The Hurt Locker (2008)
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.
How come this stupid film get over Avatar?
Oh yes, the Hurt Locker. The movie that won most of the Academy Awards in 2010, and made history of the first female director to win an academy award for best director. The movie is acclaimed by critics, but we movie goers, seen the film for its criticism, however is it worth it?
I can't just say That the Hurt Locker isn't a delight or a classic, or the best military movie ever, but its different from the others. I mean the Hurt Locker is a different take on the lives of soldiers everyday, and everyday when the soldiers wake up, its a life or death situation via they are (EOD).
The Hurt Locker to me was suspenseful as any other thriller, For example, when a bomb is being disarmed the solders are being watched by insurgents, the scene is building up right? so when the scene is at its climax nothing happens. Every scene where the soldiers are out in the field, nothing happens or I wanted more out of it.
To make a long review short the Hurt Locker is a good movie, but falls short on expectations. The acting is incredible thanks to Jeremy Reiner's crazy character, and its one of the best military movies ever, not the best, one of the best. I recommend The Hurt Locker, but don't expect a lot of action.
When i purchased the hurtlocker i was so excited because i love war films like saving private ryan, black hawk down, jar headand i thought it would be more or less the same but the hurtlocker is completly different.
The bomb disarming scenes were exciting and very suspensful and as a film it was brilliant, a masterpiece but the action scenes i was looking forward to were quite slow and dull because not alot was happening overal but thats not to say it didnt have its good bits like the sniper rifle part and when sergeant william james returns home to his family and just feels lost and out of place where there some fantastic acting by Jeremy Renner who done a great portrayal as a soldier addicted to war.
The reviews are mixed about this movie. Some say to see it, others say to steer clear of its path.
My opinion is that the movie gives an already scary perspective of what the troops have to go through abroad. I mean i know that i can only imagine what itll be like when i go but this movie helped me realize even the minute stresses of combat.
Now this movie is worth almost as much hype as it got. When I say that i mean yes it was a fantastic movie and the story was phenominal and truly (for me) unforgettable. That is but on side of the coin. There were parts in it for me that i thought couldve used more story to really get into. I felt as if there was not enough of the soldiers backgrounds in order for me to truly become enveloped into the movie.
That was reall its only weakpoint (unfortunately like most movies.)
Cant wait for the directors cut, just to see it better.
In conclusion it is a good movie for us war movie junkies. If you enjoyed "Black Hawk Down" Directed by Ridley Scott, than you would certainly enjoy "The Hurt Locker."
NOTE:If you havent seen "Black Hawk Down" than you should.
I just watched this film last night on my quest to view all of the films that are nominated for best picture this year, and I was really looking forward to seeing it, given all the hype. Sadly to say I was somewhat disappointed. The film it's self is very good. The tension between the soldiers and there desire to do there job as well as to stay alive was very well portrayed. I also thought the use of handhelds in many of the small quarter shots added another layer of anxiety to the films already tense. So, is it worth seeing? Hell yes! Is it best picture material, that's another story...
I'm not sure where these glowing reviews of this movie are coming from. I just watched it and was absolutely underwhelmed. I guess the acting was pretty solid but the plot was unimaginative and I found myself waiting for the movie just to get started. Moreover the ending was simply a joke. If you simply want to watch a military movie with realistic sets, this should certainly be in your top 150 choices. However there are MUCH better movies out there.
Summary: a complete dud.
It would be an understatement to say that what our troops go through during War is tough. It would be an understatement to say that disabling bombs is scary. It would be an understatement to say that "The Hurt Locker" is a great movie.
The film, set in Iraq, tells the terrifying story of an elite Army bomb squad that have to disarm deadly bombs while coming together in a city where everyone is a potential enemy.
The movie's tag line is "You'll know when you're in it." I usually know when I'm in a four star movie and "The Hurt Locker" is one. Kathryn Bigelow puts the production together perfectly by mixing just the right amount of drama, action, and even a little bit of horror together. Every element of the film is there for a reason and is timed perfectly. No minutes are wasted with tacky romances or overly sugar coated special-effects. There's no excuse for one to take their eyes off the screen at any moment. The film has the best cast I've seen so far this year and Jeremy Renner deserves an Oscar for his work as Sgt. William James.
