COVER VERSION 1
COVER VERSION 2The first thing that stuck out to me was the alignment in both versions of the cover. The alignment of the images and words in both versions are centered. In version 1, however, we get the title of the film all in one line so that as our eyes travel down from that point, the rest of the cover seems to get narrower. It is basically presented as an upside down triangle, with the largest side of the triangle being represented by the title which leads us toward the tip of the triangle, which in this case is the soldier in the center of the picture. In version 2, the title spans four lines and is too neatly aligned with the rest of the image on the cover. Basically, version 2 is too symmetrically centered whereas version 1 establishes balance without keeping everything too lined up.
Part of the problem with lining everything up like it is done in version 2 is that it creates the unpleasing white spaces on the sides of the cover. Those white spaces can be put to better use, as is done in version 1 by filling them in with a jungle background. Part of what pleases me so much about version 1 is the use of color. The colors are not bright nor vivid, instead they are dark and bleak; creating the sense that the film's content will also be somberly blunt. The use of green and black as the primary colors emphasize the idea of a dark war being fought in a jungle terrain.
The typography in both versions is also noticeably different. I don't at all like the curves of the thick block letters in version 2. Size wise they take up too much space, font wise they don't complement the film as well as the letters used in version 1. In version 1, the title is not overwhelmingly large, because it does not have to be. It uses sleek transparent letters against the green background, which are filled in in a coarse manner with tinges of green.
I like the use of the helmet in both versions; it shows how the animosity of war (in the form of the bullets and the phrase "Born to Kill") overwhelms the tiny peace symbol on the side. It creates the sense that peace is marginalized in the midst of war. The font used for the "Born to Kill" phrase works well because it appears to be hand written. To add to the idea that the phrase is "hand-written," the letter I in the word kill is left in its lower case form as opposed to all the other upper case letters in the phrase.
Ultimately, the reason why I prefer version 1 over version 2 is because it better complements the actual film. Take for example the use of the helmet: in version 2 the helmet stands alone and its meaning is limited because of this, but when put in the context of version 1 it takes on more meaning. The fact that the helmet now covers a soldier's face becomes a focal point in cover 1. The helmet does not lose its importance in cover 1, instead it gains more focus by being placed in the direct center of the cover. Once placed on the soldier's head, it creates the idea of anonymity for the soldier; an idea central to the film which uses nicknames as opposed to proper names for its central characters. War, in essence, creates anonymity. The film explores the idea that a soldier is more than just a soldier and that they lose bits and pieces of themselves as they delve further into their service. The film also tackles the issue of anonymity as it applies to the enemies fought. Soldiers are pushed to think of enemies in a very general sense: enemies cannot be human, they have to be nameless creatures. That is what makes killing them easier for the soldier. "Full Metal Jacket" is a spectacular movie that delves into the soldier's psyche to explore these themes and it is only fitting that its cover be just as spectacularly insightful.
Part of the problem with lining everything up like it is done in version 2 is that it creates the unpleasing white spaces on the sides of the cover. Those white spaces can be put to better use, as is done in version 1 by filling them in with a jungle background. Part of what pleases me so much about version 1 is the use of color. The colors are not bright nor vivid, instead they are dark and bleak; creating the sense that the film's content will also be somberly blunt. The use of green and black as the primary colors emphasize the idea of a dark war being fought in a jungle terrain.
The typography in both versions is also noticeably different. I don't at all like the curves of the thick block letters in version 2. Size wise they take up too much space, font wise they don't complement the film as well as the letters used in version 1. In version 1, the title is not overwhelmingly large, because it does not have to be. It uses sleek transparent letters against the green background, which are filled in in a coarse manner with tinges of green.
Ultimately, the reason why I prefer version 1 over version 2 is because it better complements the actual film. Take for example the use of the helmet: in version 2 the helmet stands alone and its meaning is limited because of this, but when put in the context of version 1 it takes on more meaning. The fact that the helmet now covers a soldier's face becomes a focal point in cover 1. The helmet does not lose its importance in cover 1, instead it gains more focus by being placed in the direct center of the cover. Once placed on the soldier's head, it creates the idea of anonymity for the soldier; an idea central to the film which uses nicknames as opposed to proper names for its central characters. War, in essence, creates anonymity. The film explores the idea that a soldier is more than just a soldier and that they lose bits and pieces of themselves as they delve further into their service. The film also tackles the issue of anonymity as it applies to the enemies fought. Soldiers are pushed to think of enemies in a very general sense: enemies cannot be human, they have to be nameless creatures. That is what makes killing them easier for the soldier. "Full Metal Jacket" is a spectacular movie that delves into the soldier's psyche to explore these themes and it is only fitting that its cover be just as spectacularly insightful.
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