Blu ray movie review of The Hurt Locker

I’ve always enjoyed Kathryn Bigelow’s movies including the not so great K-19: The Widowmaker. She has great sense for action movies and it shows in her films. The Hurt Locker is no exception. She takes a very sensitive subject in Iraq war and makes a non political film. This is particularly refreshing as the liberal Hollywood tends to have very strong anti war messages in most of the war films. Instead, Kathryn Bigelow focuses on the character and the job he is entrusted to carry out. There is no political message on why we invaded Iraq or whether it was right or wrong.

The story is about soldiers who have to disarm bombs. This military job is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Imagine walking toward the bomb when everyone else is running away from it. On a job to disarm a roadside bomb, the soldier assign to disarm it dies when the bomb goes off. Sergeant James is brought in as replacement. James has reputation for being reckless and wild. His approach is not appreciated by his subordinates at the beginning. The two subordinates think James is borderline suicidal. They go from one incident to another and face some incredibly dangerous situations.

Unlike some other movies, there is no one true evil villain in this movie. The movie portrays the dangerous job and the men who undertake the job. It’s part character study and part action movie. At the end of the movie, we don’t get the satisfaction of watching a cruel villain die or captured. Instead, we see the heroic efforts of our soldiers doing their best to survive and complete their jobs. While this might sound boring, the movie is anything but boring. The scenes are packed with suspense and action. There is not a single boring minute in the movie. I can honestly say this is one of the best war film I’ve ever watched in my life.

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Inglourious Basterds Blu ray movie review

As a big fan of Quentin Tarantino, I was little bit disappointed with his last two films. Kill Bill and Death Proof was a letdown compared to his earlier movies like Jackie Brown, Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs. Nevertheless, I was excited to watch his latest film, Inglorious Basterds. Tarantino takes his shot at a World War 2 film in Inglorious Basterds. Inglorious Basterds is a different type of war movie. It is dark, violent, funny, and has tint of alternative fiction element. You really would not expect a conventional film from Tarantino. The overall premise borrows from previous war films for over all framework. However, Tarantino adds his own flavor to the movie.

The movie takes place in Nazi occupied France. The Nazis track down any French that harbor the Jews in order to exterminate them. In one such occurance, Jewish family harbored by their neighbor is slaughtered in the opening scene. Shosanna is the only survivor who runs away from Colnel Hans Landa’s atrocity. Years later, Shosanna plots her revenge when her theater is selected to show a film featuring a German hero. The high ranking Nazi officers and the Hitler himself is announced to attend the event. Meanwhile, Lt. Aldo Raine assembles a group of Jewish-American guerilla force to harass the German forces in France. They hear of the movie event and decide to take down Hitler and his officers.

The plot doesn’t sound like much. However, it’s Tarantino’s dark humor and style that makes the movie such a great experience. There are only small numbers of violent scenes. But, the scenes are funny and cringe worthy at the same time. The violent bar scene is one of the best action sequences in a war movie. The scene contains no CG or crazy explosion. Instead, the comical build up right before the violence and subsequent mayhem is pure Tarantino. Brad Pitt deserves some award for his portrayal of redneck Lt. Hell bent on killing Hitler. Overall, any fan of Tarantino should not miss this film.

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Sugar Blu Ray

Sugar Blu Ray Review

The description and the movie trailer for Sugar would lead you to believe that Sugar is a typical sports movie when it is so much more. Sports movie tend to be formulaic and overly sugary to attract large audiences. It usually involves an underdog overachieving and beating the odds to become a champion or a winner. The directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck do the total opposite. They show the story of someone who is heralded yet fail to achieve the dream. The film shows what happens to 99.99% of the aspiring ball players who don’t get to live out the dream. While this may sound depressing and ultimately boring, it is actually a very honest and moving.

The story follows a Dominican baseball player named Miguel “sugar” Santos. Like many other Dominicans, he dreams of playing in the Major League. He plays for a baseball academy affiliated with a Major League team. His day is spent playing baseball and learning English in preparation for the call up to the Major League. After showing an impressive array of pitches, he is invited to spring training for the Kansas City team. There, he impresses enough to be called up to A league in Iowa. He goes through up and down season where he achieves great success and great failures.