The film's outsanding actors not only make us feel as if we're fighting for our country with them, they also add raw emotion to this truly moving cinematic experience. I rarely cry in movies. Many people were saying how I absolutely should not watch last year's "Marley & Me" because I would need too many tissues. I finally watched it and I can't say that I was crying. Maybe it's just me but as I sat in the theater and watched "The Hurt Locker" I choked up a bit. The story had me feeling its over-bearing elements of sadness, fear, and intensity.
I honestly could not find any flaws to this film. Bigelow has created a near masterpiece here. The action sequences are perfectly shot and add on to the highly dramatic elements of the film. Not only is "The Hurt Locker" the best film of the year so far, it is also the best War movie that has been released within the last ten years.
Hand me a Kleenex because this movie blew my mind!
Right from the beginning the film grabs you and brings you along an incredible journey following a american bomb squad in present time Iraq. The intensity is at an all time high throughout the movie as the squad goes into each situation, knowing that defusing this bomb could be the last thing they do. Couple that fear with the constant problem of local insurgents and this movie has you on the edge of your seat throughout and never lets up. You begin to feel for the characters as they develop more and more and when they are tested by evil you prey to whatever it is you prey to that they make it out alive.
This is the kind of movie that everyone should see and be happy to see. For me to go into more detail would ruin the whole movie because i could go on forever about how much i dug this film.
I gave The Hurt Locker 5 outta 5 stars because thought it is set in Iraq, this movie hits home and hits home with a thunderous smack. Great movie.
SEE THIS MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At The Movies
The Hurt Locker (14A) * * * * *
Battle Scars!
By ROBERT WALDMAN
President Barack Obama has made good on his goal to get American troops out of Iraq. During the past few years there have been a spate of movies about U.S. military involvement in Iraq. Most of these have been utterly forgettable. Not so with this year’s entry from Maple Pictures: The Hurt Locker. Solid and provocative, this heartfelt tale is true to form and now engaging audiences fully at Tinseltown (on Pender, free parking).
Proven track records are useful when it comes to getting films off the ground. Classy director Kathryn Bigelow (Strange Days) is well known and respected for taking on controversial difficult subjects and going up against the norm. Here Ms. Bigelow takes us into the bowls of a bloody conflict and does so with attention to detail, painstaking at times.
Close to the ground is the action in this 131 minute ordeal that truly offers remarkable insight into the angst of combatants and the dangers soldiers face. Dust rises to the fore and temperatures climb as we watch the interplay between three decidedly army troopers.
New to the team Staff Sergeant William James gets quite a charge out of his work as a demolitions man while baby-faced Specialist Owen Eldridge seems the shy type, almost afraid to discharge his weapon. Odd man out in the middle of this not-so happy unit is Sergeant Jay Sanborn.
Remarkable tension unfolds in this saga that truly captures the day to day terror that grips both soldiers and civilians. Stupendous casting rings true here as Jeremy Renner (North Country) looks to have come from out of nowhere to lighten things up as the hyper bomb disposal expert with Anthony Mackie (Half Nelson) equal to the task as the by the book officer just trying to stay alive despite the take no prisoners attitude of his commander. Shy to the nth degree is the bookish Brian Gerachty who embodies the spirit of a man not happy being in the combat arena.
Frank exchanges between the three soldiers further livens things up in this truly dynamic tale that has an unbelievably supercharged atmosphere making one feel you are actually right in the conflict zone facing untold danger. Swift editing, a great use of camera angles and that sense of not knowing where the next bullet will come from all help heighten the greatness of this movie.
Full of pain, passion, sorrow and maybe even some hope The Hurt Locker turns out to be one of the best movies of the year and clearly the best film made on the Iraq experience from an American perspective.
Read more reviews by Robert at www.moviereviewssite.com
