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first locker
by ironic_name
Jun 24th, 2009
01:36:00 AM
fatharry talks about himself again
by ironic_name
Jun 24th, 2009
01:39:10 AM
I wonder if his autobiography would be just film reviews.

no one cares tubby!

Christ Harry, you can't write worth a shit
by Kief_Ledger
Jun 24th, 2009
01:46:30 AM
Good film!
by kinanswer
Jun 24th, 2009
02:08:58 AM
Had the chance to see it a few months ago and enjoyed it. Tense stuff, and some great "blink and you'll miss them" cameos.
Agreed
by Fortunesfool
Jun 24th, 2009
02:19:00 AM
And said as much in a review I sent in. I was less kind about the 'shaky-cam hacks who need to watch this film and learn some stuff' though. It's one of the best of the year though and genuinely palm-sweatingly intense.

And yes, the sniper sequence is a shoe-in for scene of the year.

she made Point Break! Im so there!
by BMacSmith
Jun 24th, 2009
02:38:01 AM
just kidding, her movies sucked. except Point fucking Break.
Kief_Ledger
by C0ns
Jun 24th, 2009
02:58:32 AM
Actually this was a pretty good written review, i'd say.
i enjoyed this film
by TheExterminator
Jun 24th, 2009
03:21:26 AM
it doesn't pull for the hearts strings in a melodramatic and overly sentimental way and that's a good thing
Thanks Harry
by antonphd
Jun 24th, 2009
03:22:55 AM
And thanks for the warning about TF2. By the way, have you seen The Hangover yet? I'm still waiting for your review. Tell me you've seen it.
the sniper scene is the worst bit
by TheExterminator
Jun 24th, 2009
03:24:37 AM
?!?!? it's retarded...the guy takes up a sniper position that has already been zeroed in and then proceeds to sit there as someone cleans the ammo. it could have been handled so much better.
Bigelow's a vastly underrated shooter...
by KillaKane
Jun 24th, 2009
03:25:29 AM
Been a fan of her work way back since I first saw loveless, Near Dark and Point break still hold up well. This sounds interesting, although the subject matter is a bit of a turn off given the current climate, I think there's a prevalent sense of cinematic fatigue where the Iraq War is concerned.
now HERE is someone who knows how to stage action
by Mr Gorilla
Jun 24th, 2009
03:29:13 AM
You know, the action in POINT BREAK is more kinetic and frame-fucking than Michael Bay will ever manage. The nasty stuff in STRANGE DAYS is nastier than Bay will every be able to conceive. But best of all, behind this is, as Harry writes (rather beautifully), a sensibility that believes than people, and men especially, can be more than dickheads. Thank you, Kathryn Bigelow, and welcome back!
Thats the probem Kane
by Fortunesfool
Jun 24th, 2009
03:31:07 AM
Its being pushed as an 'iraq war' movie when it should be sold as a summer action movie. It's the most exciting summer movie in years but, without a big studio backing it up, its languishing in 'art house' hell. In such a vapid summer it'd be a great wake up call to Abrams, McG et all as an example of how to make a real film.
And I'm not a TOTAL lover
by Mr Gorilla
Jun 24th, 2009
03:31:18 AM
Just in case you think I'm using Bigelow as a stick to beat Bay with (well, I kind of was) - I should say that while I love POINT BREAK, BLUE STEEL, STRANGE DAYS (blu-ray soon, please) and NEAR DARK, I think that films like K:19 and THE WEIGHT OF WATER sucked.
YOU ENDORSE MOVIES, THEY FAIL
by Mysterious_Volvo
Jun 24th, 2009
03:35:59 AM
or they make a little money, but nothing more than they were going to make anyway, such as Rocky and Rambo. but they were low budget movie. please stop trying to endorse THE EXPENDABLES and THE HURT LOCKER. because Hurt Locker is a good movie and expendables will be awesome and if you leave them alone they might, MIGHT have a chance.
Aye, it's quite the movie
by Bruce of all Trades
Jun 24th, 2009
03:50:34 AM
Strong characters and some great and tense scenes involving the Renner & Co. doing their jobs.
Also, great cameos by
by Bruce of all Trades
Jun 24th, 2009
03:51:38 AM
Guy Pearce, David Morse and especially Ralph Fiennes
My favourite movie of the year so far...
by masteryoda007
Jun 24th, 2009
04:04:36 AM
Renner fucking rules this movie. He is all kinds of bad-ass in this flick, all you guys should check it out while you can. This is a great story with some excellent cameo work by Fiennes and Pierce. Bigelow were have you been my dear? Welcome back baby.
Why is it. ....
by Badlieutenant
Jun 24th, 2009
04:06:36 AM
That every movie that people lost their shit over at SXSW fucking sucked. I'm still hopign that Daytime Drinking finds a distributer.
ZZZZZZZZZZ
by lockesbrokenleg
Jun 24th, 2009
04:06:51 AM
Pass.
Mysterious_Volvo
by Hellbastardo
Jun 24th, 2009
04:37:01 AM
hey way to be a complete idiot dude good job!
Strange Days
by zed261
Jun 24th, 2009
04:58:47 AM
what a great movie, thanks for reminding me, I have to find DVD and see it again... I have seen it only once, I can't believe it's almost 14 years.
Why compare the 2 movies?
by TiNSeLToWN TeRRoR
Jun 24th, 2009
05:11:02 AM
To bash Revenge of the fallen some more? Class act babycakes, class act.
Mysterious Volvo
by HEADGEEK
Jun 24th, 2009
05:20:07 AM
right, because the movies I've given a resounding endorsement of this summer were STAR TREK & UP. I loved DRAG ME TO HELL, but the campaign behind it was not quite all that, plus I really feel they released it in the wrong season. I liked LAND OF THE LOST, but didn't love it.
good call
by aabiohazard1972
Jun 24th, 2009
05:34:07 AM
Having worn the bomb suit myself (training environment only though)I can say that that job is uniquly challenging, good review Harry I will go see this if for no other reason than your review was spot on and I am eternally tired of war movies with an agenda; nice to see one showing "the mission" of the Men that have to fight the wars and not the politics that create the situations, again good call
harold
by The InSneider
Jun 24th, 2009
05:53:27 AM
great review. it's my favorite of the year. and i loved your observation about the capri-sun as the turning point. well said. puts bay's sequel to shame. renner and mackie were sofa king good.
You're comparing Katheryn Bigelow to Micheal Bay....
by theycallmemrtibbs
Jun 24th, 2009
06:07:18 AM
Really?
The Bluray of the Hurt Locker
by syn_flood
Jun 24th, 2009
06:29:40 AM
is already available.
Katheryn Bigelow knows how to stage action
by barnaby jones
Jun 24th, 2009
06:30:45 AM
Take note Mr Bay.
syn_flood - tell me more...
by barnaby jones
Jun 24th, 2009
06:51:21 AM
"I go into a personal story that many of you just won't believe.
by RICHARD_GERE_RAPED_MY_GERBIL
Jun 24th, 2009
06:59:29 AM
It involved Harry and collectables.

