sovietelmo3000 The only thing I can come up with, is something a Good Idea Fairy Chaplain would try - some third party "Check your Stress" civilian thing from the time, some training battalion tried it, and the Military Legend grew from there. Who knows for sure - at this point though, it is most definitely in the Legend category.

There is no stress card or timeout in war, numb nuts

Thank you much appreciated! And I agree with what you’re saying mostly. There are a lot of layers to these films that are worth discussing but when I look at movies, I always gravitate towards ideas about human nature, and I think Kubrick did the same in his movies for the most part. Although he did include political messages for sure.

Combat mainly is human nature. To fight with oneself over resources. Instead of cooperating amd coordinating. Politics are entirely human concepts as are governments. Ants and whatnot do come close, however they serve in the natural world to survive.. we serve in other conflicts that arise from other human conflicts. The only conflicts most countries face are human related conflicts. Food shortages in some countries for example. Couldve been solved with coordination and cooperation. Meanwhile many others waste. Food shortages in most places of the world technically would be human related considering the technological advancements humans have achieved. Yet we csnt even feed ourselves? Come on.. most of the us economy is based off wars and fighting them. Ww2. Vietnam korea the list goes on. All wars are fought over lack of resources due greed or human idiocy. Or literally ideologies. Hence crusades. The only natural conflicts are the ones in well... nature. Fighting to survive. Whether it be environment or predators. To survive is a natural fight. To fight for oneselfs beliefs, good or bad, your own gain, or any reason you decide on. Is fabricated. By you, and anyone who partakes. Sometimes you need to fight for the good of something. But the problem your facing is either human created, related, or could eased with peaceful human interaction Catch my drift? Tldr: Humans are asshats that create most of their own problems and blames it on other factors. All wars are included. Ps. Maybe art school should be more accepting too.

Precisely. No analysis of FMJ is possible without reference to Project 100,000. As well R Lee Ermey relates the pressure Marine trainers were under to turn out riflemen at the height of the war with swollen training cadres and compressed schedules with the resulting abuse meted out on the recruits.

It feels weird knowing that had I lived back then, I likely would have been one of them. This is exactly why I'm not going to join the military anymore.

McNamara's morons is truly a sick idea that was adopted by the US government, the underlying reason for it was not to give hope and purpose to men from poor backgrounds. The program was used because McNamara knew the outrage of poor soldiers being killed at high rates would be minal as compared to soldiers being killed from middle-class families. (Pure evil) However these low IQ soldiers proved useless in battle and America completely stopped the idea of a draft army.

another example why the vietnam war was a disaster on all fronts.

It's more about Forrest Gump, but yeah, Pyle fits perfectly

I've noticed that more and more now. My uncle went through bootcamp during Nam man is an absolute asskicker. I'm thankful for having some amazing RDCs build me up to be tougher, stronger and more humble. The new batch of kids coming from bootcamp seem softer and expect more.

I agree a kid I was friends with went to Paris island and I thought he’d come back a man but still a whiny little manipulative beyotch scared of everyone that stepped toward him . Saddest part was playing basketball man after ten minutes he was winded and needed a break I’m a smoker for crying out loud and was in disbelief. Times have changed for sure . It’s still boot camp but it’s not what the greatest generations went through. Dude got himself kicked out of the corp and then the army took him he completed they’re basic also in fort sill Oklahoma and then went awol. Yet he runs around with his cat card and talks about himself to chicks like he’s gi joe lol it’s right there with stolen valor in my book. Pisses me off I wanted in to serve badly but flat feet and a arrest ruined it . But yeah the intensity has been turned down a few notches for sure

Maybe because we’re not going to war.

@@Nephalem2002 doesn't matter. Still need to be ready for battle and any enemies that may try to take you life aka end your living subscription. I still train, still workout, still stay aware of my surroundings. I hate having my back turned on the door when I eat at a restaurant or pub.

@@stormking3755 that last part was very boot

Great insight!

D'onofrio gave a masterful performance. He really did look just like a little kid when Joker was showing him how to execute the commands with his rifle.

