Student Film Reviews

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1. Tucker Stone 11.23.15 / 12am

   I really agreed with this particular review. I thought this film really outlined the horrors of war, and the effect it takes on peoples lives. I think this a very good representation of what war is like in the middle east. This film does a very good job of setting up relationships with the characters and establishing a connection with the audience and characters. Therefore making the film very effective in involving the audience in each and every scene. This becomes very effective in success of the film. I highly suggest this film to anyone interested in an action film, or interested in educating themselves on the issues of war.
2. RYAN ROBERTSON 03.10.16 / 6pm

   Very good review, really enjoyed what you had to say. The Hurt Locker is one of my favourite movies and I’ve watched it countless amount of times. This film actually nearly encouraged me to join the army. As you said the director Kathryn Bigelow made it feel you were in the film and a part of the action that kept you engaged and on the edge of your feet because you never knew what was going to happen next. I feel like Kathryn Bigelow did some great camera angle shots in the film to make you feel a part of it and know how the character was feeling. I completely agree with what you had to say about the three team members, how there was some differences between them at first but then they became closer and grew as a team. As you said definitely a MUST SEE. Thanks for the great read.
3. Clayton Bowles 07.20.18 / 5pm

   I really enjoyed reading this review. I think the film was very strong and told a true story of what goes on in Iraq. I liked in the review when the writer talked about it gave the viewer an experience of Iraq and what our soldiers have to go through to get back home. Overall, I love this film and I think it was made very well and it’s also very easy to understand.
4. Patrick Muskat 10.16.20 / 3pm

   Really enjoyed reading your review. I think one thing that can’t be overlooked is that this film was shot in Jordan, just miles from where the story is set to take place. The cast and crew were shot at, had no a/c, and water/food were scarce. I think this really helped bring the authenticity that Bigelow intended. As you said in the beginning of your review, the audience felt like a part of the action, as this almost felt like a documentary. I believe that the grueling conditions that these actors faced, as well unorthodox cinematography throughout the film, adds to the grittiness and realism that Bigelow intended, and most likely aided them in winning the Academy Award.
5. Grayson Reed 10.17.20 / 4pm

   Sara, good review! I like how you start it off by explaining the Hurt Locker is not just a war movie, but a horror movie. Kathryn Bigelows shots on screen kept me on the edge of my seat. For example the camera distance was alway extremely close to the soldiers face in times of suspense. Your quote “once one has experienced war they change forever’ was great in summarizing the main idea of the movie. Especially how sergent james irrational behavior affected the other soldiers.
6. Grayson Reed 10.17.20 / 4pm

   Sara, good review! I like how you start it off by explaining the Hurt Locker is not just a war movie, but a horror movie. Kathryn Bigelows shots on screen kept me on the edge of my seat. For example the camera distance was alway extremely close to the soldiers face in times of suspense. Your quote was great in summarizing the main idea of the movie. Especially how sergent james irrational behavior affected the other soldiers.
7. Dustin Simis 10.17.20 / 6pm

   I really enjoyed reading your review on this film. I recently watched this film and was a very big fan of it. I agree with your views on how this film definitely deserved its win for the Oscar in the 82nd annual academy award in 2010. You did a really good job at analyzing this film and giving the reader a better idea of what this film was about, and also what it meant. I agree that this film was an eye opener to anyone unaware of how dangerous the tasks are that our military do on a daily basis.
8. Dustin Simis 10.17.20 / 6pm

   I thoroughly enjoyed reading your review on this film. I recently watched this film and was a very big fan of it. I agree with your views on how this film definitely deserved its win for the Oscar in the 82nd annual academy award in 2010. You did a really good job at analyzing this film and giving the reader a better idea of what this film was about, and also what it meant. I agree that this film was an eye opener to anyone unaware of how dangerous the tasks are that our military do on a daily basis.
9. sebastian reed 03.05.21 / 4pm

