The Hurt Locker [Blu-ray] [2008]

This film has gained massive commercial success due to its many Academy awards most notably 'best picture'. However this couldn't have been more undeserved. The plot, firstly is so shallow and dull it bores even the war movie fanatics. Nothing happens in the whole film just excessive and pointless dialogue. The acting is decent and the seldom war scenes are respectable. However the effects and character development are unrealistic and merely non existent. I was expecting an unbelievable, exciting rollercoaster ride conveying an honest depiction of the Iraq war, however it was quite the opposite.

I bought this film for a friend and got to watch it myself,I found it a very moving film giving the viewer an insight as to conflict in that part of the middle east, and,to the same extent in afghanistan,no wonder it got an oscar.

Was so bored and disappointed by this film that I couldn't even be bothered selling it on ebay. If you want a free copy I will give you directions to the rubbish tip I chucked it on in disgust.

I was one of the many people who decided to buy the film on the strength of its oscar win thinking that surely it must be a good film to win an oscar. About half way through I was getting bored and was going to stop watching but thought surely it must have a great ending or some unexpected plot twist or deep exploration of the meaning of war or at least a great soundtrack so I kept on watching, however I was wrong. From what I can see the film is supposed to be a realistic documentary type portrayal of the lives of bomb disposal teams in Iraq and so lacks any sort of coherent plot and lacks any of the large exciting explosive action scenes found in such movies. It has no subplots and no unexpected plot twist and is highly predictable. Plot - Bomb is found--> bomb disposal team comes-->guy puts big suit on and goes to difuse bomb-->cue standoff with bystanders and soldiers having to decide if bystanders are trying to set bomb off -->crazy maverick bomb disposal guy difuses bomb. This type of standoff between soldiers and potential terrorists/civilians is replayed in various different forms throughout the film and every scene looks at the pressures on a soldier to decide who is a terrorist and who is an innocent. However there is only really one main character who is very shallow and not acted that well and never really gets developed despite it being such a long film - hes a maverick bomb disposal guy who appears to know no fear of death and has difused over 800 bombs and he keeps bits of bombs in a box as souvenirs and has a son and that is about all the depth detail we ever find out about him. The soundtrack is forgettable and the only decent line is one when he is talking to his son about how when you get older you love things less and less and care about fewer and fewer things. There is a brief scene where they struggle with the point of the war, they ask questions on the point of the war but they don't give an answer, just like I cant give an answer to the question as to how this film even got nominated for an award.

Like many, I was really looking forward to this. I don't expect my war films to be documentary-style in their depiction of the conditions, but, when based on a real world scenario, I do rather hope they will reflect what actually goes on. This does not. EOD teams do not drive around the desert on their own, saving Brit SF by learning on the spot how to handle sniper rifles. They do not interfere with evidence by taking away bits of bombs for their own collections or blow up newly-found bomb factories. They certainly don't go single-handedly into town , dressed in uniform wearing a hoody for disguise! This is glorified nonsense in the nature of the old Kirk Douglas-style war films - the main character does everything and, though flawed, is everyone's hero. THis felt more like watching a first person shooter video game than a supposedly serious movie. I only gave it 2 stars because it is reasonably entertaining at times. Just don't ever think this is how we or the Americans go about fighting wars. And if you have anything else you want to watch, you might just want to...

A superb film about the realities and horrors of conflict and the addiction that the adrenalin rush of such situations can bring. It's difficult not to get sucked into the drama and all the more real that it reflects the reality of life for many of out troops abroad. Derved of its reputation and academy awards - simply top class.

How this film has been universally praised by critics and won so many awards is beyond me. It's simply nothing but one action set piece after another with no progressive story arc and no character development. After watching the hurt locker your sat there wondering what actually happened in the two hours of film you just witnessed. It seems that the topical subject of the film and intense nature of bomb disposal has somehow smitten critics off their normal film expertise high horse.

Good DVD enjoyed the story, sad in places, but very I thought true to life

This is the story of an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit out in Iraq having to deal with visible and non-visible threats. It's a war movie unlike many others in that the camera direction is very carefully done, now and then putting you in the boots of the main man (Sgt. William James) by giving you the perspective of what things look like through a bombproof suit helmet and the perspective of walking towards a potential hazard. Overall, The Hurt Locker delivers the goods. It is convincing, amazing to watch in glorious high definition and you appreciate the circumstances of the characters (who play an integral role in the storytelling). This is one not to miss.

What a pile of pants. Taking the title from a superb poem and then defiling it with an awful film. I hope her next film budget extends to include two things - tripods for the cameras and a dictionary to look up the word 'plot'. This is an awful, boring, pointless film that for some bizarre reason has attacted critical acclaim. Why?