Gripping: Action, Characters, Real. What else can you want?

Rating: 9/10 (23 January 2010)

Not a ten; because I don't give out tens. Actually, I am almost positive I am going to eat those words, because I may have once before... Either way! This movie was amazing. (Perhaps not a ten because it's not exactly what I go for in films).
The movie is: About EOD (Emergency Ordnance Disposal). Pretty much bomb squads from the military. An undermanned special forces in the Army, Navy, etc. I know this first hand. (No, I was not EOD). EOD is undermanned is due to drop out or the more likely: Kick out ratio. People just can't cut it. So this is about a diverse sort of human being willing to risk it all to disarm bombs on a daily basis in Iraq (But also all over the world).
The movie doesn't go into the diverse or (simple) mechanics of disarming bombs, just the extravagance of disarming them with heart pumping stress of not just WILL THE BOMB GO OFF, but WILL INSURGENTS STRIKE WHILE DISARMING.
You join a bomb squad consisting of a motley crew (Wildman who disarms the bombs, and two subordinates of a strong hearted rational sarge, with a confused and scared/traumatized specialist). This crew isn't to develop some contrast of a 'weaker' link who sets back the team. Instead it's about their development and wild rides of the day to day job of an EOD squad.
But if you're weary of a movie that drags on with multiple bomb-diffusions, the characters if not enough to make you watch this and you want a good army-action scene, there is a sniper-stand off that makes the movie more intriguing. And you're still juvenile to the thought. The sniper rifle used is a Barret 50 cal. (Don't ask me why they had a 50 cal and not the standard issued m21). Either way it's amazing.
In conclusion the movie is a great story of true stories and realistic lives in Hostile Iraq. The bomb scenes are very gripping and develop well instead of slow and boring. The characters are already unfolded, so their development is only even more climactic. Also, Jeremy Renner is an amazing starring role and is upsetting to see he hasn't done more movies in the past as the hero. Damned SWAT. Check this out if you're into modern-warfare films or wanted a more enthralling JARHEAD film. (Not to say Jarhead sucked, I liked it a lot, but I also read the book). If you don't like movies involving modern warfare that involves shooting from the hip and unrealistic Iraqi warfare, avoid this at all costs.