   Hello Sara,
   I really enjoyed your review of The Hurt Locker, I feel that you did a really good analysis of the film overall. However, I feel that some parts of the film differ from the overall theme. In your review, you say that over the course of the film the men get closer together, to which I agree. However, I feel that it is also important that towards the end of the film the three men grew apart due to the decisions of their team leader, with the specialist getting hurt. However I do agree with your overall analyses.
   Sincerely Sebastian Reed
10. Julio Rey 03.27.21 / 10pm

    This is a great example of the amount of chaos that would happen in the war between Iraq. The amount of realism gives you another insight of how the wars were brought upon . The amount of killings and sacrifices these men had to make especially sergeant James when defusing the bombs was really breath taking. This film deserves its honor roll as of it was filmed really well and had the characteristics to do so .
11. Daniel Carrera 06.03.21 / 4pm

    This review is a great example of the audience experience after watching this film, great review Sara! Her analysis on how the film greatly depicts how military personnel over seas are, “filled with desperation”, is spot on as the acting in this movie was exceptionally well along with the character development in the plot. Saras review made me more of the films direction in regard to objective. The change that men who have experienced combat endure seemingly permanent affects. The form that this movie was shot in, as well as, the setting greatly shows how being placed in these environments and scenarios can cause you to have a lot of mental weight on and off the field.
12. Allison Gasper 07.17.21 / 5pm

    This is a great review of the film The Hurt Locker. This film made the audience feel like they were one of the characters on the screen. The dramatic affects with the camera angles and sound effects in this film left everyone with the suspense, that unknown feeling, of what was going to happen next. You mentioned that the teams bond grew tighter as time went on and I have to agree with that. In the beginning of the film Sanborn and Eldridge could not stand James because he was so daring and careless. As time went on they grew closer and became family.
13. Abraham Arenas 07.24.21 / 2pm

    The Hurt Locker is a movie that really made me question soldiers who come back from being at war to want to go back especially when they have families and kids and many options to what they can do back home even though they go through post traumatic stress disorder it can be more painful to go through that experience again as Sgt James played by Jermey Renner after completing his tour of duty he having a wife and daughter back home decides to go back to the middle east top defuse bombs and get put in even more stressful situations or even lose his life . This really shows how much of a wild man he is and how he can not forget the battle field just as most soldiers can not .
14. Maria Bordallo 07.24.21 / 3pm

    What a nice review! I feel like I am reading the plot of the film through Wikipedia. The details and descriptions of the characters and events are well organized. I must say that watching this film made me realize how soldiers face a terrifyingly dangerous job everyday. I admire them for pouring their heart out and giving their all in serving the country. The cinematography of this film is epic that it can make you feel that you’re in the scene. I highly recommend this film.
15. Max Brown 07.24.21 / 10pm

    Thank for sharing your review of the Hurt Locker. I too really enjoyed this video and as you said it does a great job of immersing you in the war they are fighting. Each bomb defusal scene got my heart racing and I was most of the time more nervous than the actual bomb defusal expert. I can not agree more with the statement that you made that the Hurt Locker is just as much a horror movie as it is a war movie. I think that because of the setting actually taking place in Jordan, it helps even further to immerse the viewer into the scene and keep you on the edge of the seat. Lastly, I think the episodic style of the movie was really important in the viewer feeling the passing of time which was a big theme in the movie as all characters begin to become more and more irritable as they are forced to fight in a dangerous, dry, and hot enviorment.
16. Colby Jackson 10.10.21 / 4pm

    “I really enjoyed reading your review.”
    The Hurt Locker is such a great film due to Bigelow’s usage of suspense. During each bomb defusing scene, the viewer can feel the tension followed by a sense of relief. Because of this, we begin to understand Sargent James’s motivation for thrill seeking. The closer death gets, the more alive he feels. War produces heightened states of consciousness that numb him to normal life. This reality is made dismayingly clear in the final scene as he leaves his wife and child to return to war. Perhaps, the thrill of war has become more important than his family. Or maybe he considers his brothers overseas to be more of a family to him.
17. Irey Sandholdt 10.15.21 / 10pm

