This unique, eye-opening documentary by newcomer filmmaker Canaan Brumley shows us the hardship a band of United States Marine Corps recruits face during one trip through boot camp.
This film is the first half of Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket brought to reality. Told in a handful of titled chapters, this portrait of soldiers in training isn’t your average documentary; with no interviews or narration, Brumley presents our characters with visual emotion and intensity. Rather than getting to know each of the recruits personally as they fight through boot camp, we travel the road with them and witness the experiences up close and personal.
We open with an overcrowded bus of young men, anxiously waiting their first orders. Enter the drill sergeant who screams his head off so viciously, you cringe in your seat. As the recruits try to adapt to the new lifestyle, a pack of hysterically angry sergeants are on the prowl at all times, flying across the room and yelling like banshees from hell. We watch them rant when the shoes aren’t polished enough, or the bed is made improperly, or just because your fingernails aren’t clean enough.
The venture that we undergo is sometimes painful to watch, but sometimes a real pleasure. Even in the midst of such a torturous place, some of the shots captured by Brumley are quite beautiful. In one instance, as the men run in formation outside to the drill sergeant’s ritualistic “Left, right, left, right” chant, a flock of birds above them seem to follow the commands, swerving back and forth in a hypnotic rhythm.
Have a nice day. January 15, 2006 reply
Best of luck. March 10, 2006 reply
for sale for 22.00 plus shipping. March 14, 2006 reply
March 23, 2006 reply
hollywood never gets anything right- only marines will know what its like to be a marine- if you're dying to know what its like being a marine- then join. May 24, 2006 reply
and matt if you are a poole, no it wont prepare you but it will give you an idea of what to expect, then just intesify that documentary......
August 5, 2006 reply
And as for all marines here well said. For the dumb fuckers in the discusion who aint been in the Corps shut the hell up. If you want to know join the Marines grab a rifle get a pack go to boot, do your schooling, get to the fleet, prove yourself to your fellow marines. Get out, or Stay in. And earn the Right, The Title UNITED STATES MARINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! August 7, 2006 reply
For others that read and need some knowledge, Marines are Marines, not sailors, airmen, and by all means, we're not soldiers!
And for the Marines commenting on here, how about some respect by capitalizing the M and C in Marine Corps! You earned it, have some pride in it!
All you POG's.... eat shit and die!!!!!!
And always,
Semper Fi!!! August 20, 2006 reply
You have to have been through these extremes to adapt to them. August 29, 2006 reply
I caught myself laughing at some of the mind games but, back in the day..I was scared shitless.
This movie brought back some memories and, I wished it was longer maybe show the gas chamber,line training the marine trail and, The reaper.
anyways a good look into our bastardly bapstism.
SEMPER FI!!! October 6, 2006 reply
Great documentary. I stumbled on it accidently, and never moved from my seat for two hours. Just one thing I would have liked different, why couldn't it be like it was in the fiftys, MI Rifles, and I won't tell how the DI's really treated us then. Hated them, until I got out of boot, then spend the rest of my life admiring them. USMC '52-'55 November 12, 2006 reply
Your banter among your fellow Marines brought a smile to my face. Grunts vs POG's, etc.
I did take acception to "Where it all starts" comment on mothers of America causing todays Corps to be soft on recruits. I wanted my son to learn ALL he could in Boot and SOI so that it might save his life. I shook the hands of his DI's. I also motivated him. I flew across the country and taped that EGA ceremony. I flew back for the send off to war. The Homecoming. Another send off just 4 months later. I have sent my son his birthday & Christmas greetings to a war zone for the last two years. I have other "adopted" Marines I support as well. I make condolence books for the parents whose Marines gave all. I volunteer for 3 orgs that support Marines. I don't cry through any of this because I'm a tough ass Marine Mom. Don't think for one minute my "duty" isn't a worthy job. Don't dis me, either. I WAS the original Drill Instructor with my own version of MCMAP and I'll kick your ass. December 26, 2006 reply
December 27, 2006 reply
What concerns me is that I have been aware of the changes, not specific changes but the overall approach to recruit training. I don't recognize it any longer. It is not what I experienced and absolutely not what those experienced before me. To take a human being and prepare them to do what every fiber of their being tells them is life threatening takes certain measures, you don't do that being PC. Nightly I morn for the familys of those not coming back but I don't morn for my Marines, they will live through me and tens of thousands before and after, they will live FOREVER! GodBless December 28, 2006 reply
I ask this SGT. is it worth it, doing what you do, and he said no way, the shit he did and the shit he saw fucked him up he's in counseling every week and he still has nightmares and its been a year and a half. I think about this and i dont know what to do. Sometimes a violent motherfucker, but when i dont use that for a job as a marine and i constantly hear that POG ass shit from grunts it pisses me the fuck off. So tell me devils, have i not really been a marine until i've killed somebody, have i not really been a marine until i've watched one of my friends die or nearly been killed myself. You fucking tell me because i am sick of being a second class citizen and if i have to, i'll get out finish my college reENLIST (cuz black is where its at) and i'll see you motherfucking baby killers on the sharper side of the world YOU TELL ME BECAUSE I AM FUCKING SICK OF BEING CALLED A PUSSY BY PEOPLE WITH GT SCORE OF THREE!!!!!! March 19, 2007 reply
"They have us surrounded, Sir!"
