I never really understood why he felt compelled to, at that moment during their first day of basic training, to do that. After the drill sergeant had specifically just given them instructions to NOT speak unless spoken to.
shareIt's his ironic response to Hartman's aggressive macho posturing. Throughout the film, Joker is doing two things simultaneously - getting with the programme while also attempting to distance himself from the system and retain his individuality. The John Wayne quip is an example of the latter.
"facts are stupid things" Ronald Reagan
Throughout the film, Joker is doing two things simultaneously - getting with the programme while also attempting to distance himself from the system and retain his individuality.
How'd that go for you?
shareAgree with Franz... but also realize it was the wise ass Joker's first day and had no idea of his upcoming punishment.
He killed sixteen Czechoslovakians. Guy was an interior decorator.
>He killed sixteen Czechoslovakians. Guy was an interior decorator.
But you gotta remember, in those days the Czechoslovakians were very concerned about the implications of design.
Yes, Joker seems to have two souls in one body, reflected later in having "born to kill" on his helmet but also wearing a peace badge. The "Jungian thing", he calls it. He's too smart and humanistic to be a killing machine but not enough to hit the road to Canada.
"Chicken soup - with a *beep* straw."
True
shareBecause Joker was stupid enough to think that Hartman was all Macho talk and posturing BS trying to scare the boys into blind/brain dead compliance like mindless sheep, so he made that stupid remark, then was stupid enough to confess to it when Hartman did not know who had spoken out of turn.
So Joker paid the price for underestimating Hartman and mocking him openly, if he had not told Hartman that he had said it then he would have gotten away with it, stupid idiot and paid the price for it, this is the same idiot that watched Hartman get murdered by Pyle and then watched Pyle kill himself and didnt do anything about it, he just stands there and lets it happen.
Later on Joker never shows any recollection or memory of the murder/suicide, he just goes on and doesnt even live with the guilt, hes a horrible marine and he witnessed that awful crap and had no bad feelings about it, he probably never felt bad for either man, even though his participation in the blanket party lead Pyle to kill himself and Hartman, Joker is an idiot.
Hartman quickly developed a modicum of respect and liking for Joker, and it started when Joker admitted that he was the one who made the wisecrack.
Joker was obviously disturbed by what happened with Pyle, it was all over his face.
Yes, "he's silly and he's ignorant but he's got guts, and guts is enough."
"Chicken soup - with a *beep* straw."
I think he under-estimated Hartman's brutality. It is his first day after all. On the other hand, by owning up I suspect he made a friend of Cowboy, since Hartman was starting to victimise Cowboy, assuming he had made the John Wayne quip.
I doubt whether he could have done anything in the latrine incident to prevent Pyle shooting Hartman and then himself. He was barely able to prevent Pyle from shooting him, too.
"Chicken soup - with a *beep* straw."
I doubt whether he could have done anything in the latrine incident to prevent Pyle shooting Hartman and then himself. He was barely able to prevent Pyle from shooting him, too.
I don't know. It depends how fast Pyle could lock and load before Joker covered the distance and knocked him senseless. I give Joker a 50-50 chance at best, if he had taken the chance, which he didn't. Joker might assume that is not live ammunition, but it could turn out to be the last mistake he ever makes.
As to live ammunition being available, perhaps Hartman was better at recruit brutality than at keeping ammunition off limits.
"Chicken soup - with a *beep* straw."
Rushing at a much larger, mentally unstable person who is in the process of loading a firearm would not be my first thought.
shareThat was kind of dumb imho. When I was in the army I tried to keep a low profile.
Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar and doesn't.
Well he was "The Joker" after all. He was probably used to mouthing off in class at his high school teacher and getting a laugh out of his peers. But he learned a hard lesson that the military is a very different world, and the D.I. had no tolerance for "F-ing comedians".
shareJoker didn't change after that incident. He may have stopped making remarks when Hartman was around, but he continued to be a "joker". For example, in the Stars and Stripes staff meeting and when he met Animal Mother.
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Fowler's knots? Did you say ... fowler's knots?
The comment sucked from the ground up. Stupid at the time and stupid in and of itself.
share