Watched Hurt Locker the other night. It's a difficult film to review really.
On the one hand, you have a gorgeous film (particularly on Blu-Ray). Some great shots and camera work where you really feel you're right there in the middle of the film. Brilliant.
The plot too is an interesting take. Three bomb techs. It's not a role you usually see portrayed, so it's really interesting to watch.
So far, so excellent.
Then you get the characters. Has there ever been such a hideously assembled bunch of clichés gathered together outside an Arnie flick? I don't think so. They fall into pretty basic sets.
1. Foreign accent; will die.
2. Used to have a foreign accent; will die.
3. Shows kindness to the enemy; will die
4. Gung ho all American hero; will get others killed - but likely to have some heart wrenching revelation later which will show he has depth.
5. Series working soldier. Just doing his duty until his time's up and doing it by the book. Will have some heart wrenching revelation later which will show he has depth.
6. Jittery youngster scared of making mistakes. Will probably die in the line of fire before he manages to have a revelation later which will show he has depth.
7. Mad generals who love gun ho heroes. Maaaaaaaaaa! Darling!
Then there's the things I've learned about men from watching the film.
1. If you don't like each other, hit each other until you do.
2. Men love to break the rules.
3. Most men love men who love to break the rules.
4. Men have a soft, emotional under belly that comes out in times of stress. They just want to love somebody!
5. Men love covering up their soft underbelly by killing the enemy, or risking themselves to save people from the enemy.
6. Jack in the boxes are just a plastic box and some stuffing.
Such a brilliant film completely ruined by ham-fisted, ball achingly obvious characters straight off the cliché tree... 7/10
On the one hand, you have a gorgeous film (particularly on Blu-Ray). Some great shots and camera work where you really feel you're right there in the middle of the film. Brilliant.
The plot too is an interesting take. Three bomb techs. It's not a role you usually see portrayed, so it's really interesting to watch.
So far, so excellent.
Then you get the characters. Has there ever been such a hideously assembled bunch of clichés gathered together outside an Arnie flick? I don't think so. They fall into pretty basic sets.
1. Foreign accent; will die.
2. Used to have a foreign accent; will die.
3. Shows kindness to the enemy; will die
4. Gung ho all American hero; will get others killed - but likely to have some heart wrenching revelation later which will show he has depth.
5. Series working soldier. Just doing his duty until his time's up and doing it by the book. Will have some heart wrenching revelation later which will show he has depth.
6. Jittery youngster scared of making mistakes. Will probably die in the line of fire before he manages to have a revelation later which will show he has depth.
7. Mad generals who love gun ho heroes. Maaaaaaaaaa! Darling!
Then there's the things I've learned about men from watching the film.
1. If you don't like each other, hit each other until you do.
2. Men love to break the rules.
3. Most men love men who love to break the rules.
4. Men have a soft, emotional under belly that comes out in times of stress. They just want to love somebody!
5. Men love covering up their soft underbelly by killing the enemy, or risking themselves to save people from the enemy.
6. Jack in the boxes are just a plastic box and some stuffing.
Such a brilliant film completely ruined by ham-fisted, ball achingly obvious characters straight off the cliché tree... 7/10