I managed to believe it.

Ralph Fiennes
by johnnylawless2
Jun 24th, 2009
07:02:44 AM
is badass in this.
Great movie
by m_reporter
Jun 24th, 2009
07:05:01 AM
It's probably the best movie I've seen so far this year. Gonna go see it again this weekend.
How are you barely seeing this if you are a fan of Bigelow?
by dailysportspages
Jun 24th, 2009
07:06:14 AM
I saw this a long ass time ago.
The surfing scenes in POINT BREAK were awful
by ZombieHeathLedger
Jun 24th, 2009
07:09:09 AM
mainly because none of the leads could actually surf so Bigelow had to cheat it with shadowy silhouettes and lots of waves. Today they would just CGI Patrick Swayze's face onto Kelly Slater. I'll catch HURT LOCKER on dvd, this isn't a movie that seems to have cinematography that begs for it to be seen on the big screen which isn't my only criteria for seeing a movie in the theatres but it's up there.
ZombieHeath
by m_reporter
Jun 24th, 2009
07:12:16 AM
Dude, you have no idea how wrong you are. The 1st bomb explosion and the sniper scene are some of the best shot scenes in years.

The 16mm photography in this movie is just sublime.

Kathryn Bigelow made Bay look dickless by comparison
by Lashlarue
Jun 24th, 2009
07:17:00 AM
Harry, I love you.
So that means the men are boring?
by terry1978
Jun 24th, 2009
07:18:30 AM
In fiction land, if your male character ain't one of those three, that's what they come across as.
K19 was a joke. But this looks BADASS.
by phallix trebek
Jun 24th, 2009
07:28:21 AM
K-19 Is SO Underrated
by SamuelLappDance
Jun 24th, 2009
07:48:40 AM
I thought that was a fairly gutsy production. A big-budget studio movie released in the summmer of "Spiderman" and "Attack of the Clones" about Soviet Russians preventing a nuclear disaster decades earlier? Try and get a film like that green-lit today. Say what you want about Harrison Ford's accent in the film (a decent attempt, I thought ... the world just knows that voice too well). But those who bag on him for never stretching as an actor don't give him any credit when he actually does try and step out of his comfort zone as he did here. Sure, Stellan Skarsgaard might have been better in the role. But SS doesn't have the star power to get a film like that made. "K-19" was tense, well directed by Bigelow, and it told an episode of history few outside of Russia know about. And, hey, it had Han Solo and Qui-Gonn Jinn going toe to toe.
Harry = Professional
by Stuntcock Mike
Jun 24th, 2009
07:49:41 AM
Kathryn is the goods. Looking forward to this.
STRANGE DAYS = movie masterpiece
by Motoko Kusanagi
Jun 24th, 2009
08:02:57 AM
which is no surprise: it was written by Iron Jim

Mr. Cameron, welcome back. We missed you.

Jeremy Renner
by Bladernner79
Jun 24th, 2009
08:16:22 AM
I dont know why this guy isnt in more movies he has a certain quality i can't put my finger on and is a good actor, i mean how much shia do we need to see , i think the kid is good and in time will drop some of the acting crutches he has but he doesnt need ot be in everything. Check out 28 days later renner is the best part of the film and assasintation of jessy james
Can't Wait
by Cobbio
Jun 24th, 2009
08:18:18 AM
Thanks, Harry! I can't wait to see this. An uncompromising war film with great characters, dicey predicaments, and true R-rated intensity. Love it.

As soon as it hits my area of the country, I'm there.

