Hurt Locker vanquishes Avatar: patriotism triumphs over anti-Americanism at the Oscars

London Telegraph Blogs (U.K.) ^ | March 8, 2010 | Nile Gardiner

[Ingtar]

But what I found most jarring about Avatar was its overtly anti-American and anti-military bias.

The Hurt Locker was probably better, but I wonder what movie he watched in place of Avatar. The US military and government were not in Avatar. It was an Obama/Leftist style corporation and mercenaries. The health care system (actually run by the government in the only mention I recall) denied the veteran the surgery to fix his legs, forcing him to become a mercenary himself in order to get care. There are a lot of anti-Left themes in it. I'm sure they are not on purpose, but they are there.

[packrat35]

District 9 was nothing but apartheid with an alien race. Hell it is even set in South Africa.

I kept hearing how great it was and disappointed to no end.

[Waryone]

I totally agree with you. Some lib argued with me about Hurt Locker. They felt it was the most realistic movie about the military they had ever seen. I told them there was nothing realistic about it. There was no way people that looney would be allowed on a demolition duty. Crazy as that loon was, he would never have made it out of boot camp with my drill sergeant dad.

[Ingtar]

District 9 was my favorite of the year.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

True. What plenty of people don’t know about EOD is that it’s one of the most book intensive jobs in the military. EOD troops are in them most of time when they’re not blowing stuff up. Kind of like police and paperwork, you don't see much it on the screen, but it's a large percentage of the job.

[world weary]

I'm in the military and I liked Hurt Locker. Once you let go of "accuracy" (it is a movie after all) and allow yourself to just watch it its a good flick. I had to laugh at the part where he pulled up the shells from the road by the det cord though.

If your looking for accuracy in war movies your going to see lots of troops waiting around smoking, arguing, talking, eating and sleeping. Really thats how most of the time in theater is spent, waiting.

[fish hawk]

The crowning point to the whole night was when James Cameron's ex wife beat him out on Best Director AND Best Picture. Cameron is an egotistical a-hole.

[Ghengis]

I'm in the military and I liked Hurt Locker. Once you let go of "accuracy" (it is a movie after all) and allow yourself to just watch it its a good flick. I had to laugh at the part where he pulled up the shells from the road by the det cord though.
If your looking for accuracy in war movies your going to see lots of troops waiting around smoking, arguing, talking, eating and sleeping. Really thats how most of the time in theater is spent, waiting.

I am the "old guy" in my police academy class (like a dummy, I let my certification lapse after doing the academy 22 years ago). There are two Iraqi War vets in my class that just came back. They both loved The Hurt Locker. They said it is "Hollywood" (i.e. a lot of B.S.). But they also said that it is as good as you'll get from Hollywood in a film about the war.

[Biggirl]

Well it was great surprise the “Hurt Locker” pulled it off, congrats to it.

With all the talk about “Avatar” and a producer of “Hurt Locker” having been barred from going to the Oscars because of a bad e-mail, did not expect “Hurt Locker” to win it, but it did.

[Vanders9]

I thought it was very average too, and I’m not so sure it was all that “patriotic” or “supporting of the US military” either.

[Vanders9]

I agree. Hurt locker was the better flick.

[kamikaze2000]

Agreed, I thought District 9 was one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. Nothing in the plot made sense and the main character was annoying as heck. I laughed at the ending. But to each his own.

[raybbr]

Bullock the “Best Actress”? Huh? Did she go to acting school over the last few years?

[Rummyfan]

We enjoyed Hurt Locker very much, and were glad it won Best Picture.

Yes me too. At least it dealt with real issues, rather than Cameron's fantsy world.

[Rummyfan]

Avatar on DVD on Earth Day, April 22.

Oh Gawd! Earth Day?!

[ballplayer]

Just like Scumbags Wave the Flag after helping to elect the Communist in Chief putting millions out of work and making the Country Miserable

[Biggirl]

Well “buyers remorse” has set you know.

[freedumb2003]

>>I kept hearing how great it was and disappointed to no end.<<

I was expecting one movie (exactly like you say — about apartheid) and got a different movie (the personal story of the main character).

Just surprising — as I said, it unfolds rather than just happens. I understand YMMV.

[I Buried My Guns]

I saw Hurt Locker last night. While I have no military background, the inaccuracies are glaring and almost laughable. To a real military person they would be offensive. Just enormous holes that are never filled.

The character development was lame, too. We are to believe that an EOD specialist is a loose cannon who rebels against the rules and his squad mates and does his own thing, kinda like a James Dean anti-hero. I find it unthinkable that a person like that could exist in the military.