War movies are probably my favorite type of movie to watch, because of all the action and adrenaline rushes that come with them, but I often find that some war movies can be too outlandish or have a heavy presence of overproduction. However, the Hurt Locker, directed by Kathryn Bigelow in 2009, is the most realistic, gut wrenching, and intriguing war movie I’ve seen by far. It is able to effectively capture the spectrum of war in Iraq while keeping it entertaining and engaging with its storyline for the audience. The movie follows Sergeant First Class William James, who is assigned to a highly trained bomb disposal team, but his ‘not afraid of death’ attitude surprises his new subordinates, Eldridge and Sanborn, as he hurttles them into dangerous situations amidst violent conflict. This film looks at the recurring themes of fear and and death and how they affect the different characters throughout the movie.
These recurring themes are what makes this movie so realistic as to how war affects different people and the different ways it does this. Some may be in the larger percentage where fear and death create more anxiety and terror in war, just as Sanborn and Eldridge were affected in this way. There’s no doubt that war is a terrifying experience, but Will seems to have not been clued in on this, which often leaves Sanborn, Eldridge, and the audience marveling at his lack of acknowledgment to the possible deadly consequences of this work. Some think Will’s calmness in these situations may be brave, other find it comes off as cocky, but I have yet to decide which side I agree with. While Will’s lack of fear is able to aid him in some ways, he also finds himself in quite a bit of trouble because of this trait. These two different spectrums of personas in this movie gives the audience different scales on which they could relate on. Those who find war a more fearful, unpleasant place where they would struggle to make it through, physically and mentally, could better relate to the characters Eldridge and Sanborn. On the other hand, those who find war more as a thrill and would embrace fear and use it to motivate and push themselves harder would relate better to the character of James.
I was a little apprehensive about watching this movie after it was recommended to me, as I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy it, due to being disappointed by war movies in the past. However, I found myself happily proved wrong. There are not many movies I would gladly sit down to watch over and over again, but this movie I definitely find myself thoroughly enjoying. The thrill and exhilaration this film provides the audience perfectly compliments the passion and heartbreak it provides as well. The overall story this movie presents is an impactful one that you won’t forget after you’ve finished watching.
Trailer for the movie:
No comments:
Post a Comment