This movie was nothing but pure tension and anxiety!!! Want to vote on what I should watch next? Click here! www.patreon.com/jamesvscinema CHRONICLE RE-WATCH will be uploaded Thursday! Enjoy the day!
Whats dope is that when this movie came out, I was working as an Engineer for a Military Defense Contractor where we were developing protection against that. I was learning about that shockwave for the first time so it was cool to see the film visualize what I was learning in theory.
Im glad that they went with the realistic aproach because people are killed by the flying shrapnel and the shockwave more than the actual ""fireball"" or flames. It proves how deadly it can be compared to hollywood where a bomb can explode right next to them and push them back (somehow they are not riddled with shrapnel)
Interesting point about the director, Kathryn Bigelow. She has made three movies now that are BASICALLY about people who are addicted to an extreme adrenaline rush. Point Break (about bank robbers who are also into extreme sports), Strange Days (about a futuristic technology that people become addicted to that allows you to experience the violent and/or sexual experiences of other people), and this film, about a soldier addicted to the adrenaline rush of war and makes rash decisions just so he can feel that rush. She definitely likes dealing with these themes.
I would say ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ also fits the theme. Jessica Chastain’s character’s entire life revolves around finding Osama Bin Laden, to the point of obsession/addiction. Plus, it’s another great film.
@@korybeavers6528 If a male director had made that cringefest of juvenile, unbeliable and disrespectful movie, that looks like the parody of what a clueless woke hollywood liberal think the army is, he would have been righfully mocked and crucified But "brave and stunning", of course... *yawn
The opening scene perfectly demonstrates how hollywood has conditioned us to not realise how dangerous high explosives are. The fireball and shrapnel don’t need to touch you, if the shockwave hits you, it doesn’t just throw you to the ground like in a Tom Cruise movie, it instantly liquifies your insides.
The cut to the cereal isle was such an insane moment for me while seeing this in the theatre. The drastic jump to so much intense color after 90 minutes of beige was mind blowing. Such an smart and amazing choice by Bigelow. Such an awesome movie.
Kathryn Bigelow is probably the best female director in America, she has been making movies since early 80's. You should check out her vampire flick called 'Near Dark' from 1987.
Not only was Near Dark my favorite vampire movie, it had a great cast including Jeanette Goldstein, Lance Hendrickson, and in an unforgettable performance, the late, great Bill Paxton, all fresh from Aliens.
funny trivia. this was directed by Kathryn Bigelow, James Cameron's ex-wife. They both got nominated for best director and she won over him. But he was genuinely applauding her too.
It isn't a war film, but if you haven't already seen it I highly recommend The Town, directed by Ben Affleck. Amazing boston crime/heist movie and one of Jeremy Renner's best performances. And it was filmed in my hometown lol. Would love to hear your thoughts on it
I used to get hammered at The Junction on Dorchester. In the film, they changed the name to Fitzgerald's. My favorite lines... *Doug MacRay:* _"I need your help. I can't tell you what it is, you can never ask me about it later, and we're gonna hurt some people."_ *James Coughlin:* _"...Whose car are we gonna' take?"_
I'm glad they showed his turmoil not with super dramatic dialogue but showing him in that cereal aisle. Like how was he really expected to go from such a high intensity situation to America suburban banality?
And thats why he keeps going back because the turmoil is something he lives with and embraces. Not being around it forces him to deal with the psychological effects of such high pressure situations
Kathryn Bigelow is an amazing director. She SO deserved the award for this. If you've never seen Strange Days, check that out also, it's a wild ride, but a good movie (it's underrated IMO). It's also tough to find (or at least has been in years past), not sure it exists in a high definition format.
@@zmarko Strange Days is AWESOME! And very much relevant nowadays even if it came out in 1995. Also it's in my opinion one of the top 3 best cyberpunk movies of all times along with Blade Runner and Nirvana. :)
@@harrybirchall3308 I never got that. Too me it showed how f'd up the US was that it resorted to actual torture off the books. I don't think it was trying to say torture is a good thing.
@@harrybirchall3308 I’d argue against that claim. They showed them torturing Amar and obtained no useful information from it. It showed Amar doing exactly what the government said resulted from torture which is Amar saying whatever he could to get it to stop. He shouted every day in the week and in the end the attack at that hotel still happened. Once they treated him nicely and gave him food and water and took him out of the room, he gave them useful information. So I would in fact say that this movie shows exactly what was claimed about the enhanced interrogation techniques
23:54 the bathroom and the cereal aisle scene toward the end As I grow up, those 2 scenes are the most memorable. He went from meaning everything and mattering, to a guy whose biggest struggle is which sugary cereal he wants tomorrow. When you taste how important you CAN be (to your comrades and an entire people), it's easy to sign up for more danger.
Great review and analysis, thanks. I remember watching this for the first time when I was deployed in Iraq in 2009. My team and I laughed at some of the tactical inaccuracies, but I remember being impressed with how well it was shot. Thanks for your insights as a filmmaker; they really help me appreciate movies that I might not have otherwise.
That’s really awesome to hear! Yeah I had no idea how many technical inaccuracies there were in the film until reading comments from people who are actually in the field. Great film though!
The movie was shot on 16mm negative film, then printed to 35mm film for distribution. The characteristics of 16mm film is more prominent than 35mm film, which might be why it was hard for you to decide what format it was shot on. Since the movie went for a 'documentary style' look, I think the 16mm format was a perfect fit, especially since that's the film format that was most commonly used for documentaries before it was replaced by digital. Cheers!
I remember when this came out. I randomly put it on. I only knew of Renner from SWAT movie. Other than that he was a nobody at the time. It was nice to see his performances in this. Im sure it led to bigger things after.
Dude I swear you react to everything I’m interested in. I would recommend watching the Dollars Trilogy whenever you get the chance. It’s some of the best filmmaking ever. Great vid btw
I remember seeing this in the theater with my friend and we were both LITERALLY on the edge of our seat. So much tension watching this film. I never felt that way before or since in the cinema.