-"Good, now we can attack them from every direction..."
WE ALL know who said that.
Semper Fi. March 23, 2007 reply
I served from '90-'94. Made it just in time for the Gulf War, if you could call it a 'war'; it was more like a massacare. Spent five days at Cherry Point before they sent us over. I'll never forget the MstrGny telling us, "Don't unpack your shit!"
Seeing footage from this movie brought back all of the memories of boot and the Fleet, but also all of the bad ones. I'll stop right there. It's a package deal, but one that I wouldn't trade for anything.
For anyone thinking about joining or who has a buddy in the Corps I reccomend this movie. It's only of fraction of the experience, but it's more realistic than Full Metal Jacket (a great movie. Lee Ermey, SEMPER FI!) if for only the fact that there isn't one, but three or four DIs constantly on the prowl and probably all screaming at the same time. "Marine Corps Drill Instructor AMBUSH" has to be my favorite scene in the movie. April 14, 2007 reply
My name is Michael W. Nichols, former SSgt Nichols. I spent 12 years in the Marine Corps and recently exited the Corps honorably to pursue some personal dreams and desires of my family and I. I was the Senior Drill Instructor in the Marine Boot Camp Documentary "Ears, Open; Eyeballs, Click" Well, since everyone is talk about being a Marine and the documentary and what it may present. Let's just say, I trained 8 platoons with 1st Battalion, Charlie Company and the documentary does not truly portray how hard we really train recruits to become Marines. However, it is the closest footage I have seen. Once you see it, you will notice things that will motivate you and things that will make you mad. The fact of the matter is, when I 1st saw it, I was upset because of so much stuff the recruits were getting away with but once I sat back and digested it, it's factual, recruits are going to get away with things and the cameras were right there when our backs were turned.
I remember when they 1st told me they were going to have a camera crew follow me, I was upset because the last thing any Drill Instructor wants is someone following them around micromanaging everything they are doing. However, after a while, it was like the camera was not even there but I notice the recruits would use that to their advantage at times. I would have to take them out to the PIT and kill them a little bit to keep them in check more times than not. This was one of the hardest cycles for me because it was my 1st Senior cycle and I had all these politics following/watching me during this film crew process and it took twice as long to get snapped in and trainable. I had kids quitting on me and refusing to train, ect,. Any other cycle, you would not even dare mentioned it because no matter what, your but was training. Overall, the platoon finished really strong but it took forever to get them on board with the Marine Corps way of thinking sort of speak! Actually, we almost took honor platoon in the end which would have been an upset seeing how bad the platoon started off. Usually, it took me about 2 hard weeks with my platoons and the rest of the time, it would be just maintaining the discipline and structure set in the beginning. Not 1141, they wanted to keep testing their boundaries which keep them in the pit more times than not! OHH-RAH but you don’t see much of that good training coming from me in the film.
Currently, I am working with the Director Canaan Brumley www.canaanbrumley.com as an Associate Producer for this project that has been around the world like (France, Paris, Demark, England, Russia, New York, LA, ect). I have some upcoming viewing of the film coming up where I go, meet allot of people, do questions and answers about the Corps, and sign autograph and take some photo’s with people. Overall, I truly wish Canaan would have put more pain and pit calls into the movie but I understand everything he has put in the movie from spending so much time with the director during the process. I truly hope you guys enjoy the documentary which you can purchase on the directors website, I am sure it will be around for decades to come. I am currently working with the MCX and Marine Corps Association to get it sold on bases throughout the world so keep it in prayer to better our life in the Corps. God Bless and Semper Fi
*Former Senior Drill Instructor SSgt Michael W. Nichols
Email: nicholsmw@mac.com
April 24, 2007 reply
First - love the motivation level here. I stumbled upon this movie via the internet and have only watched the cuts posted on youtube etc. I'm very impressed, brought back some memories of Parris Island circa 1996 - Platoon 1117.
Second - The to the DI's - I hated you with every atom in my then nasty civilianized body, but the "thing" about boot camp is realizing that your perceived Hate towards us was the greatest sacrifice I had the privilege to experience. No one wants to be thrashed, but after enough time on the island, in a weird way, it became a welcomed occurrence among my platoon. For those with enlarged Brain Housing Groups you might guess from my call-sign above that I had a blue sticker? Know this: I saw one of my greenbelts at Quantico. I was a newly minted butterbar, he was a newly minted warrant officer. Could have gotten revenge - not smart, or at the least revel in hearing him call me sir. No! I walked up, after the electric pulse of fear subsided in my spine, and said "Drill Instructor Sgt Shaw... Recruit Joe Marine from 1117.
I’m about four years out and its good to hear Marine Banter again, and more importantly, that there not recruiting pussys too!
