The Hurt Locker

"I'm not ready to die, James. Another two inches. Shrapnel zings by, slices my throat. I bleed out like a pig in the sand. Nobody'll give a shit. I mean my parents'll care, but they don't count, man. Who else? I mean, how do you do it, you know? Take the risk? Every time we go out...it's life or death. You roll the dice."

This might just be my favorite war movie ever. Might even be one of my favorite movies ever. I watched this on a whim and I'm so glad I did. It's a shame that not many people talk about this movie, or if they do, it's not often enough. And it's an even bigger shame that many who do talk about it tend to hate it (just look at the top reviews on here lol). But to be fair, it took a little while before I realized I was watching a masterpiece. The tension dug it's claws deep into me and never let go. There's a realness to this, a relatability to it that other war movies don't really give me.

Here it's just soldiers in desert towns trying to defuse bombs. Bombs that you can't even see. Bombs you have to find by following wires hidden under rocks and debris. Bombs that can go off at any time. Men watching from afar, sometimes with a detonator to set off that bomb once you get close enough to it. And sometimes those bombs are attached to other people, both dead and alive.

At the heart of it all is one man who can't get enough of this. It's an addiction to him. After nearly losing his life to a bomb jacket the day before his deployment ended (in a tragic failed defusal scene that will stick with me forever), and coming home to a mundane but safe life with his wife and child, he tells his infant son that it's the only thing he loves before leaving him to do another tour.

Awesome!

I freaking loved this movie. There wasn't a 'war is hell' theme or anything like that (not that there is anything wrong with that theme, mind you). It is a story about a man with an obsession and the movie is a snapshot of 60 days with this man. Both the action sequences and the story are extremely gripping and the movie went by in a minute.

A suspenseful and thrilling war film from director Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker is a smart and uncompromising look at the lives of soldiers serving in Iraq. The story follows a bomb disposal unit as they go out on missions to deal with car bombs, suicide bombers, and IEDs, but the team leader’s wild and reckless attitude soon pushes his team members to their breaking point. Jeremy Renner gives an outstanding performance, and is able to convey a lot through subtle looks and movements. Additionally, there are some strong supporting performances by Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes, and Evangeline Lilly. Bigelow’s directing is also incredibly well-done and gives the film a gritty and raw quality. And, the writing’s remarkably tight and keeps the focus on the soldiers and their personal struggles; avoiding any political commentary about the war. A provocative character drama, The Hurt Locker asks some hard questions about the effects that war has on the soldiers who fight it.

Quality war film that will never be my favorite, but holds a special place in my memory.

Rating: 3.5/5 - 80% - Worth Watching

I had seen this movie before and never really go into the hype (I was much younger). I vividly remember this being the first Blu-ray my dad purchased along with surround sound. Fast forward nearly 15 years later and I definitely dug it a bunch more. Its not award winning (in my opinion), but it is a super solid war movie set in modern times.

Rating: 3.5/5 - 8/10 - Would Recommend

Incredibly tense movie. Really well done, specially for the time.

This holds up well. The cinematography and editing are really immersive. The action is gripping and fast paced. The acting is good. The story is fine.