I searched for a thread about Jarhead, but didn't find one, so...

Did anyone notice that this was basically the same movie as Full Metal Jacket?

From the opening scene to the flow of the movie it just seemed like FMJ 2. The only thing that was different was this was Desert Storm vs. Vietnam. Even dialog: "This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one it mine..." seemed like FMJ 2. It also seemed to share the same themes as FMJ. Even visually, it appeared that the director was trying to show the irony of war being beautiful like Kubrick did in FMJ.

Don't get me wrong, I liked it, but it just seemed like a pale immitation or tribute to FMJ the whole time. I just kept thinking, "I liked this movie better when it was called Full Metal Jacket".

Well.. the adverts were spouting off that it was "this generations full metal jacket" so I'm pretty sure atleast one or two noticed that.

When an older movie is compared to a new one you will automaticlly have mixed feelings because of it. FMJ holds a lot of emotional value to many folks. So saying something is like it wont mean the same since they don't both share the same long history. I'm sure many folks will watch FMJ second after Jarhead and think "I liked this better when it was called Jarhead"

But yes. They were both highlighting how war is not like you would be lead to believe and isn't all glory.

Yea, but you would think it could be this generation's Full Metal Jacket without actually being Full Metal Jacket.

.. what do you think it means to be this generations full metal jacket? Besides the basics you already pointed out that it paints war as gritty and unglorious as it really is.

Agreed on the basic modern remake, the the original is a classic that the new one won't ever be. As for the lines "this is my rifle..." can't really change that as that is what is tought in boot camp.

well considering that Jarhead was based off the accounts of a soldier durring desert storm, it wouldnt really be a remake. According to friends in the army its the closest to being at war for them. because it was things that they experienced.