Will defintely be seeing this
by zapano
Jun 24th, 2009
08:41:24 AM
It's been while since I last felt comfortable walking into a Bigelow film. I really like strange days and point break and this sounds quite promising
What? No "Iraq" war is Bush's fault bullshit"?
by Rolling_Stone
Jun 24th, 2009
08:54:53 AM
It's not you to actually portray our soldiers in a good light Harry. You've praised every anti-Iraq anti-U.S. soldier film that has come down the pipeline and right into the Blockbuster discount bin for years. Someone place a pod under your bed last night Harry?
Jeremy Renner
by skimn
Jun 24th, 2009
09:33:56 AM
When I saw the promos for The Unusuals (was that the name of the now canned ABC series?), I thought, "who is that guy and why does he look so familiar". Hopefully enough suits will see this, and cast him in more leading roles. And welcome back Kathryn Bigelow. I was afraid you'd be delegated to the HBO/Showtime directing pool...
Great review, Harry! Seeing this!
by fassbinder79
Jun 24th, 2009
09:47:41 AM
I WILL SEE THIS
by AyatollahSexyBack
Jun 24th, 2009
09:59:47 AM
Someone mentioned it last night and I was intrigued. Knowing Obama is acting responsibly has made many of us antiwar folks complacent. I don't want to be that guy. I want our troops safe, and home ASAP.
Blue Steel was awful
by ebolamonkey
Jun 24th, 2009
10:10:18 AM
Just awful. There's no way that Harry or anybody else for that matter just drops Blue Steel in the player and watches it for fun. Makes JLCs work in the Activia ads look like Kane.
it doesn't disgrace our involvement
by Harry Weinstein
Jun 24th, 2009
10:18:58 AM
That our involvement was a disgrace is now simple and demonstrable fact, so it would be redundant for the film to waste valuable time on that idea.
K-19
by DanielPlainview
Jun 24th, 2009
10:43:20 AM
I had to see K-19 over Road to Peridition because my parents wouldn't let me see an R back then. My god I still remember how awful that movie was, and how I'm still pissed I missed Road to Periditon in theatres.
K19 or Perdition
by Mr Gorilla
Jun 24th, 2009
10:54:11 AM
What a terrible choice. Couldn't you have just gone out and sat in the toilets for 2 hours?
K19
by skimn
Jun 24th, 2009
10:55:49 AM
What an awful title. Was WD40 taken? Could never sit and watch that movie just because of Harrison Ford's "Russian" accent.
What a disgrace
by SmokingRobot
Jun 24th, 2009
10:58:13 AM
That Harry Weinstein lets his politics overwhelm his sense of reality. If Bill Clinton had started the Iraq war the liberals would be all for it.
Easily My Favorite Movie the Past Couple Years
by chaplinatemyshoe
Jun 24th, 2009
10:59:20 AM
Glad to see you give it some hype, Harry. Hopefully this one gets marketed right and does great business.
hurt locker is worth your time and bucks to see
by palewook
Jun 24th, 2009
11:06:42 AM
Kathryn Bigelow tends to make solid movies. wish she worked a little more often, but each to their own.
She was the 3rd Mrs. James Cameron
by DirkBelig
Jun 24th, 2009
11:41:30 AM
Though they'd split by the time they collaborated on Strange Days. Cameron taught himself editing on that show in prep for cutting Titanic.
I WILL SEE THIS.
by uberman
Jun 24th, 2009
11:51:26 AM
It's got my interest.
This movie is so badass...
by thesinofthesky
Jun 24th, 2009
12:24:25 PM
that even though I already have it saved on my PS3, I'll pay to see it in the theater, with proper surround sound and what not.
Kathryn Bigelow is Awesome!
by SSCam99
Jun 24th, 2009
12:37:08 PM
I will unabashedly say that I truly believe The Hurt Locker is Kathryn Bigelow's best film yet. I saw the film this past April at ShoWest and even had the honor of meeting Ms. Bigelow and speaking to her twice briefly. She is not only a great film maker but a nice person!
"Point Break" is awful
by DennisMM
Jun 24th, 2009
12:40:23 PM
It stars two men who have between them the talent of one-half a passable actor. Gary Busey exits early in the film. Only the so-called action sequences are any good, and they're ridiculous.
DennisMM
by thesinofthesky
Jun 24th, 2009
12:44:23 PM
Busey does not exit early in the film. He doesn't die until the final confrontation at the airport.
Men AND robots but not stupid?! I have hope . . .
by Royston Lodge
Jun 24th, 2009
12:45:14 PM
. . . for the cinema again.
Great movie with WTF ending
by elBox
Jun 24th, 2009
12:48:08 PM
Nobody talks about the last scene in the movie when they review it. I won't ruin it for those who haven't watched it yet but it sticks out like an awkward boner. It glorifies all the horrible shit that happened to him and appears to be a lame excuse to make Renner look badass one more time. The guy is already as badass as they come. The last scene doesn't ruin the whole movie, it just doesn't fit.
prototypes of manhood
by Series7
Jun 24th, 2009
12:53:51 PM
Steve Buscemi?
Jeremy Renner
by Series7
Jun 24th, 2009
12:56:28 PM
Really likes wearing a suit. And I notice he plays the same guy in a lot of his things. Like his 28 Days Later and The Unusuals (which turned out pretty good, especially using the Hit Classic hindi song Tunuk Tunuk Tun, which is the best song ever) are the same guy. But I like it, there is something different about it.
This is where I go into a personal story
by Series7
Jun 24th, 2009
12:59:42 PM
I had a friend who was one like final month or two in Afgan or Iraq, can't remember. And he was so bored he joined the bomb squad team. He said it was a lot of fun.
Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes???
by Series7
Jun 24th, 2009
01:00:55 PM
What do they do? Play some Blimy Queens rule folk who call America and ask for us to save the world again?
I saw the trailer for this and though it
by Series7
Jun 24th, 2009
01:02:19 PM
Was an episode of that Discovery channel show, Time stoppers are something.
Fuck yeah Katharine Bigelow!!
by kateowyn
Jun 24th, 2009
01:14:12 PM
Can't wait to see this!!!
This movie
by Toonol
Jun 24th, 2009
01:26:52 PM
Is the first war movie I've been interested in seeing in a long time, and I LIKE war movies. I just don't like the guilt-ridden, pussified, preachy crap that's come out in the last five years.