I remember reading a few years ago When they cast this film, the director said she wanted everyone to be relatively unknown to audiences, can’t remember the reason but I remember it was intentional. And Now we have Hawkeye and The Falcon/Captain America. Crazy how things go. (Ofc mackie was papa doc but still a relatively unknown actor at the time)
Ironically, while the main cast were relatively unknown, they also had cameos by well known actors like Guy Pearce(bomb specialist who died in the beginning), Ralph Fiennes(Security Contractor who got killed by a sniper in the desert), and most people didn't even recognize them in their roles.
@@johnlloyddy7016 the ralph fiennes one i didn't realize until watching behind the scenes for harry potter later on and was like 'oh shit, that's that dude from the hurt locker' lmaooo
It's not that he found his purpose, or that he realized that's just "who he is", it's that he was fundamentally changed by what he saw and experienced. This is what people talk about when they say, "He never really came home". He has intense PTSD and doesn't know how to function outside of that hyper-vigilant environment anymore. And unless you've lived it, you can't truly understand how it changes a person. It doesn't even have to be war. It can be any intense trauma. PTSD destroys lives, and not just the ones of those who suffer from it, but all the lives around them as well. Many sufferers seek out high danger situations to justify that feeling of being constantly on edge and in danger. This is a bit of a personal crusade of mine, expanding available care for those who have PTSD, so sorry for the soap box. Just wanted to put in my two cents.
The scene with the cereal choice is one that always sticks in my mind. It almost the point that he realises that he can't lead a "normal life" and he wants to back to what he knows and what he's good at. Plus he seems to be an adrenaline junkie, who pushes things to beyond safety, just for the thrill.
Katheryn bigelow directed this it won best picture.. great film. She also directed a small 80’s movie called Near Dark.. with bill paxton and lance hendrickson... great film as well
Honest to god, finding your channel and your love for film has really awoken my love for film again. Also the insight, and the things you pick up is amazing.
I think it was in the directors commentary where it was mentioned that a blast of that size in the beginning is enough to rupture your lungs from 30-40 meters away. Its not shrapnel or fire, its just pure air that gets blasted at you at ridiculous speeds.
Hey man, was waiting until I could catch one of your videos early so you could see my comment. Just wanted to say ive been watching your videos for a little while now and it is so awesome to have this kind of content created by someone who can articulate what they are thinking clearly and present insights that would have eluded me ( as someone not involved in the film industry . In a sea of monotonous people staring either quietly at the screen or overdramatically laughing at every little bit you're a refuge of quality. Love from central Europe, keep it up my man!
Jarhead is a classic and I love the character's self narration throughout the movie. As an FYI Jarhead is a term for US Marines, their heads being the jar and the buzzcut being the lid.
this is one of my favorite movies, I remember watching it win the Oscars. Kathryn really struggled getting this film off the ground because they wanted to film it in Jordan which is right next to Iraq. The actors and crew were shot at. Jeremy Renner talked about how he had a 2x4 dropped on his head, but he wasn't injured because he had his helmet on because the people in Jordan couldn't tell the difference between actors and real soldiers. Jeremy Renner got really sick and almost broke his ankle so filming had to be shut down until he was healed. Kathryn Bigelow didn't get as much of a budget she had desired because a big time studios told her she had to pick one of their A-List actors to play Sergeant James instead of Jeremy Renner, which she wouldn't back down on having Jeremy as her star. Everyone worked so hard to give the best film with the little budget and the many problems they had filming it. It was all worth it.
Yeah, one of the many, many absurd, ridiculous and utterly disconnected from reality scenes of the movie... The Greg and Lou parody here in YT is some hot shit ("Die Comfortable - The Hurt Locker Parody" and also "You're A Wild Man - The Hurt Locker Parody")
I’ve only watched this once. The anxiety felt in this one gets me, such a great film and very well acted. Imma try watch this with you just to hear your commentary lol
Dude you watch every movie I love. I can't afford to be a patreon right now, but I love the people that are for voting for such great films. Letsgooooo!
@@JamesVSCinema if I could recommend one you might like, I would say Ford vs Ferrari with Matt Damon and Christian Bale. The shots during the racing scenes are incredible.
Another director Paul Greengrass also likes to film in this documentary-style hand held camera work that you mentioned. The action show 24 with Kiefer Sutherland is filmed in a similar way where you have this intense environment about trying to catch terrorists or evading capture from the feds like in the chase sequences in the Bourne movies. I always loved this style of cinematography because it adds more drama, suspense, and tension in the film like that "uncomfortably raw" feeling that you noted.
If you're looking for more awesome and extremely realistic war movies I think the best possible portrayal of war is in the HBO miniseries "Generation Kill", it's based on a book by a Rolling Stone journalist that went along the Marines in the 2003 Iraq invasion, beside it's realistic tone and dialogues (that are so technical that at the time the HBO website had a glossary for all the military terms constantly used in the series) the series accuracy it's enhanced by the fact that a good half of the actors are the actual marines that were there (one portraying himself, most of the others in secondary but recurring roles). It's one of the best miniseries and by far the best war related, it would be a nice substitute for Band of Brothers now that you finished it (though I hope you plan on watching The Pacific as well which is Band of Brothers companion piece). :)
3 favourite war movies of mine that I think you would enjoy from a film-making perspective. 84C MoPic (s0metimes referred to as 84 Charlie MoPic - follows a camera team on patrol in Vietnam) 1917 (great single takes strung together) Gardens of Stone (unusual perspective on Vietnam using Arlington)
I've only watched it once .. that was enough for me. I like your insightful comments but even you got carried away by it and became a spectator like the rest of us. Cheers man 🍺
It was shot on Super 16mm; when this was shot in 2007 the digital camera movement was just a few years away. Kathryn Bigelow's next war film Zero Dark Thirty was shot on digital, specifically the Arri Alexa M.
Was gutted after a while that Katherine's career slowed down after winning the Oscar for this. Not that she was probably not offered anything new to do (she did do other films.) but I think she just decided to slow down and its kinda sad she did. I remember Point Break as a kid and remembering how cool it was and just that she seemed to be such a low key lady. Did good films but never seemed to chase it up. Did one or two, slowed down then came back and did the same. If her choice, okay, but I hope that is what it was because she is super talented.
