Hurt Locker Reviewed

I recently trekked out to the local art house theater to free my mind from the horrors of Transformers 2.  I had heard a few reviews about the new film Hurt Locker, and I my curiosity was peaked.  Hurt Locker had some unique features that were quite surprising.

Hurt Locker is about an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Team disarming bombs in Iraq.  Despite what you may have learned via Couterstrike, a booming voice does not state "Bomb Diffused" and "Counter Terrorist Win" after each successful disarming.  The film follows Jeremy Renner who is an adrenaline junkie looking for any chance to flirt with death to the tune of a 155 shell.  He often dons the protective explosives suit and looks an olive drab Stay Puff Marshmallow Man. 

The film follows the EOD unit as they go to a variety of scenarios that require bombs to be "handled." Despite the fact that each scenario is basically the same (a different wrapper for each IED), it held my attention quite well and had some great action sequences.  I'm not really familiar at all with the ins and outs of EOD, so I can't tell you how "real" it looks.  The firearms sequences were good, with one small exception; a terrorist shoulders an AK47 from about 150+ yards away and takes a single shot into a gas tank of a car.  The car burst into flames and has a giant IED in the trunk.  AK's aren't that accurate, and shooting into a gas tank (despite what Hollywood will tell you) won't set a car on fire.  In fact (besides the engine block) it is one of the safer places to stand as the bullet's energy will disperse in the liquid.  Anywho, the other action scenes were great, and the explosions in the film are top notch.

My biggest complaint about Hurt Locker was it really dragged out in through the mid second act to the end of the film.  I'm not sure if this is because the action scenes take the film up to "11" and if falls back to normal speeds after that, or it is a writing/story issue.  The ending also felt a little lack luster, and for "freedom of spoiler" sake I'll spare you the details.  All that being said, the first half of the film is much tighter and entertaining than the latter half.

What I really enjoyed about this film is how refreshingly different it felt.  The lack of big name actors (although there is some familiar cameos, like Evangeline Lilly), the independent feel(still with good explosions), and creative subject matter contributed to my enjoyment.  Despite every other Iraq war film I've seen in the past few years, there is no political agenda or heavy hearted liberal message in Hurt Locker.  Odd as it may sound, it is 100% truth.  Regardless of your opinions on the war in Iraq, a politically neutral story that is simply about the soldiers is really what makes this film stand out.

In closing, I recommended that you see Hurt Locker.  It is different, refreshing, and entertaining.  I would say the film is not cinema gold but when it comes down it to, I give it a 7.5 out of 10.  Much more than I can say for Transformers 2 :(