"The Hurt Locker" (Need Comments)

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It's a pretty good movie...not one I would buy but it was OK to watch. If you can, you might want to rent it first before you buy it.
 
There was a previous thread about this film around the time of its release a few years ago, now probably deleted, but it might be worth a search.

Despite its rave reviews and that it earned some prestigious award, it was not widely screened --- it showed on one screen only in metro Phoenix, and only for a quite limited time, reaffirming my belief that the movie-going public is indiscriminate and largely brain-dead, and probably watches movies and TV as an alternative to reading because they're lazy and stupid and pretty much illiterate.

I thought it deserved the accolades it garnered --- it was chock full of drama, suspense, and gut wrenching scenes of horror and terror. It also includes a scene wherein a Barret .50 BMG rifle is put to very good use, eradicating an insurgent at very long range, worth the cost of admission for that scene, alone. Try it, you'll like it.
 
Hey, we've got some sequential reviews going here...first from GKC, and then from jkc...next will be mkc. :p

Actually, I don't mean to sound negative about the movie...it was enjoyable. I own a lot of DVDs, but they are mainly classics, or John Wayne movies, or series like The Sopranos or Deadwood.
 
jkc said:
There was a previous thread about this film around the time of its release a few years ago, now probably deleted, but it might be worth a search.

Despite its rave reviews and that it earned some prestigious award, it was not widely screened --- it showed on one screen only in metro Phoenix, and only for a quite limited time, reaffirming my belief that the movie-going public is indiscriminate and largely brain-dead, and probably watches movies and TV as an alternative to reading because they're lazy and stupid and pretty much illiterate.

I thought it deserved the accolades it garnered --- it was chock full of drama, suspense, and gut wrenching scenes of horror and terror. It also includes a scene wherein a Barret .50 BMG rifle is put to very good use, eradicating an insurgent at very long range, worth the cost of admission for that scene, alone. Try it, you'll like it.
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I saw that on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuXJe_tb4Ww&feature=related (Caution: some language and violence) It does look like a good movie, much better than I thought when I read that it was about an EOD team. It seems to have a much wider scope, especially after what looks like an SAS team joins the US soldiers. I think anyone who watches the linked clip will agree with your comment. You seem a very articulate, perceptive fellow, and your comment is much appreciated. I agree about the mass public, but Hollywood liberals probably limited the distribution of the movie, although it was awarded a Best Film accolade at the Venice Film Festival.
 
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It is/was a very good movie. Almost documentary in some ways and detail. How it won Best Movie and others is beyond me? Very gritty and realistic (although I have never been there or endured the horrors of war) Made you feel as if you were there and what our troops are going through. There are many other War movies I feel are better and deserve Best Picture.

For a similar action War movie I preferred Black Hawk Down.

"The balcony is closed"
 
OCD1 said:
It is/was a very good movie. Almost documentary in some ways and detail. How it won Best Movie and others is beyond me? Very gritty and realistic (although I have never been there or endured the horrors of war) Made you feel as if you were there and what our troops are going through. There are many other War movies I feel are better and deserve Best Picture.

For a similar action War movie I preferred Black Hawk Down.

"The balcony is closed"
Click to expand...



Thanks, I do have, Blackhawk Down. I think, We Were Soldiers trumps both. Patton is even more of an epic pic, but made on a grander scale.
 
Movies in my youth took me away from reality. The movies of my reality are now taking me away from my youth.
Hollywierd (Sip excepted).
 
I thought the scenery and life on the street was very scary realistic. Yep, we had soldiers drinking, but not nearly so blatantly. The most accurate statement this movie makes is these soldiers now are on the constant rotation between these war zones and there is no let up in sight. I call it a generational war and this show captures the stress of it.
 
Sounds like it might not be particularly enjoyable to watch, good art or not.

I've had it burned on my DVR for a long time now, but haven't been able to bring myself to watch it (as I understand it's kind of heavy). (My work is generally plenty grim enough for me - I tend to want happy escapism when I come home.)

I'm appreciating the reviews here, because they're helping me decide whether I should sit down and watch it or just delete it. Please keep your thoughts coming.
 
Well...I have been on the fence about seeing this one. I read this thread hoping to get some sway in either direction. 2 minutes later, and I'm still on the fence. I don't know. Marco Belltrami did the film score, so i think I might check it out just for that.
 
An entertaining film, but nothing outstanding, or deserving of all the high praise and accolades it received.

I imagine it was so well received because it was timely. People seem to have more of an attachment/involvement when it's a current topic.
 
Erich said:
Sounds like it might not be particularly enjoyable to watch, good art or not.

I've had it burned on my DVR for a long time now, but haven't been able to bring myself to watch it (as I understand it's kind of heavy). (My work is generally plenty grim enough for me - I tend to want happy escapism when I come home.)

I'm appreciating the reviews here, because they're helping me decide whether I should sit down and watch it or just delete it. Please keep your thoughts coming.
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I am with you in the want to watch something enjoyable, but do not let the reviews stop you from watching the move.

