 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Hurt Locker
- Review Date: July 15, 2009
- R
- Genre: Thriller
- 2009
Common Sense Media says
Violent, complex Iraq war drama is rough, tough, thrilling.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that although this war drama/thriller is full of very realistic, graphic violence and danger -- shootings, death by explosion, images of dead bodies -- the consequences of these acts are never taken lightly, and they're never depicted as mere "action." Ultimately, it's an intellectually and philosophically stimulating movie that offers parents and older teens the chance to talk about everything from current events to the overall human condition. That said, you can also expect lots of strong language (including many uses of "f--k"), some smoking and drinking, and some crude jokes/sex references.
What's the story?
Set in 2004, THE HURT LOCKER follows the day-to-day work of the soldiers in an Army Explosives Ordinance Demolition (EOD) team -- aka the bomb squad -- as they find and defuse the improvised explosive devices that are the Iraq insurgency's most effective weapon. As new team leader Sgt. James (Jeremy Renner) works alongside Sgt. Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) and Specialist Eldridge (Brian Geraghty), audiences get an insight into the minds and hearts of these soldiers -- and how, for some of them, life in the Army dealing with explosives feels easier to handle than life in the civilian world dealing with everything else.
Is it any good?
Combining intellectual and philosophical ambition with gut-wrenching, visceral action, The Hurt Locker is unquestionably one of the best films of 2009; it's also a great movie, period, full of excitement, action, graveyard comedy, and brilliant filmmaking technique.
Director Kathyn Bigelow (Point Break, Strange Days) co-scripted The Hurt Locker with journalist Mark Boal, who was embedded with Army EOD soldiers in 2004; the realism of the script and staging doesn't impede the movie's excitement and dramatic satisfaction but rather makes it all the more rewarding. The characters are real and their situation is real -- and that matter-of-fact approach to the material makes it even more excruciating as James and his men try to figure out how to dismantle bombs in circumstances where failure means death for dozens of people. Yes, The Hurt Locker is violent and tense and bloody, but so is war. Gripping, exciting, and matching brains with brawn, The Hurt Locker's shattering explosions and quieter questions will both echo in your head long after it's done.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the movie's violence. How does what's shown here compare to the explosions and shoot-'em-up scenes of more mainstream Hollywood blockbusters? Which has more impact?
How does the movie portray the United States' invasion of Iraq? Is it different from the way it's been presented in other movies and TV shows? How so?
Is Sgt. James a hero or a fool? Does he take unnecessary risks or necessary ones? Does his attachment to a local Iraqi boy improve either of their lives?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
EXCELENT EXTRODINARY GRIPPING DRAMA
THE BEST FILM I'VE SEEN IN 2009 IS THIS ONE NO FILM THIS YEAR OTHER THAN HARRY POTTER ANF I LOVE YOU MAN THIS DRAME DESERVES OSCARS HANDS DOWN. THE TICK TICK OF THIS MOVIE WILL GET TO YOU WAY BEFORE THE BOOM FACTOR OF THE MOVIE THE GRIPPING SHEER REALISTIC ATMOSPHERE AND SHEER RAW POWER. IF YOU CAN FIND ONE OF THE 4 THEATERS THAT IT'S PLAYING IN GO SEE WHAT IS THE BEST MOVIE OF 2009 PERIOD
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
What's with all the hype?
A decent movie. It doesn't really deserve best picture, though. If you are a fan of war movies, it's worth a rental. There is some pretty strong war violence, but most of the graphic or bloody parts are shown from a distance. There is also some pretty strong swear words, too.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Pretty Good War Movie, But Violent
I thought it was, pretty good. Lots of explosions and people blowing up. You would see a solider just walking and waving to some civilians then he's gone (a bomb blows him up). The only real gory/bloody scene I've seen is when they see this kid ripped open and there's lots of blood and visions of his guts. A really long sniping scene with mild blood. Civilians watching the soldiers defuse a bomb and there was kinda creepy music that made the scene freaky.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Best war drama since Saving Private Ryan
OK, where to start? This film is by no means for anyone under the age of 14 (due to occasionally graphic war violence, raw language, and near-constant smoking by one of the leads), but anyone 14 and over should by all means see this gripping, intense film that will certainly be an Oscar contender. The basic plot: a professional bomb squad has to survive in an Iraqi town where explosives can be anywhere. But it's much more complex than that. The film opens with a statement by Chris Hedges, a famed American journalist: "The rush of battle is a potent and lethal addiction, for war is a drug." After you watch this gripping, potent film, you'll definitely agree. In terms of content, this is tamer than most war films; however, it has a much higher emotional pull than even Saving Private Ryan, so the violence, while infrequent, is still occasionally graphic and very frightening. There's one very gory scene that has the main character finding a bomb in a preteen's body. Also, a sniper vs. sniper battle has some bloody headshots. There are other moments of less graphic violence and some intense bomb defusing situations (which is obvious, considering the film's theme). Language is very frequent (this IS a war movie, after all); about 60 f-bombs are uttered, as well as other minor profanity (such as sh*t, b*tch, d*mn, and hell). One of the main characters smokes in almost every scene, and there's a bit of drinking and crude sexual references. Overall, see The Hurt Locker if you're over 14. This is definite Academy Award material here.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Great modern war movie, expressed realisticly.
This movie is a pretty good and realistic view of the Iraq war, not World War 2, as most of this genre is based on. Violence, but not always, is present throughout the movie, and sexual jokes are made. In one scene, a bomb specialist has to disarm a bomb in a dead boy's body, which this guy knows pretty personally, and can frighten some viewers. When shots are fired at insurgents, sprays of blood can be seen, but will disappear in a few frames. But, sometimes situations in this movie can be solved peacefully, and when violence is present, the soldiers normally shoot the baddies. As in most war movies, vulgar language can be heard, such as f---, a--, b----, and two D words (you probably know those). In somewhere in the end, the message is expressed as "war is a drug, and you can't get away from the addiction" when the main character tells his baby son that everything that mattered to him then would not matter in the future, leaving only one thing that mattered, so this movie's message is both good and bad. What I don't like about this movie is that plot isn't that great and you can ask questions in the end. Other than that, great movie.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
The Hurt Locker
The Hurt Locker is one of the best films i've seen this year. Stating at the first that war is a drug is not such as a quote but a fact anad throughout the movie and especially at the end it shows that. Jeremy Renner's best performance so far as the lead as well is Anthony Mackie, Ralph Fiennes and Guy Pearce.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Check my page for other great recommendations.
I'm not here to give a review because if it shows up on my page its a 5 star movie and so therefore you know what i think about it.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
It is fine for a ten year old.
Great movie. MUst see watch it.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
A great war movie...
While it's not on par with Saving Private Ryan, this is up there on the war-time thriller movies. A documentary LIKE movie about the war in Iraq, leaves you sad, angry, and tense throughout and after the movie is over...
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Good but sad movie
This movie is a sad movie like when the main character finds a boy he knows dead and bloody with a bomb inside. Language was also a problem because the characters said f--k and even one use of the n word. Role models aren't the best because two soldiers almost blow up their comrade and were going to say it was an accidental detonator problem. When people get shot it is usually bloodless. Plus there isn't a lot of shooting.
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Studio: | Summit Entertainment |
| Director: | Kathryn Bigelow |
| Cast: | Evangeline Lilly, Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes |
| Genre: | Thriller |
| Run time: | 131 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | June 26, 2009 |
| DVD release date: | January 12, 2010 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | war violence and language |
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already seen it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