I appreciate your candidness but why did you view him with disdain? What fault was it of his that you would feel disdain for the poor guy? It saddens me to hear this because I had an older cousin like Pyle that the village children would laugh at and ridicule. He was a soft and very loving character. One day I was walking with him, he was always barefooted as he didn't like shoes (the Mediterranean is hot in the summer) and a group of kids saw him and started their usual crap on him. The joy he had of having met me in the street suddenly turned to this tangible sadness in his eyes and it just killed me. I was 11 years old at the time. I picked up three or four good-sized stones and threw them at their heads. I was a pretty good shot and a couple of the stones found their mark. I picked up some more stones to throw at them but they run off effing and blinding. I walked my cousin home and told his father what had happened and who some of those idiots.

Weird. I don't think this movie ever got me laughing at him. Sociopath.

@@PopADoseYo Hey well at least you know a persons morals by how they view people. Lets you know who to stay away from

The fuck was the point of Vietnam anyways?

​@@Nephalem2002 no good reasons, that's for sure. After decades of ignoring the pleas of the Vietnamese people for help in gaining independence from imperial France, the US just passed up an opportunity to make Vietnam a willing democratic partner in southeast Asia. After sacrificing so many American lives in freeing France itself from the Nazis, the US could have gone to the French and said "you owe us one; when Japan leaves Indochina, you don't go back." The US didn't do that, instead opting to assign one lonely OSS agent to monitor the goings on as France retook Indochina, and separatist Vietnamese forces tried to fight them off. Vietnam did repel France, after getting help from Russia with a big stipulation that Vietnam had to make itself in Russia's image. And then, like in Korea, the US did the one thing that Russia couldn't abide by, installing a right-wing regime in the middle of their territory. And once again the cycle of stupid continued.

​@@StringerNews1 You know, as an european, it's always funny to hear americains being overdramatic about their losses in the few wars they fight in their history. What is for you "so many American lives" is just another thuesday for the history of literally every european country. And fun fact : the french alone lost more soldiers during the battle of France in 1940 than the USA lost soldiers during all WW2. Not even joking. Also, you love acting as if you are constantly fighting for freedom of others when it is for personnal gains. I mean for instance you had gain a lot of money in all that affair of both world wars, with your "investsments" in a ravaged Europe don't you, you clever boys ;)

​@@nallitsacneah2971 I agree, and perhaps one reason for that sanctimonious nature is that American innovation allowed US forces to enjoy a 10:1 kill ratio over its enemies in battle throughout the 20th century. That sort of luck can get people to think that their lives are worth ten times that of others. Regardless, it was earned. The last time I checked, the Marshall Plan was not an investment, it did not pay dividends to America, it was cash payment to help Europe get back on its feet a lot faster than would have been possible without. Even with the payments, America enjoyed almost no competition for at least 15 years after the end of WWII. Had we kept the money and invested it locally, we could have maintained that lead for decades longer, perhaps forever. As a member of the first American generation after Baby Boomers, that would have been nice for me because finding a good job in the '80s was a lot harder than it had been for my Boomer predecessors. But the Marshall Plan was the Right Thing to do on many levels. If you're butthurt at America, remember that it's your own fault. After "the war to end all wars," no American was keen on going back for a second time because Europeans couldn't keep the peace that the US had won for them. But we did, and beggars can't be choosers. Face facts--France was a loser, and not morally better for sacrificing more lives to some imaginary god of war. No, you don't get points for throwing human lives at a lost cause! But the USA sure does get credit for coming back for the second time in as many decades to bail your lazy asses out. And for that you should be eternally grateful.

They used similar methods in the waffen SS if the recruit wanted to leave. Germany needed every recruit at that point and either the whole unit graduated, or a failing recruit would be pushed to suicide through acts more evil than those done to Pyle.

@@taterater1052 LOL Is that what they tell you in school now? Well here's the truth: Punishment exercises were entirely BANNED under the Reich. Banned. So take your misinformation and propaganda and shove it.

@@Aqueox all they do is lie these days but everyone just eats it up sad isn't it

@@Aqueox That is complete and utter bullshit.

@@margotpreston Prove it. You won't.

Yes, I definitely see what you’re coming from. I don’t think Hartman really does anything wrong necessarily. The question becomes, what method goes too far? I would say what they did to Pyle is too far but it was a practice in boot camp. Interesting question. Appreciate the comment!

@@LifeIsAStory Well there you go, thats the absurdity of it all. We think that this behaviour is abhorrent, and it is. But if one mentally scarred young man and a dead gunnery sargeant is the cost of 30-40 competent marines. Thats a net win. Look forward to your next vid.

