Just saw Hurt Locker about Demolition squad in Iraq circa 2005 No well know actors and low budget, but you will not leave the TV while it is on. An adrenalin kick. Story of a DOD squad and what they go threw on a daily basis. It is up for Academy Award (deserve it) I can't imagine liberal Hollywood even giving it a nod. But they have. By today's standards it is low budget. You almost feel like you are there. Who would volunteer for that job has to be crazy or an adrenalin junkie. Brave doesn't even describe it....See it..You won't be sorry..Lots of neat arms in it one scene using a Barrett..

I recommended this film to forum members when it first appeared in very limited release about a year ago (one "art house" screen in the Valley of about three million people), with remark about the appropriate and effective use of the Barret. Best I could tell, my recommendation was unremarked and ignored --- glad to see it wasn't unwarranted...

very good movie the only well know actor was Ralph Fienns
who played in The English Patient and Schindler's list
he was the spotter for the first sniper before he was shot

i bought last week and watched it 5 times already

Maybe I'm jaded but I wasn't all that impressed. Past seasons of 24 (not this season) had me more on the edge of my seat.
Seems like all you have to do these days is film it semi-documentary style, throw in some profanity and make it multi racial to get an Academy nomination.
It was worth watching but nothing to get excited about.
No disrespect intended to the real EOD guys.

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Regards, Ron
USASA 1965/69

I haven't seen the movie and probably won't, because I'm just not a movie watcher, unless it is an old one. I have read a lot of bad reviews by veterans of that war. They are upset because of the departures from reality. Of course, the film makers say they are making movies-not documentaries. Here is one veteran's take. He uses the term "disrespectful." This is an excerpt from an article. Here's the link to the entire article.

Veterans: Why 'The Hurt Locker' Isn't Reality - Newsweek.com
Many of our members (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) around the country have noted the flawed portrayal of EOD and the other (to the civilian eye) seemingly minor mistakes, such as soldiers in the wrong uniforms, using poor tactics, and ranks that don't accurately correspond to the leadership being shown. This equates to something larger than just a series of careless errors: it is disrespectful. The scene with Jeremy Renner's character sneaking off base to chase a boy he is worried about is as fictional as Jason Bourne and is not representative of the real military experience in Iraq. I know this is a dramatization, and films take liberties to create good storylines, but this is not indicative of those of us who served there. The men in my platoon followed rules and orders, and they stuck with their fellow soldiers. The military takes great pride in their training and their mission. Service members train for years to perform the job that they do in combat and highly value each other's role in this environment. They don't run around on their own unless they want to be court-martialed—or killed. The Hurt Locker strains credulity further when it shows that soldier reentering the base with no identification. Here is the reality: this soldier would likely be shot by a guard on duty while sneaking around the perimeter—but, then again, that probably wouldn't make for a good plot addition.

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Georgia On My Mind

I watch documentaries for accuracy... I watch movies to be entertained.
I watched The Hurt Locker...
I was entertained.


Jim

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Big bullets leave big holes

I watched it with a female friend that wanted to see the movie. I'm fairly confident I ruined the movie for her. I was screaming '***, are you kidding me!?!?!?' every 5 minutes.
I disliked the movie for all the reasons the author redlevel quotes and a few more. I can't even fathom sneaking off base, what an imbecilic idea.......

I guess I stand corrected! However the movie strays from reality as the unauthorized absence from base I still think it gave the American people a look at what goes thought the minds of the people who have to fight our wars. At least it showed the restraint that our troops are required to use even to the determent to their own safety to show what these uniform-less wars are. Rules of engagement etc; I for one could care less about Iraq and it's radically divided populace. the old wars where you killed every body beyond a certain line seem so much easier. And I might add you didn't have situations where we want to indict our own troops for punching a known insurgent, I'm sure John Murtha (rip) would have rather seen the Seals and Marines put in the brig for doing what we pay them to do. For those that didn't understand that they were watching a film that shed a positive light on our troops, there are plenty of films out there that makes us look like criminals. I at least give credit when credit is do. We have the greatest Military in the world and our leaders seem to care less. I was fascinated with the workings of the EOD all credit to them even if it is Hollywoodized. God Bless Those who go int harms way for US. If we have to glamorize for sales sake a story line so be it. It sure beats the heck out of what we have seen in the past from those who never served and could care less about our troops. Maybe you can find a old release with Senn Penn in it or better yet I'm sure there are some Danny Glover movies at the DVD stores.

My bet is on Bigelow for best director...she did a killer job directing The Hurt Locker. Sure, Avatar made a ton of money and got all the buzz but I think it will win all the tech awards and Hurt will get the nod. And she's Cameron's ex so that will make it even sweeter for her...

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

That was the one scene that baffled me..the cleaning of the mags...would have been a lot quicker just to load it single shot...

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

I don't expect realism in a war movie, cop movie, or doctor television show or movie. If I remember to say "once upon a time" at the front of any movie/show that is supposed to be real and "and they all lived happily ever after" at the end, I know how to frame it correctly. Just a fairy tale. Then, I can just ignore the dumb stuff and enjoy the movie or television show. I'll do this when I get to see it and I plan to.

Sip:
I thought the same thing. i only shot a Barrett once and it was one of the original single shot variety. It kicked like a mule, I understand the newer ones have a recoil buffer. Considering the time it took to dial it in single shot would have worked fine. But as others have pointed out it was just a movie. Here is the question that I didn't get. Were the guys that were in the desert with the Barrett SAS, or contractors, I remember them saying there was a reward for the two indigents that got shot?????Maybe I missed something.