    This review hit just the right details and described just how I was feeling about this film. When you described how this film shows all the grief and pain soldiers go through but they crave this feeling as a addition because for a good chunk of time it is all they know and live by. When your review read, “The films objective is to show that once one has experienced war they change forever, this is evident in the reckless behavior of Sargent James as he puts himself in harms way voluntarily. The rush of the risk of death has become a drug to the soldier and his addiction is only fed defending his honor and his country.” This is exactly how I would describe what the plot of the film is and one of their main objectives. In our film studies course we learn how about how the producers will repeat a certain scene or emotion to gradually create more effect and this is definitely seen through the addiction of adrenaline.
18. jaylon zickafoose 10.30.21 / 5pm

    I agree with this film review because as I was watching The Hurt Locker I too was brought to the realization Iraq was truly the closest thing to hell on earth at the time. despite having a brother bond with one another James can’t seem to settle down and is always anticipating the adrenaline of a firefight or the act of disarming a bomb. James tends to want to be in a tight situation with or without his men and this review is brilliant because it paints the picture that war isn’t glamourous and we should want to see this movie to get a taste of what obstacles young American men go through every day while serving for their country.
19. Tyler Douglas 03.01.22 / 10am

    This review hit all the boxes when it came to breaking down Hurt Locker. You can really tell the differences between people who want to fight with little to no actual combat compared to people who want to be in a firefight everyday. You can feel the tension between everyone during the bomb disarming scenes, I understand how this film won best picture in 2010. It also really exacerbates how bad the Middle East actually was during this time, more specifically Iraq. I liked in the review when the writer talked about it gave the viewer an experience of Iraq and what our soldiers have to go through to get back home.
20. Jeffrey Luna 03.05.22 / 12pm

    Sara Dinari’s review does a good job of summing up the entire movie. It makes sense that this movie won an Oscar for best picture in 2010, with the realistic scenes of Iraq making me feel like I was back there myself. The Hurt Locker shows how military service members have to deal with one another even when they come from different walks of life. This shows how Sanborn and Eldridge are dealing with careless team leader antics. It also shows how war changes the men and women that serve. This was a great review and hope it encourages others to want to watch the film as well!
21. Jeffrey Luna 03.05.22 / 12pm

    I think Sara Dinari’s review does a good job of summing up the entire movie. It makes sense that this movie won an Oscar for best picture in 2010, with the realistic scenes of Iraq making me feel like I was back there myself. The Hurt Locker shows how military service members have to deal with one another even when they come from different walks of life. This shows how Sanborn and Eldridge are dealing with careless team leader antics. It also shows how war changes the men and women that serve. This was a great review and hope it encourages others to want to watch the film as well!
22. Jeffrey Luna 03.05.22 / 12pm

    i believe Sara Dinari’s review does a good job of summing up the entire movie. It makes sense that this movie won an Oscar for best picture in 2010, with the realistic scenes of Iraq making me feel like I was back there myself. The Hurt Locker shows how military service members have to deal with one another even when they come from different walks of life. This shows how Sanborn and Eldridge are dealing with careless team leader antics. It also shows how war changes the men and women that serve. This was a great review and hope it encourages others to want to watch the film as well!
23. Jared 03.05.22 / 7pm

    I really enjoyed reading this review. I completely agree that this movie was very good at making the audience feel like a participant. I believe it had realistic scenes and showed the war in an honest way. The way they get you connected to characters is very well done. I liked what you had to say about the 3 men who started off not liking each other and then them becoming closer. Most importantly what you said was that they rested each others ways of war. I think that was huge in the movie was how they began to respect James and his antics. He was not by the book but he was good at his job and he did very much care about the people he was saving and working with.
24. Dante Berouty 03.09.22 / 3pm