There is one phrase that I have never, never forgotten from bootcamp: "Attention to detail!" Because even the smallest of details, unattended to, can get you killed.

@@LifeIsAStory Look at it another way. Here you have 40 young men unaccustomed to really hard times. Live or die, kill or be killed. The DI's have just 13 weeks to turn them into warriors. Sounds like a long time, but it's not. The first thing they have to do is make them understand that individuals no longer exist. It's all or none.

The foot locker scene is significant though because it's really victim-blaming. He tells Pyle if it weren't for ppl like him who leave their stuff unattended/ unlocked, there would be no thievery in the world. It's a comment that really doesn't make sense, because everyone knows that thieves steal from locked cars/ houses/ and mug people just walking down the street. The comment is basically: "If something bad happens to you, then you were asking for it." I think it's more demoralizing by the Drill Instructor, chipping away at Pyle, and it's also a comment by Kubrick on soldiers and Marines in general and the attitude our country goes into war with. It's a message from the U. S. to the enlisted men.

Im beginning to think striking a Recruit was more rare than it was percieved. Only glamorized in Hollywood.

I did my time on Parris Island in 1975. Many recruits in my platoon were struck, and outright physical abuse took place as well...such as taking four recruits, having them do bends and thrusts until they were near exhaustion them pouring bleach and ammonia on the closet floor and making them do more. 76 started, only 42 graduated on time. Not going to lie: I made it on time but what I took with me through that and my service changed part of me that took years after discharge to get back. Being sent to do the untold dirty things in Central America didn't help.

@@majorsynthqed7374 I hope the CIA weren't using you to murder innocent civilians. If they were, could you resist that order? I heard that soldiers don't have to follow immoral orders or orders against the Geneva Convention on warfare. Is that true?

@@ninelaivz4334 Any military member who refuses an order from a superior can be court martialed. At that point, it is up to the courts to decide the legality of the specific situation. Many such instances are hushed up in militaries around the world, and frankly have been for centuries.

@@majorsynthqed7374 Thanks.

Yeah, that’s what I’ve heard from a lot of people. But for the sake of a story, some unrealistic things need to occur. But it is worth pointing out. And glad you enjoyed 🙏

Not so fast there where plenty of Pyle's in the military back then just look up McNamara's Morons. Robert McNamara lowered the standards to fill the ranks for Vietnam.

@@keithharper1470 Was Pyle really intellectually disabled?

Today that's likely true but at that time they needed bodies or operation bullet shield.

Well said. The books which Full Metal Jacket and A Clockwork Orange were based on focus on what is essentially brain washing to create or change an individuals behaviour or mindset and the negative consequences involved with the conditioning and treatments.

That’s an excellent observation. All of these films have character transformation as a core theme

@@Noname24675 tf are you talking about

@@charmicarmicat2981 what he’s saying is that you’re stupid for enlisting in the first place

Stop being hyperbolic

@@marbl3d45 im not

No. The world is not evil. US is evil. US created the monsters out of people, sent them to other side of world to bring hell in there. Remember helicopter gunner? Killing people for fun. Have you seen last scene, when soldier were marching in night, lit by fire. That was refference about nazi poster. Pyle looks like nazi poster "der untermensch". By the way, he is not first Gomer Pyle in movies, look up.

@@yannikoloff7659 just checking in. You're not glorifying Hitler, are you?

@@cherrypepsi2815 well respect where respect is due. sure he was a monster but the man did a lot of difficult crazy shit successfully.

So only the modern world is full of killing? No killing occured in the ancient world? Ok

@@spp6849 like what?

...................shut up......

@@leonotthelion right because shell shock isn’t a thing -_-

pretty sure any normal ass person would probably do something regardless. You gotta be a special type of person to have a psyychotic episode in the middle of that.

No thanks. I'd rather not be be a part of the imperialist war machine.

Shipping in November kind of wary to go tbh.

@@fernanwoodson9928 You will do great! Just remember why you are there and never quit. The end is all worth it!

@JP Off-Roading finance 🥶im not a tough guy but im doing what i plan to do for the rest of my life

Im doing BMQ for The Canadian Armed forces to join the Navy, and become a Marine Technician.

That’s what reality will do to ya.

Lol if I say so