Zero Dark Thirty......

[Printer Bandit]

You could see them doing some kind of blood match or at least taking his blood to be tested right after they killed him.

I see. I thought they we just going through the files and hard drives they recovered.

 

[zinfamous]

It was pretty good not nearly this good though.

I thought the Hurt Locker was phenomenal and while ZDT was good, not as good as Hurt Locker. Perhaps it has to do with the ending being known, and many of the events being known before they happen, so there is no potential for the incredible tension like in THL, which was all about tension.

From what I've read previously in articles published about the raid and investigation, ZDT is very accurate. Some things are fabrications/embellishments, of course: we can't know if any info was ever gleaned from torture. Likely? probably, but we'll never know for sure.

But it's film. that's the point.

 

[clamum]

I'll agree with the other poster about the film being almost 100% from "No Easy Day" when the SEALs "GET IN DA CHOPPA". Not that it's a bad thing, at least they got the assault/raid right.

Overall I'd say it was worth seeing. I think it kinda dragged on and they could've eliminated or sped up some of the procedural parts and dialog in exchange for featuring more of the SEAL preparation for the raid (again they could've used "No Easy Day" as a reference), but that's a fairly minor complaint.

I'll give it a 7.75/10.

 

[zinfamous]

I'll agree with the other poster about the film being almost 100% from "No Easy Day" when the SEALs "GET IN DA CHOPPA". Not that it's a bad thing, at least they got the assault/raid right.

Overall I'd say it was worth seeing. I think it kinda dragged on and they could've eliminated or sped up some of the procedural parts and dialog in exchange for featuring more of the SEAL preparation for the raid (again they could've used "No Easy Day" as a reference), but that's a fairly minor complaint.

I'll give it a 7.75/10.

FWIW: Bigelow and Boal were already working long-term on a project about the investigation and utter failure to find bin Laden. They were knee deep in 3rd or 4th draft of the screenplay, when the Raid was announced. So they took what they had, salvaged what they could, and made the story what it is now.

So, this wasn't to capitalize on recent events, it was adapted to be more accurate. And it is a character-driven piece. Focusing on the SEALS would not have brought anything of great value--especially considering so little can and will be known about them, personally.

 

[phucheneh]

Oh god, I just saw the Hurt Locker bitch made this movie too, immediately uninterested in seeing it now, unless she's using a completely different method of filming that doesn't look like a bomb is going off whenever the camera moves. So lame, guess I'll just read the book.

This, plus Boal (the 'writer' and supposed researcher) is mentally defective.

Do not want.

Plus I'm sick of seeing the stupid TV spot that has like one line of dialog in it: 'OH-samma bean LAWdenn?'

I hope DEVGRU murders this woman for protraying them as retards.

 

[Jinru]

Here's a Slate article trying to piece together who is who with comparisons of the film and real life.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat...n_who_are_the_real_life_inspirations_for.html

 

[clamum]

FWIW: Bigelow and Boal were already working long-term on a project about the investigation and utter failure to find bin Laden. They were knee deep in 3rd or 4th draft of the screenplay, when the Raid was announced. So they took what they had, salvaged what they could, and made the story what it is now.

So, this wasn't to capitalize on recent events, it was adapted to be more accurate. And it is a character-driven piece. Focusing on the SEALS would not have brought anything of great value--especially considering so little can and will be known about them, personally.

Ah, yeah good point. I knew they started on this well before the bin Laden raid, derp derp me. I realize it is character-driven but I guess I thought it dragged on too long and a bit more "action" would've helped with that. Just my two cents though, I understand why she did not do it that way.

 

[randomrogue]

Good movie but it didn't quite match up to wikipedia and a lot of the terminology was confusing in the beginning of the movie.

 

[zinfamous]

This, plus Boal (the 'writer' and supposed researcher) is mentally defective.

Do not want.

Plus I'm sick of seeing the stupid TV spot that has like one line of dialog in it: 'OH-samma bean LAWdenn?'

I hope DEVGRU murders this woman for protraying them as retards.

