Braveheart vs
Braveheart vs. full metal jacketCinema Combat: Braveheart vs. Full Metal Jacket
War is an ever-present entity in the world of cinema. The films Braveheart and Full Metal Jacket show strikingly similar, yet different aspects of war. Braveheart is an epic tale of love lost and how the circumstances surrounding that loss contributed in sparking one man's emotions, eventually leading to a bloody rebellion and his country's emancipation for a dictatorial England. Set in 13th century England and Scotland, the film portrays the legend of a man named William Wallace, a commoner bent on unifying the Scots and leading them to their freedom. Throughout the film Wallace is identified as a demigod, with stories ranging from his height being seven feet to his presumed ability to shoot balls of fire from his eyes as seen in the dialogue at the battle of Falkirk.
"Sons of Scotland, I am William Wallace," proclaimed Wallace in an attempt to rally the Scottish troops.
A young soldier contested, "William Wallace is 7 feet tall."
Wallace responded, "Yes, I've heard. He kills men by the hundreds, and if he were here he'd consume the English with fireballs from his eyes and bolts of lightning from his arse. I am William Wallace, and I see a whole army of my countrymen here in defiance of tyranny. You have come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What will you do with that freedom? Will you fight?"
In some ways he is a god to his people. He unites them to fight against insurmountable odds in the English, something no other Scottish lord could do. His contrast in savagery and nobility is astounding. In battle he has no equal, yet in his willingness to die for freedom he is most impressive.
Full Metal Jacket, a masterpiece directed by the late great Stanley Kubrick, tells a story of a somewhat different kind. Full Metal Jacket is first set in Parris Island Boot Camp, as a platoon of new recruits make ready for their deployment to Vietnam. The camp plays a pivotal role in the movie, as the story of the lives of the recruits becomes more intricate. One recruit, nicknamed Private Pyle by the Sergeant due to his inadequacies, goes insane after the weeks of emotional and physical abuse. The catalyst of his insanity occurs as the platoon has had enough of paying for his mistakes. They return the favor by holding him down and beating him with bars of soap encased in towels. This leads to his insanity and ultimately the murder-suicide of the Sergeant and Pyle. The first half of the movie is an understandable reflection of the terror that would eventually enter the lives of these soldiers during war.
These movies portray very different, yet strikingly similar aspects of war. Granted, both have savage battle scenes with enough blood and gore to make even the strongest stomach turn, yet both lend a sort of subtlety and honor to...
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