Hey James! Glad you liked this one! I think The Hurt Locker is a cut above most war films because it showed so many different sides of not just these characters, but the reality of military life itself. At the end of the film, we get this great moment with Anthony Mackie's character, where he finally admits, he's ready to be done. But Renner's character, even with everything that happens in this film, he's not ready to go home and move on just yet. Such an interesting ending, and it leaves the audience with a great amount of ambivalence. This film also has a notable lack of jingoism, something I appreciated. A natural film to follow this up would be Zero Dark Thirty - which is another great movie by Katherine Bigelow.
Im a former intel analyst who worked closely with EOD tracking IED makers, and my brother is an EOD technician and former instructor at the US EOD school. They got the physics of the bomb blasts and the scenery right, and thats where the accuracy of this movie stops. Its like they had former EOD techs as advisors on the movie, but heaped copious amounts of cocaine on them before asking for their advice, and interpreted that advice while huffing spray paint. Its not quite the disgrace that Lone Survivor is, but the movie is a pretty big joke in the EOD community.
Yeeeep Ey mates, have a laugh, search this, if you already don't know: The Greg and Lou "Die Comfortable - The Hurt Locker Parody" and also "You're A Wild Man - The Hurt Locker Parody I'd put the links but YT hates that
@@Zack_410 Can't get too detailed because classified stuff, but they were being incredibly stupid in so many ways both in how they got into that situation and how they responded to it. Then they blew it way out of proportion claiming they were fighting a force of hundreds of militants to act like not being stupid wouldnt have helped anyway. It was two dozen militants at most. They didnt take anything seriously at all and got themselves into a situation they shouldn't have been in, responded to that situation incredibly poorly and got a lot more people killed, and then afterwards talked about it like the guys they ran into were a massive swarm of well armed professional terrorists instead of the yokel militia they really were. That got the attention of Iran and Pakistan, who up until that point hadnt been bothering to help the yokel militias against us at all because they didnt think it would do any good, and they started pouring money and weapons into those groups. The casualty rate for US forces skyrocketed after that, leading to GWB doubling the troop levels in the country in 07. Those fucking idiots got people killed long after they'd gone home because of how stupid they were that day.
The cameras used were both film and digital for the film If I recall correct. However, for the slow-motion shots (such as the opening explosion with the gravel lifting off the ground), they used the (at the time) revolutionary Phantom camera (still made and improved upon today) which boasted the highest frame-rate and shutter speeds to capture those moments.
A few years ago I was stuck in the middle seat on a flight to LA. I was talking to the guy next to about being in the army and he was talking about working in the film industry. I told him how much I hated this movie and he started laughing and pulled out his phone and shows me pictures of him and Jeremy Renner, turns out they are really good friends😩.
@@mrkelso Where to start... firstly the good, visually it's great, acting great, dialog fine if I remember. Problems, - pointlessly deactivating bombs that could just be blown up in place. The first one is especially egregious. - Just a couple trucks bopping around the AO, not a proper force able to secure anything. - Crap security on target. - Anyone that acted the way the main character did would have been locked up for his own safety and others. - The base they are on is super positional, both in Baghdad and next to the desert at the same time. - Wherever they filmed this is too dry and not green enough to represent Baghdad correctly. - There is 1% the base security in the movie compared to what existed in real life. In the movie Iraqi base workers look like they are just strolling onto base... also main character is able to sneak off base. - My memory is starting to fail, been 14ish years since I watched it. So, if this were a sci-fi movie I probably would have loved it. But because it is represent a time and place it should try and be more accurate, and I think it fails at that because I think it didn't care.
@@houndofchulainn76 OK, I understand, thank you. I can overlook the plot needing the fictionalized undersecurity, and his over-the-top choices. Worth it for the visuals and for Renner's blow-away performance. But had I lived it, like you, I can see how that would be impossibly distracting. I agree with you, btw: I own the box set of Generation Kill. That was an absolutely amazing show.
You should check out the movie "Act of Valor", the way it was filmed and the fact that they used real SEALs makes it an awesome movie and I think you would be impressed with it.
I watched this a couple months I was expecting it to be another Iraq type war movie that we mostly got in the early 2000s which is fine cause I like war movies a lot but wow I was blown away by this I didnt expect the raw emotions that this film gives you with the reality of how tough war is and how tough things are for these men this movie is definitely a masterpiece
This movie is a celebrated joke among EODs When the collective shown in the movie think themselves the flick is a sad pun, it can't be a masterpiece, except maybe in the technical department In fact, it's just that: a flashy turd... quite embarrassing to watch if you know anything about real professional militars. And pretty insulting.
Since you seemed to enjoy this film for it's more realistic approach to war films, I highly recommend checking out the HBO mini-series, "Generation Kill" if you ever get the chance. Often considered to be the most authentic/accurate portrayal of modern war in a film/series, especially by those who have served in the military. Think "Band of Brothers" but set during the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
After seeing this and how great the acting was then seeing Anthony and Jeremy in the Marvel movies it threw me off at first like they were made for more serious roles so good but I came around on their Marvel characters they are both such good actors thanks for sharing your reaction always enjoyable
In an explosion of that size, it's perfectly possible for the shockwave to kill you even if you're outside the radius of the actual explosion. It's truly horrifying.
@@claytonkeever2992 I can't say I've watched Gen Kill but I've watched Jarhead multiple times and I think that's the point, because it is supposed to show the "hurry up and wait" mentality, instead of the "in the shit" scenarios, other movies like The Outpost and American Sniper.
Just want to throw this out again: Escape From Tarkov Raid mini-series on youtube (5 episodes). It has action that is unbelievable for an indie series created by a video-game studio, and tense as hell.
