Continuity mistake: In the opening scene, Gunnery Sgt. Hartman is making his speech and passes by Privates Cowboy and Joker on his way to the other side of the barracks. On his way he passes Private Pyle standing to the right of Private Joker. Later in the scene, when he rushes over to confront Private Joker and then moves on to Private Cowboy and then Private Pyle, Private Pyle is on the left of Private Joker. (00:02:00)
Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Ending / spoiler
Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
Starring: Vincent D'Onofrio, Matthew Modine, Adam Baldwin, R. Lee Ermey, Arliss Howard
About three soldiers (including Cowboy and Eightball) are killed by the VC Sniper. Private Joker (Matthew Modine) and the others search a demolished building that they believe the sniper is in. Joker spots the sniper but his gun jams at the last minute. He avoids the sniper's bullets by hiding behind a post, before Private Rafterman (Kevyn Major Howard) saves his life, by shooting the sniper. The sniper is actually a female and starts asking the men to kill her. The last scene shows the surviving troops walking next to a flaming Hue City at night and singing the Mickey Mouse Club theme song.
Private Pyle
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: How tall are you private?
Private: Sir, five foot nine, sir!
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Five foot nine, I didn't know they stacked shit that high!
Trivia: While R. Lee Ermey has received high praise for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman, Ermey himself stated that Hartman is an inept drill instructor because Hartman not only physically abuses the recruits, which is never allowed, but also because any drill instructor would have noticed that Pyle was having a mental breakdown.
Question: Private Joker asks the gunner on the chopper about how he is able to shoot women and children, and the gunner replies by saying 'it's easy, you just don't lead them so much'. Does anyone know what that means?
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Answer: To lead means to aim ahead of a moving target. His statement means that women and children don't run as fast as men, so you don't need to aim as far in front of them to hit them.
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