Review of The Hurt Locker (2008) by Shane M — 24 May 2015

Wow. How much more Hollywood can you get? The Hurt Locker is a beloved and critically acclaimed movie that is regarded as the best Iraq war movie. Those critics obviously know nothing about the Iraq war.

Where to begin? Well I'll start with the positives. The film is very atmospheric. The landscape looks just like Iraq. I felt thirsty just watching it. The acting is amazing, and the film can be quite entertaining.

That being said, this had to be one of the most unrealistic and disrespectful war films I've ever seen. Jeremy Reiner's character displays soldiers as hot headed thrill seekers. Seriously, they would never let someone that reckless in the army.

There's a reason the army is strict, that strictness saves lives! This dude is unreal. I mean please, the scene where he leaves his base without permission, breaks into a civilian's home, then moves back across Iraq at night and makes it back to his base unscathed? Get real.

Come on, endangering his soldiers lives, assaulting civilians, leaving his post? How is this guy still in the military?! And don't even get me started on the sniping scene. Really? A group of soldiers roaming Iraq by themselves with no authority? Get real.

An Iraqi soldier getting two one hit kills while sniping with an AK? Get real. This movie is Hollywood's version of the war. It's a complete spit in the face to the men and women of our army. It makes them look like smug, cocky thrill seekers when in reality, they're brave people doing a very difficult job.

It lacks tension, credibility, and it's main character is so unlikable you can't wait to see him die. Will someone please tell me how this movie won best picture?