Is there a more accurate DI portrayal in a movie than Full Metal Jacket?

[Edgeman]

I was blown away the first time I saw that movie how accurate it was...then learned later that R Lee Ermey was an actual USMC DI.

Lets just say Lou Gossett didn't quite measure up to "the real thing."

[Edgeman]

Sorry, I forgot something that says, "America"

[HokieSnoop]

I was blown away the first time I saw that movie how accurate it was...then learned later that R Lee Ermey was an actual USMC DI.

Lets just say Lou Gossett didn't quite measure up to "the real thing."

Not that I've seen. But I've "only" been through infantry basic training, not marine boot camp to really compare. But he hit the nail on the head for what I saw at Fort Benning. Especially how funny a lot of it is if it's not happening to you.

[Edgeman]

We used to do anything to keep from busting out laughing. I'm surprised our Marine DIs could keep a straight face.

When we got away from the DIs, used to really laugh at the way they went after one of the guys in the class..."Hey Mr. Squirrel, throw down my bonnet." But it was never fun when you drew their wrath...lol

[HokieMacDaddy]

Ah, Ft. Benning School for Boys. That was a hellacious three months, but looking back on it now a lot of it was my own fault for letting them get into my head, but I was a 19-year-old kid so I give myself some slack.

As for trying not to laugh, one afternoon a couple of Spicoli types and I were sitting on the landing shining boots. One of our platoon's drill sergeants came through the door, at which point you're supposed to stand up and go to parade rest. One of the other dudes just looked up at the DS for a second, then slowly put his hands behind his back like you would at parade rest while continuing to sit cross-legged on the cement. You could tell the DS was trying hard not to laugh; instead he just said "you better do some push-ups" and headed down the stairs before we could see him smile.

[CPRVHokie]

I was blown away the first time I saw that movie how accurate it was...then learned later that R Lee Ermey was an actual USMC DI.

Lets just say Lou Gossett didn't quite measure up to "the real thing."

I have no first hand experience, but my Pops is a retired Marine and called it a load of BS.

[truhokie]

No one is a retired or former Marine. There are Marines and everyone else.

I learned that in one of the most awkward professional conversations I've ever had. My hand went towards

[Hokie madman]

I was blown away the first time I saw that movie how accurate it was...then learned later that R Lee Ermey was an actual USMC DI.

Lets just say Lou Gossett didn't quite measure up to "the real thing."

Yes there is. R Lee Ermey in "The Boys in Company C.".

[HokieDan95]

The story i heard about RLE and that scene was that he was just supposed to be a consultant for the actor that was supposed be playing the role. Ermey started doing his thing to demonstrate and Kubrick said hey let's film this.

I was blown away the first time I saw that movie how accurate it was...then learned later that R Lee Ermey was an actual USMC DI.

Lets just say Lou Gossett didn't quite measure up to "the real thing."

[Hokie madman]

The story i heard about RLE and that scene was that he was just supposed to be a consultant for the actor that was supposed be playing the role. Ermey started doing his thing to demonstrate and Kubrick said hey let's film this.

Yeah that's what I heard too. Presumably R Lee was a little long in the tooth for the caster, but he was better than whatever hack actor they had because he lived it, so Kubrick made the choice.