The Hurt Locker Contains A Great Message Within It

Rating: 10/10 (25 October 2012)

After reading through both positive and negative reviews, here is what I have to say about the quality of the film:
I think that too many people are focusing on what is not important, and by that I mean, the accuracy of everything, the camera job, the fact that it was directed by a woman, how many Oscars it won, etc. You are all missing the main point, a point that is highlighted at the very beginning: "War is a drug." A drug is not only addicting, it is, usually, harmful.
The film gives us a summary of the life of a soldier, with the intent of allowing the viewer to get a feel for the life, so that they may then comprehend them better. We see when he is back how he is completely lost, as most veterans are; data from a survey conducted in 2009 shows that only 13% of veterans truly feel reintegrated. James' wife and kid are there to exemplify the inability that most of us have to comprehend veterans. The wife acts as if the man was never in Iraq; as if he had never been close to death or seen many die. And then his son, perfectly innocent and jolly, he will never be able to understand the feelings that run within his father's veins due to his experiences.
Going back to the accuracy of the film, I think that this is a non-issue. The point is to really make a mark on the viewer so that they may take the time to help the veterans or try to be better at helping soldiers when they come back. I think that the inaccuracies allow for some exaggeration, which in turn allows for a greater mark to be left on the viewer. Take for example the scene where he opens up the kid's stomach to take out the bomb: would a soldier really do that? Probably not, but it is through this that one is able to see that soldiers are not emotionless fighting machines, and also, that the terrors they face out there are gruesome, and highly traumatizing.
As to the "amateur camera skills," I am going to say that this was probably a stylistic thing. By having it move around like that, like sort of "The Office" style, it further allows the viewer to feel like they are there because it creates the feel that you are the one moving around, watching this all unfold.
Now about the Oscars, who the f*** cares how many it won, you should be watching the film for its content, not how many stars/Oscars it has. I can tell you that many a time, I have enjoyed a lot of films with poor reviews, and I recommend that you give these films a try; sometimes critics are idiots (not in this case though potential troll, this film really deserved it). Now, the director being a women and this being a thing about getting her an Oscar to highlight it or those theories about it being revenge against James Cameron are all baloney. They may be true, but once again, does not matter if you are really watching this film for its overarching message.
Anyways, I highly recommend that you watch the film, the story vividly captures the terrors of war and the effects it has on soldiers. War is addictive and harmful, like a drug; there is a need for the violence instilled by the experience, and this has been exposed from statistics of reported aggression in returning soldiers.
To the veterans b****ing about the films inaccuracy, all I have to say is: 1) Thank you for your service to this great nation 2) I am sorry that this film may not be an accurate portrayal of your experience, but I think this is important so that us civilians can help our great soldiers get back into the life they left.
10/10 Watch it, undistracted. Get the meaning, on your own. Help out a veteran.