I have seen and read a lot of veterans critique this movie very very harshly. The main complaint is about things that soldiers would not do in a combat zone, and risks that bomb tech would never take in the circumstances presented. The move is a gripping thriller...but apparently, not awfully realistic with a few exceptions. I have heard the special effects of the explosions have been praised for being very accurate. 🖖✌
8:50 - From SuburbanFiveOh on Twitter: "I asked an EOD guy once about the stress of bomb defusing. He shrugged & said 'It’s not. I’m either right, or suddenly it’s not my problem any more.'”
Can't wait for apocalypse now next! Top 3 next war films to add to polls - Full metal jacket(Stanley Kubrick) Platoon(Oliver Stone) The thin red line(Terrence Malick)
Another amazing war film I remember being really affected by is Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket. Have you seen it, James? If not... it's got Vincent D'Onofrio from Daredevil fame (I know you've been enjoying his performance there), as well as Adam Baldwin (Firefly, Chuck) and Matthew Modine (Married to the Mob, And the Band Played On, The Dark Knight Rises). Really interesting film if you give it a shot, I've love to hear your take on it!
Good seeing you react to this one man! The line where hes talking to his kid saying for some people theres only very few things you end up loving after you grow up and then ends up going back to work because thats all he really loves to do in the end ,that hits quite hard for me. Jeremy renners best film still i think. Wind river/tag are good ones too. Suggestion for your comedy watches a film called Big Nothing with Simon Pegg is one i feel is pretty underrated!
Must see from the same director : Point break (obviously), Zero Dark thirty (the hunt for Bin Laden so accuratly depicted that the CIA auditionned the director and the writer) , Strange days (underrated sci fi movie), K19 (worst nuclear incident in russian navy history), Near dark (very poetic vampyre flick), Detroit (another near documentary story which still resonnate today even it's about events from 1967) Bigelow always had this "ultra real but sometimes surreal" way of filming but it's more and more visible in her last movies
Speaking of great openings, you might want to check out Way of the Gun (2000). Starring Ryan Phillippe, Benicio Del Toro, and Juliette Lewis among other big names.
This movie was nothing but pure tension and anxiety!!!
Want to vote on what I should watch next? Click here! www.patreon.com/jamesvscinema
CHRONICLE RE-WATCH will be uploaded Thursday! Enjoy the day!
You have to watch Whiplash!
Another good movie with jeremy renner the town!! He was nominated in that as well
you have to watch platoon if you haven't seen it, best war movie all time.
If you enjoyed this then you must do -- ZERO DARK THIRTY -- , also by the same director, KATHRYN BIGELOW. She is frikin FANTASTIC !!!
For a fun war movie, see Kelly's Heroes starring Clint Eastwood. I think Three Kings took little bits of it.
One of the only films I've seen that depicts how the shockwave from a blast is what usually kills, not the fireball.
Super wild, that wave turns everything into jelly
Whats dope is that when this movie came out, I was working as an Engineer for a Military Defense Contractor where we were developing protection against that. I was learning about that shockwave for the first time so it was cool to see the film visualize what I was learning in theory.
@@JamesVSCinema Once again, reality proves crazier than fiction
Im glad that they went with the realistic aproach because people are killed by the flying shrapnel and the shockwave more than the actual ""fireball"" or flames. It proves how deadly it can be compared to hollywood where a bomb can explode right next to them and push them back (somehow they are not riddled with shrapnel)
Interesting point about the director, Kathryn Bigelow. She has made three movies now that are BASICALLY about people who are addicted to an extreme adrenaline rush. Point Break (about bank robbers who are also into extreme sports), Strange Days (about a futuristic technology that people become addicted to that allows you to experience the violent and/or sexual experiences of other people), and this film, about a soldier addicted to the adrenaline rush of war and makes rash decisions just so he can feel that rush. She definitely likes dealing with these themes.
Interesting!!
I would say ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ also fits the theme. Jessica Chastain’s character’s entire life revolves around finding Osama Bin Laden, to the point of obsession/addiction. Plus, it’s another great film.
And it is also the male gender that looks for the adrenaline, sometimes you need a female director to shine a light on our masculinity
Nice profile pic. Incredible album and band.
@@korybeavers6528 If a male director had made that cringefest of juvenile, unbeliable and disrespectful movie, that looks like the parody of what a clueless woke hollywood liberal think the army is, he would have been righfully mocked and crucified
But "brave and stunning", of course... *yawn
The opening scene perfectly demonstrates how hollywood has conditioned us to not realise how dangerous high explosives are. The fireball and shrapnel don’t need to touch you, if the shockwave hits you, it doesn’t just throw you to the ground like in a Tom Cruise movie, it instantly liquifies your insides.
You can see how the change in pressure caused his lungs to rupture, shooting a bloody discharge on the inside of his face shield.
The cut to the cereal isle was such an insane moment for me while seeing this in the theatre. The drastic jump to so much intense color after 90 minutes of beige was mind blowing. Such an smart and amazing choice by Bigelow. Such an awesome movie.
Letters from Iwo Jima is a top tier film
Possibly the only film to properlu humanise Japanese soldiers from the west. Closest thing would be the Pacific TV show.
A Clint Eastwood masterpiece.
Dude from one josh to another, you know movies, letters from Iwo Jima is a masterpiece.
@@joshtt3240 facts
@@declanroberts8934 one hundred percent, people need to realise soldiers were basically just pawns and basically all the same
A legendary war movie. Love the slow pace & build up and set pieces. Deserved the Oscar.
Happy it won!
@@JamesVSCinema Likewise! :D
Kathryn Bigelow is probably the best female director in America, she has been making movies since early 80's. You should check out her vampire flick called 'Near Dark' from 1987.
Not only was Near Dark my favorite vampire movie, it had a great cast including Jeanette Goldstein, Lance Hendrickson, and in an unforgettable performance, the late, great Bill Paxton, all fresh from Aliens.
Kathryn was married to James Cameron at one time, and Hurt Locker won the best film Oscar over Avatar.
I think that she's the best female director right now. Period.
She directed Zero Dark Thirty as well. I’m a huge admirer of her work. She’s legit.
funny trivia. this was directed by Kathryn Bigelow, James Cameron's ex-wife. They both got nominated for best director and she won over him. But he was genuinely applauding her too.
