…..And the winner for Best Picture is “THE HURT LOCKER”
Set in Iraq. Forced to play a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse in the chaos of war, an elite Army bomb squad unit must come together in a city where everyone is a potential enemy and every object could be a deadly bomb. - You don't have to be a hero to do this job. But it helps
Woo Whooo... Hurt Locker it is!!!
ReplyDeleteThis isn't a movie I would normally watch but I'm glad I did. What a great movie. I liked how the cast was made up of largely unknown actors, it made it easier to see them as soldiers instead of saying oh look, Tom Cruise is playing a soldier.
ReplyDeleteI think the visuals of the opening bomb explosion sequence were fantastic, how everything slowed down and you felt the effect of the explosion. I liked how there were no politics in the movie, that it just focused the guys and what they went through.
If you ever questioned why some come back not being able to deal with living a normal life this movie gives you a pretty good idea why, knowing that someone could die based on your actions is a hard thing to live with and living in a constant state of tension is bound to affect you. The movie doesn't try to turn the guys into superheroes who have no fears, they are just guys trying to live through it.
Thumbs up!
I have to say I was really looking forward to watching this movie (the first time - more on that later). I had seen trailers, heard the hype, and thought it looked like a kick-ass movie. Maybe that's why I was so disappointed.
ReplyDeleteI haven't ever been to war, so my only points of reference are movie depictions and what the media releases to the public. That said, if The Hurt Locker was an accurate portrayal of being a bomb technician and his "coworkers", then kudos to Kathryn Bigelow putting together a technically correct movie.
But was it a great movie? To me, no - it was just OK. Oscar worthy? No. The movie came off as a reality show - no point except to explore a day/week/month in the life of a bomb tech. Sure there were tense moments, but I guess I was looking for more - some plot twist ... or hell, a plot~!~!
There were several points in the movie where I thought they could have "gone down the rabbit hole" and made it more gripping - like when James went off base looking for answers about Beckham. Another time was when Eldridge got abducted - they just ran down the two guys who grabbed him, shot them from about 20 meters, picked him up, and went back to base. A whole 5 minutes of intrigue.
Then at the end, where he walks off down a street with however many days left with his new company, you could have started the movie over right there (ok, maybe in chapter 2) and it could as well repeat itself. Dumb.
Just because a movie gives an accurate portrayal of a tense/dangerous job doesn't make it automatically interesting enough to be a movie. You shouldn't get automatic points in the Academy for making a 'realistic' film based on war. It needs something interesting in the plot to grab the viewer...I didn't think this one did that. Platoon did it. Apocalypse Now did it. Full Metal Jacket did it... The Hurt Locker didn't do it for me.
Thumbs down.
On a side note this was my 2nd viewing of the movie - note to self, don't watch a movie you haven't seen ahead of time (if it's scheduled)... you never know if you wont like the movie then you are stuck watching it again...
I went into this viewing not really knowing what to expect.. I had heard both good things and bad things about the movie, so I was looking forward to watching it and to judge it myself.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Affie about the opening bomb scene.. that was very intense.. but it made a good starter point to the movie.
Have to say that at the beginning of the movie I really didn't like Sergeant James.. but he definitely grew on me by the end of the movie..
All in all.. it was a great movie.. will I watch it again.. Yep.. I might even have to add it to my collection.
Peace out Biotches
Okay let me start by saying, my bad on the late post.....
ReplyDeleteI thought this movie was every entertaining, is it off the wall laughs or suspense, no, but to be that would have taken away from the integrity of the script. I have never been in the military or involved in a war, but I do know several folks including family member who where. and through conversations with these veterans, I would have to say there experience was very bi-polar, extreme highs and extreme lows, moments of none stop chaos and moments of mind numbing bordem.
I thought the movie did an excellent job of portraying the extreme stress that EOD folks go through trying to dispose of weapons, at times complete chaos, but other times frustration, and human nature kicks in jobs get rushed, mistakes are made.
from a purely cinematic perspective, the movie was shot grainy and rough, this adds to the overall feeling of authenticity.
Thumbs up
posted by Jackie Brown
ReplyDeleteThe Hurt Locker... Please forgive the late posting. Before I viewed this movie I only new it was based on the current war in Iraq. Although I am usually interested in movies of war I find myself uninterested in movies about the Iraq War. With that said, I was very intrigued with The Hurt Locker.
The personal story of the soldiers who choose to become EOD's is amazing. This movie was not just about the war in Iraq but instead it focused on three American soldiers and their personal strife. As I watched the movie I became worried, excited, and confused about each character.
This movie has opened my eyes about future Iraq War movies. If you are a non-Iraqi War viewer... trust me... it's worth it!
LOVED the opening bomb scene, actually seeing his brain blow up in the helmet got me kinda excited about what was coming with the special effects. I think she did an excellent job with them, but towards the end, felt they kind of lagged.
ReplyDeleteI knew the ending, thanks 20/20, :( so wasn't too concerned about Sgt James' safety but more so if he would get any of his guys killed. I was very interested in the personal stories behind the characters and to me thats what made the movie a winner in my book. Knowing some EOD folks, it felt like one of my friends was telling me a story about his coworkers, except now I was getting the personal side of it too.
As for Sgt James leaving base on his own and them chasing down the kidnappers, I agree that was supposed to add drama, but for me, it just distracted from the movie. I personally liked this as much as FMJ because although it wasn't a "typical" war movie, it was dealt more with the personal side of war and how it effects the soldiers, their families and friendships, which you don't see very often.
Thumbs up!