Thursday, February 18, 2010

War is a Drug

The jury is out: James Cameron cannot win that Oscar for Best Director on 7 March 2010. Compared to his ex-wife's masterpiece of a Hurt Locker, Avatar is child's play. Hui Min and I finally watched The Hurt Locker tonight and it was an excellent (purely) American movie- the whole movie from start to finish kept me at the edge of my seat. The whole experience of being in Iraq was told from the perspective of the bomb disposal unit and this really gave me insights to the American war on terror in the Middle East. The script was tight and good gosh Kathryn Bigelow is one kick-ass director. Jeremy Renner surprised me- he was a good leading man and the supporting cast was equally good. There are a few surprises who make appearances (a certain actor surprised us in a good way). The next war film I want to watch is Stop Loss- it stars JGL. Enough said.
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12 comments:

  1. bobthemobFebruary 19, 2010 at 8:01 AM

    finally someone who has seen the hurt locker other than me.

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  2. The OracleFebruary 19, 2010 at 11:10 PM

    i watched it too!

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  3. huiminFebruary 20, 2010 at 8:57 AM

    its a really good film. I love sergeant Sanborn!

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  4. yellow elkFebruary 20, 2010 at 10:06 PM

    Arghh don't diss Avatar! I stand by my deep affection for that movie! I'm sure Hurt Locker is phenomenal too but we don't need to belittle one to praise the other; if we appreciate both then everybody wins!
    (And if Inglourious pulls off the "split-vote, number three poised for the win" victory on Oscar night, everybody wins even more.)

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  5. bobthemobFebruary 21, 2010 at 12:31 AM

    avatar is pretty, but empty.

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  6. yellow elkFebruary 21, 2010 at 8:39 AM

    ^ NO.

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  7. Shu WenFebruary 21, 2010 at 1:32 PM

    I'm going to have to agree with desmond- and hi des I didn't know you were on DMS until like today gosh I'm so sorry haha and when did you watch the hurt locker??- Avatar is a very gorgeous film but it's really just an adult Disney film. It's not empty per say but ... it's not that intellectually stimulating a film either. Though Sam Worthington is oooh. CLASH OF THE TITANS! Can't wait for that one to come out

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  8. huiminFebruary 22, 2010 at 2:20 AM

    Avatar is pretty empty YES hahaha. Sam Worthington is so duhhhh he looks like a pre-fabricated action hero.

    if its any consolation, Kelly, i agree with you for the ultimate Inglourious win

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  9. bobthemobFebruary 22, 2010 at 7:31 AM

    i watched hurt locker in taiwan. fitting context eh. it really brought home the whole war fighting dying thing.

    avatar is very disney. i cant rmb who i was ranting to about how typically disney it felt. not in a bad way, that is.

    i want to see clash of the titans also.

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  10. yellow elkFebruary 22, 2010 at 5:39 PM

    I wouldn't say Avatar is empty, I think it has pretty strong thematic and idealogical messages; yeah it's probably not as seriously 'intellectual' as Hurt Locker but who says movies have to be cerebral to be 'good'? Does art have to teach you something?
    Sometimes a movie works on a gut level that has as much value. I liked Avatar because in spite of its 'unoriginality', and my in-bred cynicism, it made me feel geniunely awed in a way that I haven't been that often since I was a kid. That's important to me! I think a movie that entertains and provokes emotionally (and don't forget the technical and visual accomplishment) is a well-made movie. Didn't Slumdog Millionaire win last year?

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  11. yellow elkFebruary 22, 2010 at 5:39 PM

    Whew

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  12. bobthemobFebruary 26, 2010 at 4:03 AM

    if avatar wins, its because it was 3D.

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