Good thing he was happy for her.
It isn't a war film, but if you haven't already seen it I highly recommend The Town, directed by Ben Affleck. Amazing boston crime/heist movie and one of Jeremy Renner's best performances. And it was filmed in my hometown lol. Would love to hear your thoughts on it
one of my favorite movies ever. i have seen it like 6 times.
@@axlepacroz same homie 😂 the writing, directing, music and acting are on another level
got one of the best BFF replies ever. "Who's car are we taking?"
I used to get hammered at The Junction on Dorchester. In the film, they changed the name to Fitzgerald's.
My favorite lines...
*Doug MacRay:* _"I need your help. I can't tell you what it is, you can never ask me about it later, and we're gonna hurt some people."_
*James Coughlin:* _"...Whose car are we gonna' take?"_
I'm glad they showed his turmoil not with super dramatic dialogue but showing him in that cereal aisle. Like how was he really expected to go from such a high intensity situation to America suburban banality?
Exactly. Like how do you just turn that off to be a normal human being
And thats why he keeps going back because the turmoil is something he lives with and embraces. Not being around it forces him to deal with the psychological effects of such high pressure situations
First woman nominated for Best Director Oscar. Well earned!
100%
Actually the first woman to win best director.
Kathryn Bigelow is an amazing director. She SO deserved the award for this. If you've never seen Strange Days, check that out also, it's a wild ride, but a good movie (it's underrated IMO). It's also tough to find (or at least has been in years past), not sure it exists in a high definition format.
@@zmarko with Ralph Finnes? Def seen it. It's crazy
@@zmarko Strange Days is AWESOME! And very much relevant nowadays even if it came out in 1995. Also it's in my opinion one of the top 3 best cyberpunk movies of all times along with Blade Runner and Nirvana. :)
Excellent war film is Black Hawk Down, directed by Ridley Scott, legendary director of Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator and many others.
Basically any war movie is better than this, scriptwise. This one is literally embarrassing in that department, Holy Jesus of the Sacred Cringe
Zero Dark Thirty is a must-watch if you haven't added it to the list yet.
It’s a well-made and very well-acted film but I was sorely disappointed with the screenplay, personally
@@harrybirchall3308 zero dark 30 is an amazing movie. I didn't see a lot of propaganda.
@@harrybirchall3308 I never got that. Too me it showed how f'd up the US was that it resorted to actual torture off the books. I don't think it was trying to say torture is a good thing.
And also lone survivor I like that one a lot too
@@harrybirchall3308 I’d argue against that claim. They showed them torturing Amar and obtained no useful information from it. It showed Amar doing exactly what the government said resulted from torture which is Amar saying whatever he could to get it to stop. He shouted every day in the week and in the end the attack at that hotel still happened. Once they treated him nicely and gave him food and water and took him out of the room, he gave them useful information. So I would in fact say that this movie shows exactly what was claimed about the enhanced interrogation techniques
The sniper scene might be my favorite scene from any war movie. It is just perfect.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it’s also horribly unrealistic
@@TheGrimSniper14 This movie has about the same amount of authenticity as "Navy SEALs" starring Charlie Sheen.
@@TheGrimSniper14 He didn't say if it was realistic or not, he said he liked it.
The guy who blows up with the bomb vest with locks, is the leader from the Netflix film “Mosul”. Mad cool.
23:54 the bathroom and the cereal aisle scene toward the end
As I grow up, those 2 scenes are the most memorable. He went from meaning everything and mattering, to a guy whose biggest struggle is which sugary cereal he wants tomorrow.
When you taste how important you CAN be (to your comrades and an entire people), it's easy to sign up for more danger.
Just watched The Revenant again, look forward to you're analysis of that one some time!
Kathryn Bigelow is an excellent director. She also did Zero Dark Thirty, Point Break and Strange Days
Great review and analysis, thanks. I remember watching this for the first time when I was deployed in Iraq in 2009. My team and I laughed at some of the tactical inaccuracies, but I remember being impressed with how well it was shot. Thanks for your insights as a filmmaker; they really help me appreciate movies that I might not have otherwise.
That’s really awesome to hear! Yeah I had no idea how many technical inaccuracies there were in the film until reading comments from people who are actually in the field. Great film though!
The movie was shot on 16mm negative film, then printed to 35mm film for distribution. The characteristics of 16mm film is more prominent than 35mm film, which might be why it was hard for you to decide what format it was shot on. Since the movie went for a 'documentary style' look, I think the 16mm format was a perfect fit, especially since that's the film format that was most commonly used for documentaries before it was replaced by digital. Cheers!
Awesome! Thanks for clearing that up!
@@JamesVSCinema No worries, man! Keep up the great work. Looking forward to your next True Detective video!
Kathryn Bigelow's "Near Dark" is great. Bill Paxton, Lance Henriksen and Jenette Goldstein teamed up again after "Aliens"
One of the best vampire descriptions other than 30 days of night.
Also they were all in the terminator movies
I remember when this came out. I randomly put it on. I only knew of Renner from SWAT movie. Other than that he was a nobody at the time. It was nice to see his performances in this. Im sure it led to bigger things after.
For sure!!
Dude I swear you react to everything I’m interested in. I would recommend watching the Dollars Trilogy whenever you get the chance. It’s some of the best filmmaking ever. Great vid btw
Hahaha 🙏🏽
Man, you should watch Hardcore Henry, a POV film with Sharlto Copley!
YES!
Mackie is consistently good in everything. I believe him in every role.
I remember seeing this in the theater with my friend and we were both LITERALLY on the edge of our seat. So much tension watching this film. I never felt that way before or since in the cinema.
I remember reading a few years ago When they cast this film, the director said she wanted everyone to be relatively unknown to audiences, can’t remember the reason but I remember it was intentional. And Now we have Hawkeye and The Falcon/Captain America. Crazy how things go. (Ofc mackie was papa doc but still a relatively unknown actor at the time)
Ironically, while the main cast were relatively unknown, they also had cameos by well known actors like Guy Pearce(bomb specialist who died in the beginning), Ralph Fiennes(Security Contractor who got killed by a sniper in the desert), and most people didn't even recognize them in their roles.
