MovieChat Forums > Full Metal Jacket (1987) Discussion > Rafterman

Rafterman

posted 5 years ago by ccr1633 (1525)
4 replies | jump to latest

Joker seems to make it a mission, initially, to see to it that Rafterman sees no combat action. He jokes that Rafterman's mother would be particularly pissed off at him if he didn't do all he could to prevent him getting killed, almost as if they knew each others' families back in high school or something. I know that Rafterman dies in the novel, but I'm curious if they knew each other before going to Nam or if Joker was just playing a big brother role for reasons the film doesn't indicate.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

I just got the impression Joker liked Rafterman and didn't want him to get hurt. They don't really overtly tell you what their history is, though.

[–] whynotwriteme (7725) 5 years ago

I agree, and Joker probably knew that Rafterman would be careless and unlikely to survive in combat.

[–] ccr1633 (1525) 5 years ago

Which is ironic because Rafterman saved the nervous and fumbly Joker from the sniper.

[–] BOandBarbecue (2264) 2 years ago

Hahah up until right now i always thought his name is 'Raptorman', since he actually look like Raptor!!