Day 70: Favorite War Movie


There was no denying that I had to pick at least one Stanley Kubrick film for this 90 day journey that started over two years go. And while it took a while before one of his films found a place in Part III, it was only fitting that it fell into my favorite war movie category. I was haunted by Full Metal Jacket for almost a decade before Spielberg introduced to me to Saving Private Ryan, which probably would have been sitting here if it hadn't been for Day 21.

The brilliance of Full Metal Jacket is in how it's split in half, almost as if it's two completely separate movies. They represent the truest forms of war: Order and Chaos. It is an astounding look at the military mindset and how it effects each individual differently (even to the point of unfortunate self-destruction with Private Pyle); but it's also a harrowing look at the Vietnam War and Joker's journey in trying to come to grips with the evil of humanity.

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