Hurt Locker

[vraiblonde]

Larry and I watched it when we were in B'more, and I have to say I agree with the complaints of Iraq War vets:

Some Iraq, Afghanistan war veterans criticize movie 'Hurt Locker' as inaccurate

"f this movie was based on a war that never existed, I would have nothing to comment about. This movie is not based on a true story, but on a true war, a war in which I have seen my friends killed, a war in which I witnessed my ranger buddy get both his legs blown off. So for Hollywood to glorify this crap is a huge slap in the face to every soldier who's been on the front line."

And this, to me is just the freakin' ultimate:
'The Hurt Locker' sets off conflict - latimes.com

Some soldiers and veterans say the movie, a favorite for the best picture Oscar, portrays them as renegades and doesn't depict combat accurately. But film critics have praised its authenticity.

The people who actually know about EOD think it's a joke, but the film critics, none of whom have been even remotely close to a war situation, think it's authentic.

Members of EOD teams in southern Iraq said in interviews arranged by the Army that "The Hurt Locker" is a good action movie if you know nothing about defusing roadside bombs or the military.

I know zero about EOD, but even dumb little me knew that any team leader that reckless would 1) never have become a team leader in the first place; and 2) would have been replaced immediately following his first little stunt, if not given his walking papers.

Hollywood pisses me off.

 

[Larry Gude]

Do not forget the adulation Platoon, another total war movie, war as Hollywood fantasies it, got from Hollywood.

 

[MrZ06]

I thought it was a good movie.

I would definitely agree that the movie is exaggerated. Almost all war movies are exaggerated.

After talking with a buddy of mine about it who was in Iraq he said he liked the movie. He also said they have way better technology to help defuse bombs that was never shown in the movie. For example all EOD trucks are equipped with cell phone jamers and bombs don't go off from a guy standing close by and triggering it with a phone.

 

[MissKitty]

I thought it was a good movie.

I would definitely agree that the movie is exaggerated. Almost all war movies are exaggerated.

After talking with a buddy of mine about it who was in Iraq he said he liked the movie. He also said they have way better technology to help defuse bombs that was never shown in the movie. For example all EOD trucks are equipped with cell phone jamers and bombs don't go off from a guy standing close by and triggering it with a phone.

MRAP's and various other vehicles carry counter radio-controlled IED electronic warfare (CREW) jammers. They jam a lot more than cell signals, but they don't defuse any bomb, just keep the Remote from detonating the threat. Then you still have to worry about many other types of IED's, ie pressure plates and hardwired bombs.

 

[D-35]

Hurt Locker (Revisited)

The sniper/spotter team stand-off sequences would have been realistic in non-desert, clear line-of-sight situations; which they usually are not.

Still the flick was mildly entertaining. Presents the insanity and unpredictability of asymmetrical war-hell..."Blackhawk Down" trumps Hurt Locker by a magnitude of 10. (...not a film-critic in real life, but portray one on-line...evenings after some Cab)

 

[BuddyLee]

Agreed with the above. It's hard to find a movie that's not glorified by Hollywood.

The film itself was interesting but not as great as some have been promoting it.