SEMPER FI SDI Sgt McCullough, DI Sgt Shaw, DI Sgt Jones and DI Sgt Baxley. And, Semper Fi to the rest of the peanut gallery – I’ll take each of you motherfuckers on anytime!!
May 23, 2007 reply
May 26, 2007 reply
which helped me out through out my Marine Corps career. Man I can't say enough about my Senior and the Drill Instructors. This documentary brought back memories. Especially the marching parts of this documantary. The recruits were so out of step, I laughed my ass off. I could imagine how i performed when I first learned how to march. Memories. Thanks to the director. OH YEAH Infantry all the way!!!!!! Nice to know POGIES will always have your back even though they sleep in the rear with the gear!....Semper Fi Marines...Once a Marine, Always a Marine, No matter what decade.... May 29, 2007 reply
However funny to see grunts and pogs to talk shit to each other. After doing 48 casulaty evacs and holding on to a war fighters bloody hand as he thanks you for picking him up out of a zone that was deemed to hot for pick up and saying, "thank you, doc said i would have died if you would have taken 15 more minutes," defintly should prove to every Marine that no MOS is more important than another. June 9, 2007 reply
Charlie Co. Back then in 87-88 we were called "cheatin charlie". For bypassing the "SOP". ie. Rules & Regs for recruit trng. All you former Hats out there, be proud, you made a difference. All you current jarheads and former jarheads, quit bitching about each other. Trust me, one day when you get out of the Corps and life goes on. You really appreciate being a Marine a lot more than when you were in. Coming straight out of high school, that's all you know and you take it for granted. Being a hat back then was kind of thankless, butt kicking job but we had each other. You felt the glory after the drill field not during it because most of the time you were working your ass off with 18-20 hours days and just waiting to get a freakin day off to "sleep" with was valued more than sex! I got out in 92 after the gulf war stuff. Made a successful career in the Sheriff's dept for 15 years now. But I contribute my success to my Marine Corps training and leadership training. Best damn training in leadership in the world bar none! Being a DI is the highlight of my life and I will never forget it because it was so stressful. Kind of love and hate thing. Even though I am a Sheriff of supervisor rank. I will NEVER have as much power as when I was a DI. As I reflect back to the times back then, we were SUPERMEN! Anyone who served or was a freakin recruit, check out the youtube clip marine corps boot camp 1980s. If you actually order the DVD, you will get sent back to circa 88-89,1st Bn Alpha Co. I knew the SDI in the film, Sgt/SSgt Venable and a lot of the other hats in the film. Which is really actual video footage. It's been at least 18yrs and to see that footage brought me back to MCRD in an instant. Like I was right there that moment. And you know what? The Hats in the film will always be the same age because that is how I remember them. Take care you jarheads and hit me up on email if you want to rap about the good ole days! I have a Deputy B. CHOW who was a HAT at MCRD, 3rd Bn 87-89? on our dept if you want me to pass word on to him.
Semper fi! July 18, 2007 reply
In the end however, most of us, finally caught on and put all the mistakes we had made behind us. I thank my Drill Instructors for not giving up on us, ever.
For those that remember or care I am Calderon S. there were two of us with the same last name, the other was Calderon R.
P.S. Sgt Urbina, I haven't tried the Anbesol yet, but because of that "Tip" I have not forgotten you.
July 20, 2007 reply
6 active, 2 usmcr. miss the life. i was flippin channels one night, seen this on the Documentary Channel. it definately brought me back. you people are my bros for ever.
Semper Fi Mother Fuckers November 8, 2007 reply
You are just confirming BC Nwade's point. Probably just a year to a few years before you were in bootcamp, Marine recruits still had to polish their two sets of boots and shine their brass belt buckles. November 9, 2007 reply
Lcpl Rendon
Semper Fi December 24, 2007 reply
Sharon May 26, 2008 reply
Having your free will stripped from you comes from losing your hair, your right to speak, your right to eye FK the area etc. , it starts to wear you down and the only thing you have left is to rise up and learn stuff the Marine Corps way. It is a system that just works and is not like any other branch's training.
What went thru my head 1st was WTF did I get myself into. From reveille to taps it is just go, go, go, the DIs never FN stopped. It was endless. I weighed 154 pounds went I stepped on those yellow foot prints and weighed 185 when graduated.
I watched this film because My son is shipping out to MCRD San Diego in a few weeks and mentioned it to me. He can already run and hump like a beast. He just ran 4 miles in 24 minutes. I raised his ass hard and even made him "lock his FN body when he was a kid. but still there is no way to inure a person to the reality of boot camp. I was struck that the federal government could treat a person worse than they treat prisoners, but it is all good. I think every Marine "after graduation" begins to understand the sacrifice and dedication their drill instructors exhibited.
I'm looking forward to returning to San Diego to see him graduate. I am sure the trip will bring back poignant memories and pride that my son is now my brother.
Marine boot camp is just it's own thing and it is just a primer to actually been in the FMF. It's just initiates us in to the USMC culture so you are not too big of a F-up when you get to the fleet.
OOfn Rah! July 3, 2014 reply