@@johnlloyddy7016 the ralph fiennes one i didn't realize until watching behind the scenes for harry potter later on and was like 'oh shit, that's that dude from the hurt locker' lmaooo
@@johnlloyddy7016 And David Morse (the guy who called Renner a wild man).
It's not that he found his purpose, or that he realized that's just "who he is", it's that he was fundamentally changed by what he saw and experienced. This is what people talk about when they say, "He never really came home". He has intense PTSD and doesn't know how to function outside of that hyper-vigilant environment anymore. And unless you've lived it, you can't truly understand how it changes a person. It doesn't even have to be war. It can be any intense trauma. PTSD destroys lives, and not just the ones of those who suffer from it, but all the lives around them as well. Many sufferers seek out high danger situations to justify that feeling of being constantly on edge and in danger.
This is a bit of a personal crusade of mine, expanding available care for those who have PTSD, so sorry for the soap box. Just wanted to put in my two cents.
The scene with the cereal choice is one that always sticks in my mind. It almost the point that he realises that he can't lead a "normal life" and he wants to back to what he knows and what he's good at. Plus he seems to be an adrenaline junkie, who pushes things to beyond safety, just for the thrill.
Katheryn bigelow directed this it won best picture.. great film. She also directed a small 80’s movie called Near Dark.. with bill paxton and lance hendrickson... great film as well
His reaction to the 1st explosion was exactly what i was expecting from him. It is incredible.
Honest to god, finding your channel and your love for film has really awoken my love for film again. Also the insight, and the things you pick up is amazing.
I think it was in the directors commentary where it was mentioned that a blast of that size in the beginning is enough to rupture your lungs from 30-40 meters away. Its not shrapnel or fire, its just pure air that gets blasted at you at ridiculous speeds.
That’s scary science right there!
Liquifies your insides
Hey man, was waiting until I could catch one of your videos early so you could see my comment. Just wanted to say ive been watching your videos for a little while now and it is so awesome to have this kind of content created by someone who can articulate what they are thinking clearly and present insights that would have eluded me ( as someone not involved in the film industry . In a sea of monotonous people staring either quietly at the screen or overdramatically laughing at every little bit you're a refuge of quality. Love from central Europe, keep it up my man!
Hahaha my man, this meant a lot to me Matthew. Happy to have people like you here brother!
I've watched a few of your videos now and I have to say that your input is superb! great stuff
Jarhead is a classic and I love the character's self narration throughout the movie. As an FYI Jarhead is a term for US Marines, their heads being the jar and the buzzcut being the lid.
this is one of my favorite movies, I remember watching it win the Oscars. Kathryn really struggled getting this film off the ground because they wanted to film it in Jordan which is right next to Iraq. The actors and crew were shot at. Jeremy Renner talked about how he had a 2x4 dropped on his head, but he wasn't injured because he had his helmet on because the people in Jordan couldn't tell the difference between actors and real soldiers. Jeremy Renner got really sick and almost broke his ankle so filming had to be shut down until he was healed. Kathryn Bigelow didn't get as much of a budget she had desired because a big time studios told her she had to pick one of their A-List actors to play Sergeant James instead of Jeremy Renner, which she wouldn't back down on having Jeremy as her star. Everyone worked so hard to give the best film with the little budget and the many problems they had filming it. It was all worth it.
When 2 avengers are in a movie, you know it's gonna be good
Also the actor playing specialist owen is also in Jarhead
If you're going to watch Jarhead, you've got watch Generation Kill too. BoB-tier imo
Renner is a total badass. Intense performance
Heavily agreed!
Oh god I wasn't expecting this one, what an amazing film It's been so long since I have seen it!!
"If I'm gonna die, I wanna die comfortably"
Every EOD soldier and police officer in existence: "RELATABLE"
Lmfaoooo
Yeah, one of the many, many absurd, ridiculous and utterly disconnected from reality scenes of the movie...
The Greg and Lou parody here in YT is some hot shit ("Die Comfortable - The Hurt Locker Parody" and also "You're A Wild Man - The Hurt Locker Parody")
I love to replay the intro shot of the bomb going off several times just to watch the AMAZING slow motion
That was incredible! As always, great watching with you, my Friend. Peace
What! just rewatch this 12hr ago, what a coincidence ..
Great suspense movie, glad you enjoy it as well James
I’ve only watched this once. The anxiety felt in this one gets me, such a great film and very well acted. Imma try watch this with you just to hear your commentary lol
Such an excellent film. Really enjoyed your commentary as well.
it's so cool that you always review films that I have seen and which I really like
Dude you watch every movie I love. I can't afford to be a patreon right now, but I love the people that are for voting for such great films. Letsgooooo!
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
@@JamesVSCinema if I could recommend one you might like, I would say Ford vs Ferrari with Matt Damon and Christian Bale. The shots during the racing scenes are incredible.
Another director Paul Greengrass also likes to film in this documentary-style hand held camera work that you mentioned. The action show 24 with Kiefer Sutherland is filmed in a similar way where you have this intense environment about trying to catch terrorists or evading capture from the feds like in the chase sequences in the Bourne movies. I always loved this style of cinematography because it adds more drama, suspense, and tension in the film like that "uncomfortably raw" feeling that you noted.
My personal favorite war movie is definitely Apocalypse Now .
I know its a long ass movie but u definitely won’t regret watching it.
When you were talking about the up close raw film making it reminded me of Son of Saul. A must watch for any film maker.