If you think that's how they are portrayed, then you are not very bright.

watch it. Why is Boal mentally defective? Oh, is it because he did not write the Transformers movies, perhaps more akin to your taste?

 

[phucheneh]

If you think that's how they are portrayed, then you are not very bright.

watch it. Why is Boal mentally defective? Oh, is it because he did not write the Transformers movies, perhaps more akin to your taste?

No, he wrote The Hurt Transformers, a ridiculous popcorn movie that made people of a certain crowd feel superior, despite the fact that it was terrible. Generally well-acted, but absurd in both writing and direction. I would compare it to watching a Jessica Alba donkey show. Yeah, she's hot; but the animal phallus kinda ruins it. But hey, you're free to be a fan of two hours of giant donkey dick.

And every character in a Katheryn Bigelow movie is retarded by default.

 

[datalink7]

FWIW: Bigelow and Boal were already working long-term on a project about the investigation and utter failure to find bin Laden. They were knee deep in 3rd or 4th draft of the screenplay, when the Raid was announced. So they took what they had, salvaged what they could, and made the story what it is now.

So, this wasn't to capitalize on recent events, it was adapted to be more accurate. And it is a character-driven piece. Focusing on the SEALS would not have brought anything of great value--especially considering so little can and will be known about them, personally.

I might give it a chance and go see it... reason I was hesitant was because of the butchery that was The Hurt Locker.

 

[zinfamous]

I might give it a chance and go see it... reason I was hesitant was because of the butchery that was The Hurt Locker.

cool. but The Hurt Locker was phenomenal!

 

[datalink7]

cool. but The Hurt Locker was phenomenal!

Ha

Most people who haven't been deployed, and haven't personally worked with EOD, think the movie is good. Then there are those who know the truth

 

[HNNstyle]

I'm trying to figure out if this movie is for me. Maybe someone can help. Is it a documentary? I really don't want to watch a doc. What movie would closely resemble this? Is there a lot of action or is it mainly political jargon? I don't want to watch a movie about politics.

 

[randomrogue]

I'm trying to figure out if this movie is for me. Maybe someone can help. Is it a documentary? I really don't want to watch a doc. What movie would closely resemble this? Is there a lot of action or is it mainly political jargon? I don't want to watch a movie about politics.

It's like a Tom Clancy movie.

 

[Exterous]

Ha

Most people who haven't been deployed, and haven't personally worked with EOD, think the movie is good. Then there are those who know the truth

I watched it with my cousin who worked with EOD a lot while deployed. He gave up pointing out all the flaws (uniform, a 'motherfucker who is too crazy to be an EOD', c4 weight, no escort etc) so we just drank more. Sidenote: He seemed to enjoy the movie more wasted. It was disappointing to see a movie that got such high remarks be so far off base

 

[zinfamous]

Ha

Most people who haven't been deployed, and haven't personally worked with EOD, think the movie is good. Then there are those who know the truth

eh, that's not the point. Realism is realism. Whether or not someone who diffuses bombs for a living is going to randomly go out on a personal mission or engage in activities that have nothing to do with their assignment is irrelevant.

Realism /= factual depiction. The movie is about addiction. that's all. If it is not the most accurate representation of how someone holds their weapon, or tactics, or whatevthefuckever is completely irrelevant to the film. It's not a documentary.

I don't think anyone has ever claimed, or should assume, that Renner's character was based on a real individual, or that his character is meant as a representation any type of deployed soldier.

 

[zinfamous]

I watched it with my cousin who worked with EOD a lot while deployed. He gave up pointing out all the flaws (uniform, a 'motherfucker who is too crazy to be an EOD', c4 weight, no escort etc) so we just drank more. Sidenote: He seemed to enjoy the movie more wasted. It was disappointing to see a movie that got such high remarks be so far off base

so the fuck what? why does anyone think this is relevant?

what does that have to do with the praise it got? do you guys even know why it was praised?

OMGERD! those were not real hobbits in my LoTR movies!

 

[zinfamous]

It's like a Tom Clancy movie.

oo, good description. :thumbsup:

 

[zinfamous]

so, here's the question--what is an EOD guy supposed to be doing while not on assignment? sitting on base, playing XBox, waiting for a call?

