Comments on: Review: ‘The Hurt Locker’

By: Big Hollywood » Blog Archive » ‘Brothers’: Another Hollywood Slam on the Military?

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:53:54 +0000

[...] have gotten so twisted in this area that a film like “The Hurt Locker,” where an American Colonel lets an Iraqi suspect bleeds to death — where the lead [...]

By: "Tech"

"Tech" — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 02:18:27 +0000

The EOD Technical advisor for the film (James Clifford) should have his "Crab" pulled and never again be allowed to claim the tittle of EOD Technician for being a part of this piece of garbage called "The Hurt locker".
I know there is a always a gap between hollywood and reality but this movie is an insult to Bomb Techs and military personnel everywhere. As an active duty EOD"Tech" I can tell you that every Tech who has seen the movie is completely disgusted. There may have been one or two moments in the whole movie that were plausible. This is just another example of hollywood D-bags using a film to give their take on the US military and war in general. If you have never been in the military, let alone combat, there is no way you can understand the way people act, react and interact during combat situations so you certainly won't be able to convey these things in your silly little film. I have to agree with a previous poster that Blackhawk down was one of the few war films that did a good job of portraying men in combat in a realistic light

By: Tyler

Tyler — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 20:59:01 +0000

You can rationalize a political statement from anything. Nothing is ever apolitical. No movie can be that. But I think we understand what they mean when people say apolitical. But apparently you don't. Are there things in the movie that could be taken as political statements, sure. But maybe they are just plot in the story.

Beckham's story is the most compelling and ends up being pivotal to the movie. If anyone hasn't seen it, there are spoilers to come.

When James finds out that Beckham is dead, he is so affected because he feels the base, the EOD, has been compromised. The one place where he feels he has control has been infiltrated. And when he goes into the house and finds the guy who thinks he is CIA, he has a moment of insight that boils down to, "I'm not a detective, I don't know what I'm doing, I have no control over my vengeful impulses." I've heard this complaint a lot, that the ending scenes with Beckham are unnecessary when in fact they are pivotal.

"There's no over-arching story." …?….
Really?
Well yes, there is no master terrorist that James and the EOD team have to track down and bring in. But then again, if there was that story line in the film it would weaken it. Do we really want a master bomber and some concocted story that is unrealistic and fake. I would rather see the EOD do what they do best. And there is an over-arching story. The whole film is connected by the set pieces and each discovers a psychological and moral complication of war and being an american soldier. It is also connected by the relationship developments of James, Sanborn, and Eldridge. As well as James personal journey. Not every soldier in the movies has to be the heroic, brave, American. That cliche got old a long time ago. And I have heard that people think that James, Sanborn, and Eldridge are cliches but each has a third dimension which basically turns those cliches on their head.

I also am shocked just as someone else was, that basically the only negative reviews of the film have come from BH.

But please no one be fooled. If you watch a movie for political purposes you have a problem but if you want to watch it for that them fine, be my guest, you may not like this movie. But if you want to see a top notch masterpiece of an action movie. Then the Hurt Locker is your movie.

Check out my review: http://www.wildclementines.com/?p=2661

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:30:48 +0000

Great movie. Best I've seen in a long time. Thought it made the troops look great too.

Not sure what everyone is so upset about.

By: Maybe “The Hurt Locker” Isn’t Just A Left-Wing, Anti-Soldier Diatribe : The Sundries Shack

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:41:19 +0000

[...] Hurt Locker in today’s Washington Examiner. I’ve read a couple reviews of the movie (most notably here) that have lambasted it for being yet another left-wing diatribe about the evil warmongers that [...]

By: mileshigh

mileshigh — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:54:06 +0000

I completely agree with you Jso. "The Hurt Locker" was a great war movie.

By: mileshigh

mileshigh — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:48:01 +0000

I completely disagree with John Nolte's review regarding the political perspective of "The Hurt Locker." I saw this yesterday (bootleg version that's widely available on the internet) with three men from my bible study. We all loved it. According to my "focus group" of a Giuliani voting moderate, a conservative Republican, and a Constitutionalists Party voter, they all loved the movie and thought it was raw, unbiased, bare bones portrayal of war. In fact it made them (and me) appreciate the sacrifices these men make and hard decisions wondering who is friendly or foe. Also, I got a Marine buddy in Iraq and they cuss and act like the guys in this movie. Men in my generation act "similar" to these guys. And this film is a technical masterpiece.

Sorry John, wrong about the message of this one.

By: Wanda_Fucan

Wanda_Fucan — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:58:44 +0000

John,
Thank you for your review. One question. In the opening paragraph you said "Katherine Bigelow’s direction of “The Hurt Locker” is masterful and might very well place her back where she belongs, at the top of anyone’s list looking for a top-shelf action director." And then went on to give me every reason to believe she is everything but masterful and top-shelf. What gives? How was she masterful in light of your criticism?

By: Wanda_Fucan

Wanda_Fucan — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:57:56 +0000

John,
Thank you for your review. One question. In the opening paragraph you said "Katherine Bigelow’s direction of “The Hurt Locker” is masterful and might very well place her back where she belongs, at the top of anyone’s list looking for a top-shelf action director." And then went on to give me every reason to believe she is everything but masterful and top-shelf. What gives. How was she masterful in light of your criticism?

By: Nolte on “The Hurt Locker” | KyleSmithOnline.com

Nolte on “The Hurt Locker” | KyleSmithOnline.com — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:05:34 +0000

[...] John Nolte says the plot “slowly deflates” and you realize halfway in that the movie is basically just a series of episodes. I’d add that it’s kind of the same episode again and again. Nolte also thinks the film reflects badly on our troops and even worse on the Iraqi people. [...]