The vast majority of our soldiers (and by that, I mean 99%+) perform exemplary duty over there. I want to see a movie about that... not one that pretends US soldiers are neurotic, barbaric, bastards.

I like Harry's negative reviews better
by Glory_Fades_ImMaxFischer
Jun 24th, 2009
02:15:20 PM
he leaves out his yearning of being a child and all the pointless stories of his life NO ONE CARES ABOUT
f all of you
by shadydave
Jun 24th, 2009
02:24:38 PM
crappy review. crappy comments.
Renner
by Sailor Rip
Jun 24th, 2009
02:25:27 PM
I looked him up after you all shot loads about him and the only movie I ever saw him in was Dahmer.

Ever see it? I can't watch this guy without visualizing the montage of him raping drugged black men to the beat of "More, more, more, how do like it, how do you like it..."

So how is this a better ROBOT film?
by REVENGE_of_FETT
Jun 24th, 2009
02:46:42 PM
Did I miss it somewhere? I haven't seen any trailers for this film but it sure doesn't sound like robots are involved in any way shape or form from Harry's description.
Emotional distressed locket
by krod
Jun 24th, 2009
02:55:08 PM
Should I take my brother to see this?
by Toe Jam
Jun 24th, 2009
03:09:19 PM
He gets back from his second tour of duty in Iraq in just a few days, and he'll be visiting just as this film opens locally. I don't want to give him any flashbacks or anything, though. He seemed to enjoy "Call of Duty 4" after his first tour.
elBox: Regarding the last scene
by chaplinatemyshoe
Jun 24th, 2009
03:47:37 PM
I got the exact opposite impression. It actually tied into the theme of the movie: the addiction of warfare. Renner is an addict. That is why the last scene is important.
Revenge of Fett
by Fortunesfool
Jun 24th, 2009
04:07:05 PM
The opening scene has a bomb disposal robot.

And the last scene is really cool. One of the best movie endings in recent memory.

Far better then Blackhawk down.
by bioforge
Jun 24th, 2009
04:26:29 PM
She made Ridley look dickless.
This move is a fucking masterpiece
by drturing
Jun 24th, 2009
04:27:13 PM
Is this playing in Austin?
by SaraW
Jun 24th, 2009
04:33:34 PM
Best film of the year
by kwisatzhaderach
Jun 24th, 2009
05:03:10 PM
til Avatar of course. Can't beat Bigelow/Cameron.

Did you know that Cameron wrote Point Break too?

Fortunesfool is right
by kwisatzhaderach
Jun 24th, 2009
05:06:36 PM
The ending is brilliant, there is a really great match-cut.
sailor rip
by martinlutherkrangjr
Jun 24th, 2009
05:28:08 PM
renner is dahmer to me. everytime that i saw him in jesse james i thought of him taking pictures of dudes with their shirts off and wrestling around with young men.
it's true
by frank cotton
Jun 24th, 2009
06:02:23 PM
that man has no dick
Re: zed261/STRANGE DAYS DVD
by ArmageddonProductions
Jun 24th, 2009
06:25:48 PM
zed, you might wanna hold off on that DVD purchase until Fox takes a hit off the Clue Bong® and re-releases STRANGE DAYS in fucking 16x9-compatible format. Every time I pop in my old DVD and have to switch over my player to 4x3 just to watch it full-screen on a HD set, it kills me. Unfortunately, since I think SHOWGIRLS and HALLOWEEN 6 both clobbered it at the box office, Fox probably considers the movie a write-off and it might be a good long while before they get around to it.
On The Other Hand ...
by ArmageddonProductions
Jun 24th, 2009
06:33:49 PM
... while you're waiting for STRANGE DAYS, check Anchor Bay's NEAR DARK Special Edition -- it gets pretty much the treatment I hope STRANGE DAYS will someday get but actually won't.
Ralph Fiennes
by johnnylawless2
Jun 24th, 2009
07:35:00 PM
plays the leader of a bunch of contractors hunting some of the most wanted. Plus he gets to have a go on a Barrett 50 cal....
Harry, how can you go and call a movie RETARDED?
by robertplant
Jun 24th, 2009
08:50:47 PM
"Also, thank you for giving me a good movie to see today that shows men and robots and wasn't painfully offensive, retarded or insulting. You know... thanks for making a wonderful film!" That's just another one of your blatant hypocrisies. If you're going to bitch about things that offend you, realize that people are actually mentally challenged, and their relatives more than likely view your site. They take offense to that.
you want PC
by frank cotton
Jun 24th, 2009
09:09:58 PM
on this site? is this your first visit?
TF < HL
by 2007
Jun 24th, 2009
09:13:32 PM
if only bay WROTE his summer movie the way this was written. introspective talks among soldiers(for fanboys to bitch about) introspective tension building bomb diffusing scenes that don't go anywhere and you know the main character isn't going to die before 3/4 of the movie good film but fuck all this agenda driven crap on these genre sights any more promotion for star trek this week and i'll be sick I honestly doubt the 8 year old harry would give TF the same review as the 40year old one and that's the point.
Harry says
by enough22
Jun 24th, 2009
09:36:54 PM
No dvd section, so fuck you all AICN readers because once again I disrespect you and show you that I really do not give a shit about any of you my loyal supporters. Thank you, Harry, you are the man.
@ironic_name...being that stupid, who ties your shoes?
by MacFaux
Jun 25th, 2009
01:35:38 AM
ironic, buddy, control your vapid and your vain and watch your six..as based on the anti-genius of the few lines you offered. Well. You are not much liked in the world I feature. So, I understand and pity your petty.