I admit I know nothing about it, personally. I've known through online games a few years ago a few people deployed in Afghanistan at that time, basically...sitting around, playing games, waiting for calls. :\

Of course some strung-up nutso is probably not going to be working with this group, but you simply can't have a protagonist in any type of palatable film that doesn't inject some drama. I think a lot of people want THL to be Restrepo, but it is not a documentary. Requirements for a narrative (drama/tension) are very different from a documentary.

 

[Exterous]

so the fuck what? why does anyone think this is relevant?

what does that have to do with the praise it got? do you guys even know why it was praised?

Reporting from Baghdad, Los Angeles and Washington — Many film critics -- and awards voters -- have praised “The Hurt Locker’s” depiction of the U.S. military in Iraq, often singling out the bomb disposal drama for its authenticity.

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/25/entertainment/la-et-hurt-locker26-2010feb26

The Hurt Locker is an intense portrayal of elite soldiers who have one of the most dangerous jobs in the world: disarming bombs in the heat of combat.

Based on the accounts of embedded freelance journalist Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker charts the experiences of a bomb disposal team on the streets of Baghdad.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/jan/04/us-film-critics-laud-hurt-locker

Bigelow firmly credits screenwriter Mark Boal for Locker's verisimilitude and accuracy. Boal spent seven weeks with a bomb unit in Iraq as an embedded reporter for Playboy, and his experiences there informed and shaped the story and characters portrayed in Locker.

City Paper: When did you get in involved with this project?

Kathryn Bigelow: From the beginning. I knew that when Mark came back from Iraq and had these extraordinary stories and information that I wanted to keep it as reportorial as possible--to keep it raw and immediate and visceral, to give the audience the opportunity to be inside this company, to be a real boots-on-the-ground look at combat.

To compare LoTR to the Hurt Locker in terms of trying to depict reality is asinine.

 

[datalink7]

eh, that's not the point. Realism is realism. Whether or not someone who diffuses bombs for a living is going to randomly go out on a personal mission or engage in activities that have nothing to do with their assignment is irrelevant.

Realism /= factual depiction. The movie is about addiction. that's all. If it is not the most accurate representation of how someone holds their weapon, or tactics, or whatevthefuckever is completely irrelevant to the film. It's not a documentary.

I don't think anyone has ever claimed, or should assume, that Renner's character was based on a real individual, or that his character is meant as a representation any type of deployed soldier.

Actually, the writer specifically said the movie was "inspired" or "based on" stories of Soldiers. This gave the impression to people that it was factually based, and why it made a lot of veterans mad.

 

[zinfamous]

Actually, the writer specifically said the movie was "inspired" or "based on" stories of Soldiers. This gave the impression to people that it was factually based, and why it made a lot of veterans mad.

"inspired" and "based on" have specific meanings when it comes to fictional work based on real events or people. These terms are actually used (and required to be used) to inform the audience that this is not a factual work.

With all due respect, it's really not the fault of the authors if certain audience members suffer butt hurt for not appreciating how those terms are used. :\ (perhaps butt hurt is too strong a word. well, you know what I mean...maybe? )

The purpose of a fictional narrative is to create drama--nitpicking really does no service to the quality of the film, as it simply means someone would prefer a documentary, which is rarely driven by drama. Basically, characters in any fictional narrative are "a bit nuts" as action and narrative demand it. Personally, I'm not concerned with how accurate and authentic the press determined this film to be. If that was used to "trump it up." It really doesn't matter.

 

[Exterous]

"inspired" and "based on" have specific meanings when it comes to fictional work based on real events or people. These terms are actually used (and required to be used) to inform the audience that this is not a factual work.

With all due respect, it's really not the fault of the authors if certain audience members suffer butt hurt for not appreciating how those terms are used. :\

What about when the director praises someone for the movie's "accuracy" or uses worlds like a "real" look at combat? You don't think that at all tries to portray the movie as an accurate portrayal? What about touting all the time that was spent embedded with the troops?