The Hurt Locker

Director: Kathryn Bigelow

Year: 2008

Starring: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty

Synopsis:

The film is set in Baghdad in 2004. The three main characters are all part of a bomb disposal team. They did have a bomb disposal expert on the team, but he was killed whilst defusing a bomb. Staff Sergeant William James has come in to replace the recently deceased expert. Sergeant James has successfully defused many IEDs’ (Improvised Explosive Device) on countless missions. Everyone thinks he is a “reckless redneck” but as time goes on, each member in the EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) thinks he is not just reckless but a liability to them all. The film deals with the final 38 days of the squads tour of duty in Iraq, and is presented as a countdown, leaving the audience to think – will they make it to the end…

 
Review:
It’s extremely rare to come across a war film which is really worth seeing. It’s not just excellent; it’s a masterpiece like no other. It’s extremely suspenseful. It’s the equivalent from past legendary films, such as: Saving Private Ryan, The Great Escape, Where Eagles Dare, The Dam Busters, but this film is the most exciting film out of all of them.
 
Kathryn Bigelow flourishes in these sorts of films. Like her ex-husband (James Cameron), a great director. The difference which makes Bigelow better than him is that she is an expert working with people. Where as James Cameron is very creative and is an expert when using CGI. Overall to be honest Catherine Bigelow creates better films.
 
In this film Staff Sergeant William James is pictured as the hero, but is a very reckless one of sorts. His colleagues wonder if they can murder William James, and make it seem like enemy action. What makes it even more unbearably tense, is the fact that they present the countdown until the end of their tour in Iraq. You ask yourself the ultimate question, “Will they make it?”
   
The best bit in my mind is the faceoff between the terrorists and the EOD squad. When in this scene both the terrorists and the EOD squad are sniping at one another. It is exciting, tense, and unbelievably suspenseful.
   

Rating:
*****

Hanna

 

Director: Joe Wright

 
Year: 2011 

Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett

 
Synopsis:
A father (Bana) and his teenage daughter, Hanna (Ronan) live isolated on the outskirts of a forest in Sweden, the one, an ex CIA agent, has rigorously trained and prepared the girl to become a skilled assassin. After her training is complete she is sent out on a mission, avoiding agents dispatched after her by a ruthless intelligence operative (Blanchett) who has her own mysterious agenda. 

Review:
Hanna is full of exciting action sequences which, when coupled with the pumping techno soundtrack (The Chemical Brothers), make for tension-filled scenes. The film features loads of great dramatic camerawork and cinematic techniques. Terrific car and foot chases throughout the film make this an awesome experience. Cate Blanchett is particularly good as the ruthless intelligence operative who would stop at nothing to eliminate Bana and Ronan. There is an incredible eight minute tracking shot during one of the chases (featuring Eric Bana) on foot in Berlin. Although Saoirse Ronan is a promising young actress I feel she is miscast in the role of a ruthless assassin. She is very slight and not particularly convincing as a fighter who can take on and beat many men bigger than herself. The plot is riddled with holes, but the director redeems himself with the epic action sequences and the exciting storyline.

Rating:

****