Harry is a lovely fellow and if you don't dance to his groove..then away you, as fast as you can. Start your on million dollar site and see if any one comes to your party.

I wager not. You wee small child. Scorn. Contempt. Slight regard.

Jeez, but there is a lot of angry out and about on this site of late.
She should have directed Terminator Salvation
by theplant
Jun 25th, 2009
02:48:45 AM
Imagine the geekgasm --
only way to know which is better
by Boborci
Jun 25th, 2009
02:56:43 AM
is to see BOTH!
But you're a "big fan of 'Point Break'?!"
by Rowsdower.ZabRowsdower
Jun 25th, 2009
03:02:55 AM
Maybe it's because "Hurt Locker"'s production company ponied up the $40 g's to run the banner ad on your site? Weren't you, and your reviewers, all over Bay's jock a couple years ago? POINT BREAK? Pearce, Morse and Fiennes... yes, yes and yes as far as wonderful, underrated actors go. Harry... hate to be one of those... but, *ahem*, you're a "big fan" of everything. This was a dickless lay-up of a review. Sure, remind the online masses of your cinema cred by bagging one which was once your bay, er, boy, by going the 40-screen indie route pick whilst eschewing the big, dumb popcorn flick of the summer. Everyone look at your hands... it's the safety dance. Politics and popularity contests aside, I'm sure, without even seeing either yet, that "Hurt Locker" is the far superior of the two... just remember that you're bagging one project (apples) while easily distancing yourself from another which was once adored all over this site by you and all your staff (pad thai). And, in case anyone missed it... POINT BREAK?!! You need to change the murky waters of your sitz bath, dude.
Needs more GIANT PIG
by GIANT_PIG
Jun 25th, 2009
04:14:04 AM
GIANT PIG!!!
Does Harry also say when this week's bloody DVD column
by half vader
Jun 25th, 2009
04:40:57 AM
is coming? Come ON man!
Rowsdower.ZabRowsdower
by kwisatzhaderach
Jun 25th, 2009
05:29:39 AM
Point Break is awesome. What's your point exactly?
Boborci
by kwisatzhaderach
Jun 25th, 2009
05:30:12 AM
Have you no shame?
Orci has no shame.
by Fortunesfool
Jun 25th, 2009
06:06:20 AM
Why would he, he has lots of money and Hollywood knocking on his door shouting 'Bob, write us another lame screenplay on that amazing 'scriptwriting for morons' machine of yours. All the pot smoking, ADD kids in the 14-20 year old demogrpahic are lapping them up'

Orci - 'Wow. I really am a great writer'

Hollywood - 'No one said that. But the stuff you write makes shitloads of money. Who needs talent when you have success!'