    Your review clarified Sergeant James’ character a lot more for me. He is an adrenaline junkie till the end, serving another tour of duty even with the stress it causes. James does not know any other way besides living a life that keeps him on the edge everyday. A life where he does not know if he will wake up the next morning. I also agree that the film did a really good job at showing the contrast between James and his squad members. While the other two wish to safely make it through the situation and dread any sort of action that may lead to their deaths, James is always willing to dive in head first. It also creates a clear picture of the two general responses to war; fear and/or excitement. The best example of this was when the group was tasked with the car bomb. Even though they had cleared all the civilians out and could have safely let it go off, James adrenaline addiction makes him stay to diffuse it and not listen to the others.
25. Giovanni Ramirez 03.11.22 / 2pm

    Hello Sara,
    Great review! I totally agree with your interpretation of the character William James, it is clear throughout the film that he is an adrenaline junkie, he is unorthodox when it comes to diffusing bombs which makes his partners doubt him and his skills. This was especially shown in the scene when James comes back home and is grocery shopping with his wife, he is sent to do a simple task, during this moment it is evident that James is not happy with his own simple and boring life and needs something to keep him going that is why he decides to go back to war to feel that same adrenaline. The film directors did a great job at showing Williams’ emotions through the screen, during war he seems comfortable even though he is in a tense situation but while he is back home he seems uneasy and doesn’t know what to do with himself.
26. Stanley Nash 03.13.22 / 3pm

    The hurt Locker is a movie that absolutely made me question squaddies who come lower back from being at warfare to want to move back specially once they have households and youngsters and plenty of alternatives to what they could do back domestic despite the fact that they go through publish worrying stress disorder it is able to be extra painful to go through that revel in once more as Sgt James played by using Jermey Renner after completing his excursion of duty he having a spouse and daughter back home comes to a decision to head lower back to the middle east top defuse bombs and get installed even greater traumatic situations or even lose his life . This virtually suggests how plenty of a wild man he’s and the way he cannot neglect the battle subject simply as maximum squaddies cannot .
27. Stanley Nash 03.13.22 / 3pm

    I certainly agreed with this particular assessment. I thought this movie in reality outlined the horrors of struggle, and the effect it takes on peoples lives. I think this a superb representation of what conflict is like within the middle east. This movie does a superb job of putting in place relationships with the characters and establishing a connection with the audience and characters. consequently making the film very powerful in involving the target market in each and each scene. This becomes very effective in achievement of the movie. I fairly propose this film to anyone inquisitive about an motion movie, or inquisitive about teaching themselves at the troubles of struggle.
28. Sadie Demmert 10.21.22 / 5pm

    I one hundred percent agree with your review of the film. I was so surprised at what it was like in Iraq for soldiers and this film really opened my eyes to what soldiers have to go through. There were many parts of the film especially when they would disarm the bomb. Thank you for sharing your review I thought it really explained and described the film!
29. Dylan Colegrove 10.31.22 / 7pm

    Couldn’t have been more correct on how this film showed the awful situation everyone was in during this war, as you said, very “eye-opening”. This film genuinely paints a different picture for what the individuals had to endure during these times and what they brought back home. I agree with you when you say that this film will change your perspective on the matter forever, it is something that can’t be unseen for what these young men are put through. It all makes sense now why military personnel consider each other as “brothers”, these experiences establish bonds that many people will never understand. Great review and viewpoint of the film and it’s substance.
30. Kevin Aragon 03.10.23 / 3pm

    Hello Sara,
    I enjoyed reading your post. I agree with the horror that this film presents us. Most of us don’t know what it’s like to be at war and probably never will but this film helps us see into that world of war. After watching this film I can 100 percent say that war is somewhere I don’t want to be as it is very terrifying which this film does great depicting. In almost every scene there is tension on whether they’ll make it back to base alive, looking at the bigger picture making it alive back home.
    Thanks Sara for your post!
31. jennifer manriquez 03.16.23 / 3pm

