I think its the best Vietnam war film of all time, and right behind
"Come and See" and "The Thin Red Line" on the list of best war films
ever. Yes, like every Kubrick picture the design and composition are
perfect (2nd half NEVER looks like it was shot on stage. It looks like
it would if Kubrick and crew were filming live in Tet). But I keep
coming back for the humor, which is undeniable but also gives me the
feeling that I'm delightfully choking on crude oil. I also think Modine
is vastly underrated in the film.

I think it is a bit weird writing a review upon a movie created by Kubrick, this is the film director that doesn’t need any appreciation. So the place of action are the American marines. A cruel sergeant, bad behavior towards the young boys who were recruited to the army, all of those things are shown very well in the movie. Their aim is to become good killers, but that seems to them like something so far away, that is why they do not take it seriously. Some of them were broken and the other ones were going further. and if the first part of it looks like tragicomedy than the second one is a strong military drama. Here they are guys who went to Vietnam war, it is a pity they didn’t understood their role properly. But for me it was pretty clear the thought that during all the movie it was felt the question who needs this war? It is awkward and no point, and it takes thousands of people’s lives! It was very tragic to watch this movie! I can only imagine how families of people who were in that war felt while watching this movie, especially if they lost someone dear in it!

I will get to the main point, it is my favorite movie! I watched it a few times, and each time i was worrying for the heroes like the first time! In this movie is shown the life of the US marines, starting from their studying times and finishing with the real battlefield! The most important difference from all the other movies about Vietnam is that there is no “John Wayne” kind of stuff in it! In order to become a real killing machine, the new people in the army should go through a lot of physical suffering and humiliation. And after their studying there are even more difficult test for them! - the fights in the cruel war, in which often there is a need to make the choice between debt and conscience. But no matter what i can say that this movie is not that dark, there are a lot of jokes and fun in it. As in other movies about the war in Vietnam the soundtrack to it is amazing! And the last thing, it is better to watch it being away from children, as there are a lot of cursing in the movie, and i am sure that this is not what your child needs.

It is simply an amazing movie I have watched it already for five times probably and each time it was a real pleasure watching it! The atmosphere in it is shown very well, the atmosphere of those times, the laws in the military and the laws for a decent person! I think the actors have done their job very well, and that is why i liked this movie so much.
At the beginning the movie looked like a comedy, with a bit of sad context, but later it develops into a psychological drama which ends up with a lot of blood. I think that this movie shows very well the psychology of yankee, till the moment they are not in the middle of the battle everything is cool, and in the moment when the real war starts they become astonished! I suggest finding this movie in the best possible quality in order to be able to appreciate every single detail of it! It is a long movie, but at the same time it is a worthy one! The thing i also liked a lot was their spirit of team when they were singing songs! That is why i double recommend it!