Harry loves K-19?
by vvrinne
Jun 25th, 2009
06:08:38 AM
Lol.. just lol..
this Renner guy
by BizarroJerry
Jun 25th, 2009
07:38:28 AM
It's a damn shame this movie didn't come out sooner. Maybe it would have helped get The Unusuals a little more attention. He's more or less the star of the show. And I'm sorry to see it die an early death with little chance to survive in the first place.
can not wait to see this
by Crow3711
Jun 25th, 2009
09:27:03 AM
ever since the first trailer I saw I've been dying, this shit looks amazing. Fuck all these haters Harry, I'm glad you choose to publicly support these movies. Someone needs to. Ignore the malcontents.
David Morse is in it?
by KazamaSmokers
Jun 25th, 2009
10:12:47 AM
I'm there. Inside Moves, 12 Monkeys, St Elsewhere, Hack... David Morse rules.
Harry - DVD release column??
by Kaiser Soze
Jun 25th, 2009
10:35:04 AM
What's up with this week's DVD/blu-ray column, Harry? too many crappy releases to do it this week? it was a slower week
Are there robots in this film?
by Animation
Jun 25th, 2009
10:36:58 AM
The title says something like the better robot film, but the review makes it seem like a modern military film. What's up?
Animation re: Robots
by Crow3711
Jun 25th, 2009
11:09:30 AM
well, its about a bomb defuser, so I think it means more that he uses those robotic arm things and explosive robots at time to defuse/detonate the bombs probably. More realistic robot action than Bayformers, is what I think it means. So yes, there are "robots" in this movie, they just don't talk or reinforce racial stereotypes.
Bigelow is one of the most vital action directors around...
by shaneo632
Jun 25th, 2009
11:14:04 AM
Considering she's pretty much the ONLY consistent female director of action films mainly centered around men, it's only too relevant how much she explores male anxiety. I thought the Hurt Locker was awesome in this regard. Lacked the cheesy homoeroticism of Point Break and was just a very compelling, incredibly tense film about men in crisis. Sadly overlooked film.
IRAQ
by Tin Snoman
Jun 25th, 2009
11:29:21 AM
IRAQ!
Addiction
by BrooseTheScharuk
Jun 25th, 2009
11:45:48 AM
The person who mentioned the addiction aspect of Hurt Locker was absolutely right, and I am a little surprised that it didn't get mentioned in Harry's review. Jeremy Renner's character is an absolute junkie for his job and the adrenaline that comes with it. He takes unnecessary risks, and -- as we find out toward the end -- his value system has been twisted by his addiction. I would even say that this movie is much more about addiction than it is simply about "heroes" and "the job they do".
Loved this film.
by gotilk
Jun 25th, 2009
12:11:15 PM
And I'll be seeing it again if I can find it on a screen in my horrible town. Seriously, calling this the best action film this summer is NOT an exaggeration. Easily.
Sounds good.
by shrubbery
Jun 25th, 2009
12:27:18 PM
Is it in limited release right now?
Oh, and I forgot to mention...
by BrooseTheScharuk
Jun 25th, 2009
01:03:54 PM
...pretty much the best movie I've seen this year. Easily Bigelow's best. Considering the fact that she's screwed up the endings of a lot of her films, I don't think this one could end any better than it does.
you liked K-19???
by THE TRUE PINBACK
Jun 25th, 2009
01:09:27 PM
Lemme tell you something Knowles...you are becoming more and more of a joke every time you post a review. I'm beginning to think that you wouldn't know a good movie if it bit you on the ass (UHGG...what a sick thought...). K-19 THE WIDOW-MAKER was a totally suckass movie. Liam Neeson and Harrison Ford were woefully miscast in it and the story wasn't compelling in any way shape or form. Maybe the twonkies are rotting your brain or something...
Her 3 Homicide Episodes Remain her Best Work
by mjgtexas
Jun 25th, 2009
01:39:46 PM
I think the Ron Eldard hostage episode has been the most claustrphobic, perfectly edited episode in tv history.
I'm really interested in seeing this, eventually
by SoylentMean
Jun 25th, 2009
02:44:29 PM
After having almost zero fun with Transformers 2: What the Fuck Just Happened?, I need a coherent story with characters I care about. Unfortunately, this will most likely be seen by me on DVD.
Legitimate question about bomb diffusing
by jimmy_009
Jun 25th, 2009
04:58:14 PM
So the trailer of this rocks, but while watching it I couldn't help but think: "Why not just get everyone away and fire an RPG at it?" Yeah they'll be some property damage, but that's nothing compared to losing lives. Maybe this will be explained in the movie, which I can't wait to see. I hate limited release openings.
Great piece of work. Agorophobic and claustrophobic
by SID 8.0
Jun 25th, 2009
05:09:05 PM
at the same time. Best line in the movie Anthony Mack to the SAS soldier " You know you can shoot people here, you don't have to throw wrenches at them." SAS shooter "Fuck off!" Hilarious. Jeremy Renner should be a bigger star no doubt. Throw him in there Michael Jai White and Ryan Reynolds who seems like he's about to go supersonic. Right after Renner's character died in 28 Weeks Later the movie did too.
Kathryn Bigelow is kinda hot. . . .
by Mundungus
Jun 25th, 2009
08:55:43 PM
Is pointing that out foremost too shallow? I guess, but it was the first thing I thought while checking out some press clips. Seems mighty bright as well.
I heard....
by planescrashdown
Jun 26th, 2009
01:09:13 AM
.... that Kathryn Bigalow created a machine that sucked all the ego out of Jim Cameron while they slept, and distributed itself back to the earth as methane. Once converted the machine would suck all the methene up from the room and condence it into a perfect 128 minute script that could never get greenlit. Like a 2 hour script about midget vampires, but with great dialogue. and set pieces. ING described the contraption as "basic" and "Depthless" make of that what you will.
I'd LOVE to see this right now, but
by The Reluctant Austinite
Jun 26th, 2009
11:39:05 AM
only places like Austin get movies like this. Here in Louisville we have a ridiculous number of theaters and screens, but most of them are filled up playing "Transformers." All of our arthouse theaters have tanked, and even when the second run/ arthouse theater in town plays non-mainstream films, they never get anything cool like this. They never book underground action, horror or sci-fi (I guess the distributors actually want to be PAID for booking these types of films). They'll only book French art films or gay/lesbian interest films. I love when AICN gives attention to films like this; I only wish I could actually go out and support them.
Can't see this in Austin or a lot of places
by scanlon
Jun 26th, 2009
02:58:05 PM
Same old stupid fucked up platform releases. Hey let's blitz the media and web for weeks with interviews and reviews for a movie no one can actually see in a theater. The Hurt Locker and Moon are still not available even in Austin this weekend. I can't imagine even smaller markets will be seeing this soon. Seriously, who is in charge of this kind of shit? Why spend the advertising dollars if you are sitting on the product. It's not called building buzz. it's called losing buzz. Because by the time its available, they'll something else to competing for your movie attention. This is another reason some people download the movie.
Good review
by purplepurple
Jun 26th, 2009
05:56:25 PM
Movie sounds interesting, will check it out
Republicans are cute
by Harry Weinstein
Jun 26th, 2009
06:28:04 PM
"That Harry Weinstein lets his politics overwhelm his sense of reality. If Bill Clinton had started the Iraq war the liberals would be all for it."

I wouldn't expect a Republican to understand why it's bad to go to war based on false information obtained using torture, regardless of what party is controlling all three branches of government at the time. It's complicated stuff; fortunately grownups are in charge now.