    I can agree with you I can never understand how it fills to go to war or even to be at war.Watching this film really make me think of those in war and the families that are waiting for them to get home safe. yes i can agree with you that this changed my perspective on what they have to go through. Even what they have to see it made me cry when watching the film and the part where they have to see the kid with a bomb inside of him.I think we have to be grateful that we don’t have to go through that or have to deal with that and be thankful for the ones that do go out.
32. Jennifer Manriquez 03.16.23 / 3pm

    Thank you for sharing your though of the film. I think this film did make me think of what happens in the war. I have never felt or have family in the army but those that do have my respect because it must be very hard. Them hearing ,seeing what they have seen they must go back home mental health. I did cry when watching this film because it hurt my heart to see everything they had to see the dead bodies and them trying to make sure they turned off a bomb before time.
33. Tyler Cotton 06.26.23 / 10pm

    I appreciate your analysis of the film and have seen and analyzed it myself for class. I agree it is a intense nerve racking look into the lives of our special unit troops. I think your reminder of the 39 days and the perspective from the previous unit and prior events that James walks into is actually more important than I previously appreciated. I better understand the unit’s concern and frustration as James arrives and is seen as impulsive and reckless. Your comment that the rush of the risk of death has become a drug to this soldier and his addiction is only fed defending his honor and his country pretty much sums up the film. The film does an incredible job also delving into and slowly developing the unique and unquestioned bond between soldier that don’t necessarily think alike or have the same approach, yet will die defending each other and their unit. This film does a great job illustrating that comradely and incredible bond without telling us. For a war film, this is an interesting perspective as its less about the fighting but more about the strategic special units and their stressful yet hopefully non eventful daily life of detonating bombs.
34. Liam Horn 07.22.23 / 11pm

    The movie, The Hurt Locker is a fantastic movie. It is from a different perspective and a different type of character than you would normally see in a war movie like this. When the bomb squads leader is killed, a new member of the team is brought in, William James. William is extremely reckless and takes a lot of risks. His character is very different from most characters in these types of war movies, because his character shows how the war messed him up so bad, that he relies on the thrill of defusing bombs, he is almost addicted to it and the adrenaline that comes with it. I think it is an extremely interesting and different way to show the effects of war on someone.
35. Jacob Gundersen 10.19.23 / 11am

    This film really made me realize what these soldiers really have to go through when they are serving our country on the battle field. James was a leader and his tasks were to deactivate bombs. While he was serving he couldn’t deactivate all the bombs he was faced and he had to witness people dying because of it. James was always a thrill seeker and loved being in risky moments and when he left the army and returned to a normal life he knew he couldn’t let it end, so he went back to the army to complete another mission. The movie was also presented not chronologic order and it started off with James going into a kill zone to defuse a bomb which got my attention and I was interested to watch the whole movie.
36. Thomas Landry 03.14.24 / 1pm

    This review really encapsulates purpose of The Hurt Locker. You did a great job explaining the occurrences of the film. I like how this movie focuses on an adrenaline addicted soldier rather than a victim of war. James’ carelessness and need to defuse all the bombs really shows how war changes different people. Instead of returning home glad to be back, he missed the action and thrill of his former job which makes him return to the battlefield. This differs from other war movies where the main character is usually very desperate to get back home, and once they are still struggle with PTSD.
37. Joseph Talarico 03.15.24 / 11am

    After watching the film and reading your review, I agree with a lot of what you said. Something specifically that I agreed with was how the teams bond grew tighter overtime. Due to James being careless at the beginning he was not liked very much. However as the film went on they became a family. Overall I really liked your analysis.
38. Junior Alfaro 03.18.24 / 11am

    I agree with what is said in this review being a good summary of the film. When the film presents the danger it loves to creates a feel to the audience with sounds, the camera changing to different people, and the three screaming at each other. This creates the feeling as you mentioned it makes the viewer feel like a participate in every scene. James also people the team feeling anxious due to his actions because they don’t him to die and they also don’t want to die. We also find out one of his team members wants to get rid of him and even threatens him after they survive an attack in the open of the desert, but eventually they respect him. I like your review of the film its a wonderful summary of the film.

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