Discussion Film / FullMetalJacket

• Joker, when he tries to shoot the VC sniper in the back, only to hear a click, indicating he's out of ammo and letting the sniper know he's there.

I'm far from a gun expert but sources and can't identify what that "click" means, my impression after another view is that Joker's rifle is not out of bullets, it jams, he reloaded in a previous scene and didn't fire again.

Indicentally, IMDB has this

"Before Private Cowboy's squad moves up to search for the sniper, Joker reloads his rifle. Between the scene where he reloads his rifle to the scene where he prepares to shoot the sniper, he doesn't take any shots with his rifle, but when he attempts a shot on the sniper, there is no ammunition in his magazine. While some people claim that Joker's M16 was out of ammunition when he attempted to shoot the sniper, in fact it was jammed, which was a common problem for the M16 in Vietnam."

For me, I have begun to see some parallels between this movie and Peter Pan in how some of the characters and their relationships have analogues - particularly in the first 3rd/first act set on Parris Island during Basic Training in 1966.

The misogynistic-homophobic-xenophobic Gunnery Sergeant Hartman I see parallels to Captain Hook in. Hartman's abusive rhetoric for a homoerotic/violence-obsessed male utopia of no women reflects Hook and the Jolly Roger's crew. His abuse could also have a level of Psychological Projection that he is lusting after the innocence and souls of Platoon 3092 even as he derides the thought of "ONLY F*GG*TS AND SAILORS ARE CALLED LAWRENCE!". His abhorrence of all things feminine or homosexual coupled with his bipolar abuse towards the men of 3092 seems to indicate to me Hartman is an Armored Closet Manly Gay who is what he despises. These in this troper's mind connects him to Hook who has been said to be queer-coded (who at best is asexual) with his dainty, foppish attitudes and cowardice in the face of a true threat like that of the Crocodile coupled with outdated and harmful stereotypes of gay men. Rule of Cautious Editing Judgment extending to replies will apply to here.

Turning to Private James Theodore "Joker" Davis, I see him as Peter Pan for as Hartman and Hook both lust after either perverting the innocence or outright killing them; Davis and Pan both take on the role of The Prankster or Sad Clown by masking the hidden darkness waiting within with humor in. The "Full Metal Jacket" of humor coupled with youth in a way protects Davis and Pan from the ravages of Hartman and Hook's respective bloodlusts.

As for Private Leonard "Gomer Pyle" Lawrence, I see him as the coming Tick-Tock Crocodile. Hartman's abuse of Lawrence takes on a new meaning first if you take the account of Psychological Projection in which the Senior Drill Instructor is externalizing his own insecurities onto the hapless private. Those insecurities could be of ruined innocence from possibly being a failure in civilian life ("DIDN'T MOMMY AND DADDY TREAT YOU ENOUGH ATTENTION WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD?!") and knowing that heading back to the front lines of Vietnam and the DMZ would kill him, so a cushy job breaking recruits on the home front at Parris Island would allow our Hartman to exact some form of violent power over others without risk to himself. But what if he is at the same token, railing and pushing back against what he sees as the inevitable death of him? Even though he says and I quote "MARINES DIE... THAT'S WHAT WERE HERE FOR! BUT THE MARINE CORPS LIVES ON FOREVER - AND THAT MEANS YOU LIVE FOREVER!", Hartman may really know it's full of shit and is determined to stave off his eventual death at the hands of Lawrence just as Hook attempts to do likewise with the Crocodile. The two authority figures both know that death for them would be worse even as they try to outrun its inevitability. For extra points, the "stupid grin" on Lawrence's face during Hartman's opening diatribes connects him to the Crocodile with the lyrics to "Never Smile At A Crocodile" with Don't be taken in... by his welcome grin. He's imagining how well you'd fit within his skin! if you can believe it.

At least, those are my takes on the characters. What do you tropers think about my interpretation?

What's the deal with the page quote? Crazy Earl? Dank memes? Unless I'm missing something, I'm pretty sure this should be removed.

I removed this

• Analogy Backfire: When war footage is being shot, the marines discuss what roles they want in the movie. One of them says that he'll be General Custer, and it is decided that the Vietnamese shall play the Indians. Custer was killed by Native Americans at the Battle of Little Bighorn.

The tropes is not in play as there is no in-universe backfire, no retort. The trope description includes a back and forth exchange between characters and so do the examples. Viewer realization is not enough, even considering that Tropes Are Flexible.

But there is a trope in there about idiocy and ignorance, but also about sociopathy since Custer killed a lot of Indians before kicking the bucket and is a glorified figure anyway for his last stand. In-universe You Fail History Forever would have worked before the rename to Artistic License. Critical Research Failure in-universe doesn't apply well to a throwaway line.

ETA I think I'll add it under Sociopathic Marine