Kathryn Bigelow made Bay look dickless by comparison.
by GQtaste
Jun 26th, 2009
10:48:45 PM
I gotta give credit where credit is do. That was one hell of a line there Harry. And a true one at that. Good job sir.
Robots?
by CB87
Jun 26th, 2009
11:32:58 PM
You're a dumbass Harry
AMAZING FILM
by Johnnie Walker
Jun 26th, 2009
11:36:15 PM
Amazing director. Amazing cast. And made totally independently. It redeems an otherwise extremely disappointing summer.
Thanks for putting yr money where yr mouth is
by Mr Gorilla
Jun 27th, 2009
01:43:13 AM
...and keeping these Hurt Locker posts up top, even though everyone really wants to talk TRANSFORMERS. (Why? Just don't see it!) Now can we lobby for a really great Strange Days blu-ray release?
Who says Michael Bay Even Has A Dick?
by EbertsFatThumb
Jun 27th, 2009
10:53:39 AM
Another example of a shitty director who keeps making mediocre movies. Take out the slow-mo and explosions and you can reduce his 2 1/2 movie down to a commercial.
That ending...
by slapshot
Jun 27th, 2009
06:23:20 PM
...is probably one of the best in recent memory, if only for what it means in relation to the scene that immediately precedes it. "Sometimes, you realize you only love one thing"... and the one thing isn't the person he says that to.

(Btw, the DVD is/was available on certain non-Michael "bay" places. Apparently there was an Italian release of some sort nearly a year ago; the discs are Region 1, the menus are in Italian, the movie is in English, and the packaging is in Korean. Go figure. This, studios, is what happens when you do that fucked-up "platform release" shit, preventing the majority of us from seeing a movie opening weekend or even opening month. We're Americans, we demand to be entertained, RIGHT FUCKING NOW.)

Apolitical?
by jdb1972
Jun 27th, 2009
06:50:12 PM
The tagline is "War is a drug." David Morse's character lets a civilian die for no good reason. The writer's last job was the horrid "In the Valley of Ellah." It's explicitly stated that soldiers' treatment of Iraqis caused them to become insurgents. And so on. This is apolitical only in very relative contrast to Hollywood's other Iraq War excrements.
Good War Flick
by EbertsFatThumb
Jun 28th, 2009
01:20:43 AM
The Hurt Locker was a really good war film. Not sure I rank it as an all time great war film but it definitely kept you focused. Pretty intense and just enough dialogue to move the story. I was in high school band for six years and this brings back the memories.
harry, your fatass
by manbat33
Jun 28th, 2009
05:15:37 PM
sweats anyway even by just sitting there.
so far - BEST PIC 2009- go see it!!!!
by soloaj
Jun 28th, 2009
11:18:41 PM
Went to NYC on Sat and saw the movie with Q&A afterwords with Director. All the Good Reviews - a tight thriller & Great War Movie! When this goes wide I urge you to see this film. When the director came out for quick Q&A I was surprised to see tall, slim, soft spoken lady - expected something totally different :). She and her crew deserve much credit in making a great movie that a fresh breath of air. GO SEE IT ASAP!
Best Pic 2009......I agree
by Black_Towr
Jun 29th, 2009
02:23:59 PM
I saw this on wednesday of last week and it was amazing. Very intense film.
@THE TRUE PINBACK
by Dr Strangeface
Jun 30th, 2009
08:13:00 AM
Way to show your true credentials as a complete fuckwit. I just love it when loudmouth shit-for-brain assholes like you (and there are many of you on this site for some reason) come along proclaiming yours as the only valid viewpoint. Film, as with all media, is subjective. Now go and look up 'subjective.' Rant over.
Are You kidding me?
by Karimkai
Jun 30th, 2009
10:41:11 PM
Harry, what is your malfunction? The Hurt Locker, probably is a good film and I'm gonna check it out(the trailer was awsome), but using every review to attack TF:ROTF is very immature. I have to agree with a few on here that say that the forums here are filled with a bunch of hateful, bitter, SOB's who are puppets with no autonomy who follow the crap you spew. Form an independent opinion, much like the audience that made TF2 a 200 mil+ grosser. It's like some real Bill O'Reilly, "I yell louder so I'm right" shit on the AICN forum. What a joke
saw it last nite....
by massolit
Jul 1st, 2009
12:03:00 PM
very good movie... but now just waiting for MJ: (un)cut starring johnny depp.
IRON MAN 2 SPOILER http://tinyurl.com/kwzqqk
by Stanbee54321
Jul 1st, 2009
01:47:04 PM
http://tinyurl.com/mkwyu5
IRON MAN 2 SPOILER http://tinyurl.com/kwzqqk
by Stanbee54321
Jul 1st, 2009
01:47:04 PM
http://tinyurl.com/mkwyu5
IRON MAN 2 SPOILER http://tinyurl.com/kwzqqk
by Stanbee54321
Jul 1st, 2009
01:47:04 PM
http://tinyurl.com/mkwyu5
IRON MAN 2 SPOILER http://tinyurl.com/kwzqqk
by Stanbee54321
Jul 1st, 2009
01:47:05 PM
http://tinyurl.com/mkwyu5
Harry sucks dick
by jake122683
Jul 1st, 2009
07:35:20 PM
Harry ruins this website. I know it is his but he makes it suck.
Finally saw the trailer...
by Logan_1973
Jul 3rd, 2009
10:48:42 AM
Quite frankly I don't see what there is to get excited about...
Just saw this...
by StrokerX
Jul 6th, 2009
09:51:54 PM
Effing LOVED IT....so freakin stressful!
Yes extremely good film
by Rupee88
Jul 7th, 2009
09:43:13 AM
When you see Guy Pearce in a cameo, that is usually a good sign. But great acting and action in this one.
Findally found a theatre showing this
by growltiger
Jul 16th, 2009
01:25:16 AM
And it blew me away. The sniper watch on the berm scene kept me on the edge of my seat. Guy Pearce AND Ralph Fiennes offer brilliant turns to support the excellent trio of bomb experts.
Findally --> finally
by growltiger
Jul 16th, 2009
01:26:18 AM
Although trying to find a theatre offering this film did require an ally.
Saw it today. Dug it well enough.
by Autodidact
Jul 30th, 2009
10:23:43 PM
I found it quite absorbing, although I'm just going to stop going out to movies altogether, because every single time there is something fucked up, either with the audience or the film presentation or both. Today it was the presentation. The film was so poorly framed on the screen that whenever one of those titles that said "number of days left in Bravo Company's rotation: X" the number was mostly off the fucking screen.. you could see it projecting onto the paint between the screen and the stage. And the fucking picture was so far off the screen at the sides I swear you could see picture on the goddamn exit sign. Fuck you Cineplex.

