The Hurt Locker

And the Oscar goes to …

82nd Academy Awards (2009)

Won:

1) Best Directing

2) Best Film Editing

3) Best Sound Editing

4) Best Sound Mixing

5) Best Motion Picture of the Year

6) Best Original Screenplay

Nominated:

1) Best Cinematography

2) Best Original Score

3) Best Leading Actor (Jeremy Renner)

Can you imagine living in an area where war, battle, and violence is only a few meters from where you live? Or imagine fighting and staying in an area where you prescence is not wanted? “The Hurt Locker” is about soldiers who specializes in bomb deactivation during the war against terrorism and their everyday life and experiences, at least the Hollywood version of it. “The Hurt Locker”This movie is suspenseful, not in the sense that there’s a mystery but since the characters deal with life or death situations. A 50:50 chance that they’ll live another day.

First Class Sergeant William James is a careless and reckless solider sent to Iraq to replace Staff Sergeant Matthew Thompson after Thompson failed attempt in deactivating a bomb leading to his death. James is a headstrong and stubborn solider who tends to disregard Sergeant J.T Sanborn, his superiors’ order. It was frustrating to work with James that Sanborn and another solider were seriously contemplating to “accidentally” trigger a bombthat James was deactivating just to get rid of him.

Throughout the movie, I could not help but wonder why was Will’s character so reckless and to be frank, stupid. There were times were he removed his protective bomb uniform just to be more “comfortable” or he would remove his headset that communicated with his superior just so he could concentrate. He not only puts his life in danger but the whole squad’s in danger.

Will James  has a son back in America so I wondered:”wouldn’t he want to return after his tour was finished in one piece or better yet, alive?” Perhaps it’s because he wants to die an honorable death so his son would be proud of him?

^video of Will’s and Beckham’s friendship.

Will made friends with a young Iraqi boy who refers to himself as “Beckham” after the soccer player. Beckham, a naive boy who misuses American colloquium, often pesters Will with DVD sales and to play soccer with him.

My theory on why Will’s friends with Beckham is because he reminds him of his son or perhaps Beckham is Will’s link to society considering that Will is stationed in endless Iranian deserts. Beckham is young, innocent and naive like a child who needs to be nurtured, just like a society.

One of the most dramatic scenes was when Will found Beckham’s body (or someone who resembled him, there’s so much debate on who the body was) – lifeless and a bomb surgically implanted inside him. Will had no choice but to deactivate the bomb inside the boy’s body. The expression on the actor’s face was heartbreaking – struck with guilt, sorrow, and mourning for his friend. That one experience change his attitude on life. Instead of being reckless he became determined, determined to bring justice to whomever murder Beckham (or Will believes is Beckham) and to save more lives. He later goes on a rampage with his fellow soldiers to investigate the situation while a town was bombed.

Will later realizes that he cannot save everyone after he tried to assist a translator who was taken as hostage and later returned but with a bomb strapped and locked to his body. He had to accept the fact he has done that he could do.

The term “hurt locker” is military slang for boot camp because the cadets are closely supervised and trained to withstand the endurance and situations of combat. In the movie, the hurt locker is in refernce to Will’s collection of spare parts of bomb he deactivated – 873 in total. To the other soliders his collection was a weird hobby but Will explained that each bomb part was like a souvenir that represents each time he could have died and the people he saved.

There are tons of people saying Kathryn Bigelow, the director of “The Hurt Locker” learned numerous directing techniques from her ex-husband, James Cameron, director of “Titanic” and “Avatar.” But I beg to differ; in fact I believe James learned a lot from Kathryn. Please, Bigelow’s and her ex-husband’s film were competing for Best Picture and guess who won? No, not James Cameron but Kathryn Bigelow.

Yes, this movie is worthy for Oscar.

I was not too impressed with the film score of “The Hurt Locker” so I’m not too disappointed that “The Hurt Locker” didn’t receive that particular Oscar but I did find it worthy for the oscar for best sound editing. The sounds of riffles, guns, tanks, and bombs left a lasting impression.  I was utterly disappointed that Jeremy Renner did not win the Oscar for best leading actor. I believed he portrayed his character well.

I would definately give this movie seven oscar, six from what it originally won and one for what I believe should have been given to actor Jeremy Renner.

The Sound of Music

The hills are alive in with the sound of music…

 38th Academy Awards (1966)

Won:

1) Best Director

2) Best Editing

3) Best Music

4) Best Motion Picture

5) Best Sound

Nominated:

1) Best Actress in a Leading Role

2) Best Actress in a Supporting Role

3) Best Set Direction

4) Best Cinematography

5) Best Costume Design

Wow, 10 Oscar nominations and 5 wins.

When I first saw this movie, I was five years old in Catholic School. Each year the school made every student participate in singing the songs and being in the school’s musical production of  “The Sound of Music.” So I basically know all the lyrics and lines of the movie.

I think what makes this a great movie is the unforgettable songs and the storyline.

Maria is enrolled in a nunnery, hoping to one day become a nun. She is very free spirited and wild causing her always get in trouble with her superiors, the older nuns. An Austrian navy captain, Captain Georg Von Trapp sent a letter to the convent in search of a governess for his seven children since his wife recently died. The nuns in charge of Maria gave the responsibility to Maria since she had experience in being a governess prior to enrolling in the nunnery. I suspect they seized this opportunity to temporarily get rid of her and probably hoped that she would mature after the experience.

When Maria arrives at the Von Trapp household, she surprised to see seven miserable children who are compelled to follow every command from their strict father. Maria wants to make these children happy so what does she do? She sews each of them clothes (made out of ugly curtains) and persuades them to sing. Although reluctant at first, the children are all happy once again when they all realized their talent. However, Mr. Von Trapp isn’t too fond of his singing children until Maria shows him singing can be enjoyable.

Maria starts to become confused in what she wants in life because she and Georg Von Trapp slowly falls in love. Thus, Maria is conflicted – does she want to be a nun or a wife and mother? After seeking advice from her superiors, she decides to become part of the Von Trapp family. Happy ending? No quite yet.

Since Georg Von Trapp is an Austrian navy captain in the mist of World War II he is drafted to fight for Germany (who controlled Austria at the time). He despises Hitler and Hitler’s morals and refuses which poses as a problem. If Mr. Von Trapp fights, he’s fighting against his morals and he’ll be separated from his new bride and his children. As a family, the Von Trapps decide to seek refuge in Switzerland. Finally, the family is happy.

This movie is a classic that has a good combination of comedy, romance, and drama. On top of that, it is a great family movie. “The Sound of Music’ shows that families must work together, despite their differences, in order to strive for a loving and caring home.

There are so many pop culture references to this film alone, for example in the film Bridget Jones: Edge of Glory, Bridget would fantasize she’s Maria and her lover interest in the movie would be Mr. Von Trapp. In another movie, “The Pacifier,” a movie surrounding a huge family, one of the characters participated in a musical production in the film.

Did you know that the Von Trapp family really did exist? It was a bit of a shock to me. I guess it’s because after all that happened in the movie seems too much for it to true.

           This movie was deserving of the numerous awards it received.

(The picture to the left is the real Von Trapp family. The picture to the right is the movie version of the Von Trapp family.)

In addition to 5 Oscars this movie won, I sincerely believe that Julie Andrews who played Maria Von Trapp should have won best actress in a leading role. This is for Julie Andrews.