"War is hell" to some "War is a drug" to others

Rating: 8/10 (9 March 2011)

This is one of the most original and well crafted war movie I have ever seen, after seeing it once I just had to see it again in theater. This is a war movie with emotion and psychological aspects to it and for the most part everything works really well. The plot revolves around a bomb disposal unit and it's easy to get attached to these characters which makes a lot of the scenes tense and gut-wrenching. I can understand some of the criticisms this movie has been getting, about how it's unrealistic and inaccurate and not really true when it comes to how real soldiers do things in the military. Although I have no military background some aspects of it seemed a bit far-fetched. But I still found this movie to be brilliant, it isn't like most war movies where there is a specific mission. There are some missions, but that is just the surface of this movie. It has some psychological parts to it and it's about the experience of few soldiers and what comes later on. This isn't a complicated or convoluted war movie, but it's a simple and yet there is emotion and I got a bit of the sense of fear and tension these soldiers were facing in the movie. This is Jeremy Renner's big break and his performance in this was outstanding, I enjoyed every scene he was in despite him being the main character and all. But yeah again I can understand the complaint about how this movie sort of tries to sell it like it's a very realistic war movie and some people with real military background can spot out the unrealistic parts about this movie. But some of the general idea of a bomb squad and the emotion and fear they have to face is still intact. Despite some unrealistic aspects of this movie, it's still compelling movie that had my attention all the way through it. This is a different war movie and like what some reviewers are claiming, civilians will praise it and veterans will probably dislike it. Maybe it's because I am a civilian, but I found this movie to be a movie most definitely worth checking out despite some flaws and weaknesses. Never the less it's a very good effort by Kathryn Bigelow.
8.8/10