Anyway, good job Kathryn Bigelow. I also liked K-19: Widowmaker and Strange Days was the first movie I ever reviewed for a publication. Gave it a big ol' thumbs up.

Incredible Film
by Posthumos1
Jul 31st, 2009
04:19:53 AM
I just saw this movie. It is amazing. There is a tension here that just holds your chest and makes you not dare to breathe. The character development is great and the paranoia factor is unrelenting. This movie made me feel like watching an entire season of The Shield all at once. Bigelow has an eye for stress and also has a very subtle almost sneaky eye for romanticizing addiction. A couple of people hit the nail on the head with the addiction thing. It should be noted that the Movie starts with the quote "War is a drug.". The Hurt locker should be nominated for best picture, it may not win (mostly due to the Academy HATING War movies), but it is probably the most honest filmmaking I have seen in a few years in terms of reality. Great job Ms. Bigelow.
Insulting and cliche ridden.
by Saurdaukar
Aug 2nd, 2009
11:53:16 PM
Just saw this tonight with two other vets. Riddled with technical inaccuracies (I can overlook those) and out-right absurdities (single-truck convoys, EOD becoming snipers, destruction of actionable intelligence, the rogue trip outside the wire to find Beckham, soldiers abandoning humvees and hiding around corners)... My friends and I laughed the whole time. It's a war movie written by people for people who haven't been to war, don't know anyone who has, and only want to reinforce the same anti-war anti-US narrative. If you like the movie, fine, but don't try to pass it off as anything approaching realistic. This is a cartoon. Hell, PLATOON is more accurate than this, and that isn't saying much. Stick with GENERATION KILL.
I was never in the Army
by interneti
Aug 7th, 2009
09:08:07 PM
And I could tell this movie was unrealistic. Anyone that watches war or police movies knows these guys always report back. No such thing. The sniper scene has already been trashed. She couldn't buy lunch for an Iraq War veteran and get their opinion?
Saw it last night (slight spoilers)
by ZombieHeathLedger
Aug 8th, 2009
04:52:54 AM
I was right when I said back in June, that the cinematography here does not beg for it to be seen on the big screen. It is very thrilling for the for the first two acts. It's great that the cameos are here and gone because given the names you expect them to stay around and when they don't it's quite a shock. I was reading the above comments by some vets and the vets made total sense of some of the probs they've had with some of the scenes and I'm really surprised because this movie was supposedly based on declassified information, written by a guy who was imbedded with a bomb squad in Iraq and they filmed in Jordan with actual Iraqi refugees and soldiers around so it's puzzling how they still managed to get things wrong. My biggest problem with it though was it has no third act. The first act is even rather short, it's the bomb squad without Renner, the second act is the bomb squad with Renner, I suppose the third act is supposed to be about the kid, Beckham but it seems more just a slight extension of the second act. In fact the whole move just feels like an extended second act with an epilogue. I liked the epilogue and the idea of the addiction to war and it's terrible effect on the family lived of the soldiers but Bigelow just doesn't make you give a shit enough about the family to care about what Renner does at the end. In fact, I was like, "Oh cool, we're back to the bomb shit" which I guess is how Renner feels, too. This film has no climax unless you count the sniper scene which happens about two thirds the way in and then you would have an entire third act denoument? If this movie had a stronger ending and THEN the epilogue, I would recommend it higher as the first hour and a half were riveting but it just sort of fizzles out. Catch it on DVD.
Just saw it. More tension than Ex-husband's film?
by DwarfSidious
Aug 22nd, 2009
06:54:11 AM
Catch it on a big screen if you still can. There's something about how the bomb scenes become claustrophobic despite taking place in open areas that works really well on a big scale. Plus, you know, ordnance sounds. The people criticizing the film's accuracy are missing a couple of points. One, Bigelow did consult with military personnel. Two, the two leads' backgrounds are mentioned, explaining their versatility. Three, the sniper action is borne of necessity. And there are enough misses for it to be believable. It's a thoroughly competent fiction. Slight spoilers follow. The biggest missed point is the idea there's no third act. Like hell there's not. It's just short. In under ten minutes of screen time, Sgt. James becomes confined and completely pedestrian back home, and is revealed as someone who isn't especially competent anywhere but in the suit. It's an anticlimax in every sense of the word. That's not the same as having no third act.
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