CERT: 18 / PLATFORM: 4K UHD / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
As Warner Bros. continues to give the works of the legendary Stanley Kubrick new 4K releases, up next on our plate is Kubrick’s 1987 picture Full Metal Jacket.
Initially centred on a group of trainee marines, Full Metal Jacket ends up zoning in on the story of Private Joker (Matthew Modine) as he is faced with the grim realities of war. A hard-hitting movie laced with moments of dark humour and brimming with social commentary, Full Metal Jacket is viewed as one of the all-time great war movies, with breakout performances for Modine and Vincent D’Onofrio, while R. Lee Emery regularly devours scenery as the marines’ hard-ass drill instructor. The movie is phenomenal in every way imaginable and is one of Kubrick’s very best, but then you likely already know this.
If you’re checking out this review, chances are you’re more interested in hearing about the 4K sheen and bonus content than merely us harping on about how great a film Full Metal Jacket is. Visually, it goes without saying that Full Metal Jacket has never looked better. Whether it’s the darkened locale of the training barracks’ toilets or the explosive action of the Vietnam War, the 4K treatment looks chillingly atmospheric. Throw in a new audio mix, too, and this is the definitive way to watch Full Metal Jacket.
On the additional content front, Kubrick die-hards may be a little disappointed to hear that the material included here has all been seen on previous releases. That doesn’t stop these extras being great for new eyes, of course, and the 30-minute Between Good and Evil featurette and brilliant chat track from Vincent D’Onofrio, R. Lee Ermy, Adam Baldwin and critic Jay Cocks are both welcome additions.
Whether you’ve seen Full Metal Jacket a hundred times or are still waiting to check out Kubrick’s flagship 1987 film for the first time, this new 4K UHD release of Kubrick’s flagship 1987 picture is well worth adding to your collection.