It is good and not as graphic as say, Flags of our Fathers or Saving Private Ryan.

Really good scene (long however) with the Barrett 50 Cal.;)
 
OCD1 said:
I am with you in the want to watch something enjoyable, but do not let the reviews stop you from watching the move.

It is good and not as graphic as say, Flags of our Fathers or Saving Private Ryan.

Really good scene (long however) with the Barrett 50 Cal.;)
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How about the scene with the guy and the 9 volt battery? I know I wanted to waste him, but the EOD couldn't know the "partial omnicient" aspect of the viewer. Good flick worth the "2 hours of your life you can't get back." Form your own impression. Joe
 
Erich said:
Sounds like it might not be particularly enjoyable to watch, good art or not.

I've had it burned on my DVR for a long time now, but haven't been able to bring myself to watch it (as I understand it's kind of heavy). (My work is generally plenty grim enough for me - I tend to want happy escapism when I come home.)

I'm appreciating the reviews here, because they're helping me decide whether I should sit down and watch it or just delete it. Please keep your thoughts coming.
Click to expand...


Erich-

Did you play the link that I posted on the first page? Not the trailer; that post was lower down. From other clips on YouTube, it looks really good and authentic.

But if you got rattled by movies like, Saving Private Ryan or graphic detective stuff like, Basic Instinct, it may seem too like your job.

My son had some really close calls in Iraq. (Purple Heart and two Oak Leaf clusters.) I'll ask what he thinks of it.

T-Star
 
I didn't play the link: it's not so much that I get rattled, it's that it gets me in a funk. :(

I'm probably a fool to even think of doing anything that could get me in a funk when I'm home. I don't know. Thanks for the info.
 
I saw "The Hurt Locker" in the theater and it was pretty good. I have never been a soldier; never spent one single sunny day in the service but there were some things that even I thought were tactically stupid. Those aside, as I said, it was a pretty good motion picture.

Russ
 
I thought it was entertaining but for different reasons. Being a bomb tech I enjoyed it for the pleasure fo cussing the dude for being a dumb ***.
 
It was entertaining, i saw the whole film. I am sure military guys would pull it apart like I would CSI NY. I like films like this because it draws attention from the public as to what our troops go through. We can never, ever repay the debt we owe our troops, past and present.
 
Entertainment

Ok as far as fiction goes. Its a non-starter in how it depicts EOD troops. I'm in the IED defaet business-have an old EOD guy who works on our team-the move is a little insulting to these folks. On the other hand its made for entertainment-not a documentary.
 
Everyone I know who has actually been there, including two of my kids, derided the movie for its unrealistic depictions. Sure, it is a movie for entertainment, but what makes them mad is that people will watch the movie and come away with the belief that they know something about the subject. And what they'll think they know is bogus. That riles people who were there and can't consider their experiences as "entertainment."
 
JcMack said:
Check the number of films during WWII to "buck up" public support and build confidence of those at home with people in the service. Compare it to attitudes today. It makes me sick to the of the sacrifices of our troops, and the entertainment chosen by the Americans today. Another roadside bomb maimed a GI, who cares, look at the carnage and sex my kids can watch on "Criminal Minds" or some other **** program. At least "Hurt Locker" attempts to bring it home to some of these morons, if theyed only watch it.

List of World War II films - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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FDR threatened to "Nationalize" Hollywood, if they did not make WW II propaganda films.
 
Don't complain about "Foot Locker". One movie that really pissed me off was "Brothers" (2009), don't ever watch it, even if it is on cable. It depicts a Marine in Afghanistan, who is captured along with a brother Marine. Toby Maguire, the wimpy little actor plays one of the Marines who bashes his brother Marine to death with a pipe, after being prompted by his captors at gunpoint.

The movie is sickening.
 
JcMack said:
Check the number of films during WWII to "buck up" public support and build confidence of those at home with people in the service. Compare it to attitudes today. It makes me sick to the of the sacrifices of our troops, and the entertainment chosen by the Americans today. Another roadside bomb maimed a GI, who cares, look at the carnage and sex my kids can watch on "Criminal Minds" or some other **** program. At least "Hurt Locker" attempts to bring it home to some of these morons, if theyed only watch it.

List of World War II films - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Click to expand...

You mean to say that the all time greats like Hogans Heroes, McHales Navy, Combat, Rat Patrol and Ba Ba where not real???:eek:;)

I see no mention of The Gallant Men.

I stopped watching Criminal Minds, Way to gruesome. I could not stand Mandy Patinkin. he should stick to singing.
At least Joe Mantegna was better.
 
The part where they meet the undercover SAS patrol is silly. They had all that drama, when the British leader would have actually ID'd much sooner, to avoid possible friendly fire.

I'll probably get it if it's on sale for $5.99. The good parts probably make it worth that.

I'll start a new thread about, Criminal Minds. It deserves its own topic. I have strong feelings about that show, both ways.

T-Star
 
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