If you're looking for more awesome and extremely realistic war movies I think the best possible portrayal of war is in the HBO miniseries "Generation Kill", it's based on a book by a Rolling Stone journalist that went along the Marines in the 2003 Iraq invasion, beside it's realistic tone and dialogues (that are so technical that at the time the HBO website had a glossary for all the military terms constantly used in the series) the series accuracy it's enhanced by the fact that a good half of the actors are the actual marines that were there (one portraying himself, most of the others in secondary but recurring roles). It's one of the best miniseries and by far the best war related, it would be a nice substitute for Band of Brothers now that you finished it (though I hope you plan on watching The Pacific as well which is Band of Brothers companion piece). :)
3 favourite war movies of mine that I think you would enjoy from a film-making perspective.
84C MoPic (s0metimes referred to as 84 Charlie MoPic - follows a camera team on patrol in Vietnam)
1917 (great single takes strung together)
Gardens of Stone (unusual perspective on Vietnam using Arlington)
You're gonna frackin' love this one.
Cinematic and thematic ride.
P.S.
Forgot my glove!
Hahahaha
I recommend Jarhead. One of the the most underrated military movie out there and Roger Deakins is also a cinematographer.
The main character's greatest performance is in an interview w/ Brie Larson, where he had to act like he didn't want t to strangle her
I've only watched it once .. that was enough for me. I like your insightful comments but even you got carried away by it and became a spectator like the rest of us.
Cheers man 🍺
Just did this film myself bro!
You said one thing which was put superbly, Guerrilla Style, can't argue with that and bang on the money!
It was shot on Super 16mm; when this was shot in 2007 the digital camera movement was just a few years away. Kathryn Bigelow's next war film Zero Dark Thirty was shot on digital, specifically the Arri Alexa M.
Was gutted after a while that Katherine's career slowed down after winning the Oscar for this. Not that she was probably not offered anything new to do (she did do other films.) but I think she just decided to slow down and its kinda sad she did. I remember Point Break as a kid and remembering how cool it was and just that she seemed to be such a low key lady. Did good films but never seemed to chase it up. Did one or two, slowed down then came back and did the same. If her choice, okay, but I hope that is what it was because she is super talented.
Hey James! Glad you liked this one! I think The Hurt Locker is a cut above most war films because it showed so many different sides of not just these characters, but the reality of military life itself. At the end of the film, we get this great moment with Anthony Mackie's character, where he finally admits, he's ready to be done. But Renner's character, even with everything that happens in this film, he's not ready to go home and move on just yet. Such an interesting ending, and it leaves the audience with a great amount of ambivalence. This film also has a notable lack of jingoism, something I appreciated. A natural film to follow this up would be Zero Dark Thirty - which is another great movie by Katherine Bigelow.
Im a former intel analyst who worked closely with EOD tracking IED makers, and my brother is an EOD technician and former instructor at the US EOD school. They got the physics of the bomb blasts and the scenery right, and thats where the accuracy of this movie stops. Its like they had former EOD techs as advisors on the movie, but heaped copious amounts of cocaine on them before asking for their advice, and interpreted that advice while huffing spray paint. Its not quite the disgrace that Lone Survivor is, but the movie is a pretty big joke in the EOD community.
It’s a big joke in the military community in general.
Yeeeep
Ey mates, have a laugh, search this, if you already don't know: The Greg and Lou "Die Comfortable - The Hurt Locker Parody" and also "You're A Wild Man - The Hurt Locker Parody
I'd put the links but YT hates that
What's the issue with Lone Survivor? Ik your comment is old but you've peaked my interest.
@@Zack_410 Can't get too detailed because classified stuff, but they were being incredibly stupid in so many ways both in how they got into that situation and how they responded to it. Then they blew it way out of proportion claiming they were fighting a force of hundreds of militants to act like not being stupid wouldnt have helped anyway. It was two dozen militants at most. They didnt take anything seriously at all and got themselves into a situation they shouldn't have been in, responded to that situation incredibly poorly and got a lot more people killed, and then afterwards talked about it like the guys they ran into were a massive swarm of well armed professional terrorists instead of the yokel militia they really were. That got the attention of Iran and Pakistan, who up until that point hadnt been bothering to help the yokel militias against us at all because they didnt think it would do any good, and they started pouring money and weapons into those groups. The casualty rate for US forces skyrocketed after that, leading to GWB doubling the troop levels in the country in 07. Those fucking idiots got people killed long after they'd gone home because of how stupid they were that day.
Tigerland is a good, overlooked military movie. Colin Farrell and Joel Schumacher directed it.
The change in pressure from the shockwave ruptures capillaries in the internal organs, turning them into mush.
The cameras used were both film and digital for the film If I recall correct.
However, for the slow-motion shots (such as the opening explosion with the gravel lifting off the ground), they used the (at the time) revolutionary Phantom camera (still made and improved upon today) which boasted the highest frame-rate and shutter speeds to capture those moments.
I think this is the first movie reaction that James dropped the F-bomb. Lol. It's about time! This movie was a good one to do it on.
The first time I watched this movie it had me on the edge of my seat.
Watch Generation Kill, it's a HBO miniseries a la Band of Brothers about the invasion of Iraq.
I once forgot to get off the train at my station while watching this. Nearly missed the last one home. Worth it.
Dude this was such a good movie. My cousin was in a similar job situation when he deployed.
A few years ago I was stuck in the middle seat on a flight to LA. I was talking to the guy next to about being in the army and he was talking about working in the film industry. I told him how much I hated this movie and he started laughing and pulled out his phone and shows me pictures of him and Jeremy Renner, turns out they are really good friends😩.
This was a great reaction ✌🏽💯🔥
My favorite is the 3 main EOD soldiers in the movie and the little kid beckem
This is one of my all time favorite movie
Would be so sick to see what you think of enemy at the gate.. such a good film, think youd love it bro
As a Combat Engineer that did 2 tours in Iraq I watched this movie once and promptly threw it in the trash. James should watch Generation Kill.
Why? I know nothing about war or Iraq, and I really like this movie. So I am genuinely interested in what I don't know that you do.
@@mrkelso Where to start... firstly the good, visually it's great, acting great, dialog fine if I remember. Problems, - pointlessly deactivating bombs that could just be blown up in place. The first one is especially egregious. - Just a couple trucks bopping around the AO, not a proper force able to secure anything. - Crap security on target. - Anyone that acted the way the main character did would have been locked up for his own safety and others. - The base they are on is super positional, both in Baghdad and next to the desert at the same time. - Wherever they filmed this is too dry and not green enough to represent Baghdad correctly. - There is 1% the base security in the movie compared to what existed in real life. In the movie Iraqi base workers look like they are just strolling onto base... also main character is able to sneak off base. - My memory is starting to fail, been 14ish years since I watched it. So, if this were a sci-fi movie I probably would have loved it. But because it is represent a time and place it should try and be more accurate, and I think it fails at that because I think it didn't care.
@@houndofchulainn76 OK, I understand, thank you. I can overlook the plot needing the fictionalized undersecurity, and his over-the-top choices. Worth it for the visuals and for Renner's blow-away performance. But had I lived it, like you, I can see how that would be impossibly distracting. I agree with you, btw: I own the box set of Generation Kill. That was an absolutely amazing show.
You should check out the movie "Act of Valor", the way it was filmed and the fact that they used real SEALs makes it an awesome movie and I think you would be impressed with it.
Oh hell yeah man I can't wait to get off work to watch this reaction!
Woo! Have a good day at work!
JarHead next fasure‼️‼️‼️
I started writing a comment saying you should watch Jarhead if you enjoyed this, but 2 mins in you beat me too the suggestion!
I watched this a couple months I was expecting it to be another Iraq type war movie that we mostly got in the early 2000s which is fine cause I like war movies a lot but wow I was blown away by this I didnt expect the raw emotions that this film gives you with the reality of how tough war is and how tough things are for these men this movie is definitely a masterpiece
This movie is a celebrated joke among EODs
When the collective shown in the movie think themselves the flick is a sad pun, it can't be a masterpiece, except maybe in the technical department
In fact, it's just that: a flashy turd... quite embarrassing to watch if you know anything about real professional militars. And pretty insulting.
Since you seemed to enjoy this film for it's more realistic approach to war films, I highly recommend checking out the HBO mini-series, "Generation Kill" if you ever get the chance. Often considered to be the most authentic/accurate portrayal of modern war in a film/series, especially by those who have served in the military. Think "Band of Brothers" but set during the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
After seeing this and how great the acting was then seeing Anthony and Jeremy in the Marvel movies it threw me off at first like they were made for more serious roles so good but I came around on their Marvel characters they are both such good actors thanks for sharing your reaction always enjoyable
In an explosion of that size, it's perfectly possible for the shockwave to kill you even if you're outside the radius of the actual explosion. It's truly horrifying.
Your insides are liquified
Jarhead is probably my favorite modern war film.
Fax‼️
And Generation Kill the favourite series.
Both Jarhead and Gen kill do a great job at how military down time is, but do terrible job at in the shit moments.
@@claytonkeever2992 I can't say I've watched Gen Kill but I've watched Jarhead multiple times and I think that's the point, because it is supposed to show the "hurry up and wait" mentality, instead of the "in the shit" scenarios, other movies like The Outpost and American Sniper.
@@christopherorozco1021 My point was more it isn't technically a war film, but more about what what it can do to a person mentally.
Must be close to a decade since I've seen this movie, I have forgotten how many talented actors play in it.
Just want to throw this out again: Escape From Tarkov Raid mini-series on youtube (5 episodes). It has action that is unbelievable for an indie series created by a video-game studio, and tense as hell.
Top tier film right here, the trio is so damn good!
Super good!!
I have seen and read a lot of veterans critique this movie very very harshly. The main complaint is about things that soldiers would not do in a combat zone, and risks that bomb tech would never take in the circumstances presented. The move is a gripping thriller...but apparently, not awfully realistic with a few exceptions. I have heard the special effects of the explosions have been praised for being very accurate. 🖖✌
8:50 - From SuburbanFiveOh on Twitter: "I asked an EOD guy once about the stress of bomb defusing. He shrugged & said 'It’s not. I’m either right, or suddenly it’s not my problem any more.'”
Can't wait for apocalypse now next! Top 3 next war films to add to polls - Full metal jacket(Stanley Kubrick) Platoon(Oliver Stone) The thin red line(Terrence Malick)
Another amazing war film I remember being really affected by is Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket. Have you seen it, James? If not... it's got Vincent D'Onofrio from Daredevil fame (I know you've been enjoying his performance there), as well as Adam Baldwin (Firefly, Chuck) and Matthew Modine (Married to the Mob, And the Band Played On, The Dark Knight Rises). Really interesting film if you give it a shot, I've love to hear your take on it!
Good seeing you react to this one man! The line where hes talking to his kid saying for some people theres only very few things you end up loving after you grow up and then ends up going back to work because thats all he really loves to do in the end ,that hits quite hard for me. Jeremy renners best film still i think. Wind river/tag are good ones too. Suggestion for your comedy watches a film called Big Nothing with Simon Pegg is one i feel is pretty underrated!
His role here gave me similar vibes to his role in Wind River!
Must see from the same director : Point break (obviously), Zero Dark thirty (the hunt for Bin Laden so accuratly depicted that the CIA auditionned the director and the writer) , Strange days (underrated sci fi movie), K19 (worst nuclear incident in russian navy history), Near dark (very poetic vampyre flick), Detroit (another near documentary story which still resonnate today even it's about events from 1967)
Bigelow always had this "ultra real but sometimes surreal" way of filming but it's more and more visible in her last movies
FYI - the film was shot on film & digital using Aaton A-Minima Camera, Aaton XTR Prod Camera, IDT / Redlake Cameras
Speaking of great openings, you might want to check out Way of the Gun (2000). Starring Ryan Phillippe, Benicio Del Toro, and Juliette Lewis among other big names.
I just thought of one you may enjoy. The Old Guard with Charlize Theron. Great action movie. One of the best actually.
Ive had this dvd sitting on my shelf, never opened....might have to skip this and watch it quick
This movie won the best picture Oscar
My cousin did that for the Marines. After he retired he went to work for a company that goes all around the world and defuses unexploded ordinance.