It’s really an eye opening film for any baseball fans. As fans, we only see the success stories in the Major League Baseball. We don’t get to see the countless ball players who don’t make it to big league. Throughout the movie, I was waiting for Sugar Santos to come through and ultimately make it. It was little sad to see him not achieve so much given his background and all the expectation from the poverty stricken family. At the same time, you realize the movie is not about the few that make it big. Instead, it is meant to show the vast majority of the baseball players who do not make it big.

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The Postman Blu Ray Review

After directing the award winning movie, Dances with Wolves, Kevin Costner turned in a stinker in Waterworld. Waterworld reported cost around $200 million to make and took in less than $90 in domestic market. Most critics blasted it as pretentious and terrible movie. This is why it’s little confusing to see him direct and star in The Postman, another post apocalyptic film similar to Waterworld. Some have penned it as a messiah complex for Costner’s portrayal of the leads in these movies. He seems like the savior in dire times where humanity is on the brink or in a dire funk. Never the less, The Postman is marginally better than Waterworld. The movie takes a lot of undeserved criticism because of Waterworld.

Based on a science fiction novel by David Brin, the movie is about our civilization in 2013. The society has all but collapsed due to wars. The collapse of the United States government causes its people to struggle in search of food and safety. Like Mad Max, various groups of gangs are formed and some of them are not so friendly toward other groups. One such group called Holnists, led by General Bethlehem, is bent on conquering all other groups. When one of the drifter, played by Kevin Costner, captured earlier escapes and stumbles on a deserted post delivery truck, he starts the con where he scams the mail recipients. This starts his role as “The Postman” who fights against Holnists and deliver hope to regular people.

There is nothing wrong with the acting. Overall, Costner and the company are very good especially the woman playing Abby, Olivia Williams. It’s the overall cheesiness and the length that ultimately brings the movie down from its epic aspiration. At 180 minutes, the movie is about 30 minutes too long and full of cheesy lines and plot devices. The plot is interesting enough but execution falls short for a film that had a great potential.

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Braveheart Blu Ray

Braveheart Blu Ray Review

Braveheart is Mel Gibson’s best movie, as director or as an actor. Mel Gibson’s first directorial effort, The Man Without a Face, was decent movie but nothing compared to Braveheart. Braveheart was an unexpected surprise in 1995. Mel Gibson was not an established director. Instead, he was very popular Hollywood actor who enjoyed a big popularity due to Lethal Weapon franchise. As far as my all time favorites go, this movie is definitely in the top 10. It’s a kind of movie you can watch from time to time and not get bored at any point in the movie.

The overall story is based on William Wallace’s fight against the English to free Scots in the 13th century. While not historically accurate, it does accurately represent overall story from the period. Mel Gibson plays William Wallace who is well educated Scottish peasant who witnessed the brutality of English rule in early age. He experiences the brutality once again as an adult when his secret wife is executed because Wallace did not want to share his wife with English nobleman. This sets off his thirst for revenge. He gathers a force and eventually kills the English lord. However, this is seen as a great freedom movement by his fellow Scots. Wallace reluctantly leads the army against the English rule.

What really stand out in the Braveheart are the battle scenes. Only Saving Private Ryan can compare to the brutal portrayal of the fight scenes. Sometimes it’s brutal and sometimes it’s downright horrific. Instead of gun fight in Saving Private Ryan, Braveheart seems more brutal because of the primitive weapons used during the fight. If the movie was all about fighting, it would not have been as good. Instead, the movie infuses a great story line of a single man who loses his wife. This movie should have been part of the early Blu-ray release. It is long overdue for a picture and sound upgrade.

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Gladiator Blu Ray

Gladiator Blu Ray Review

Gladiators, directed by Ridley Scott, is one of those movies you should not miss before you die. Unlike a lot of the movies based on Roman Empire, the Gladiator is not based on any true event or accurately portrayed historical figures. Instead, movie is loosely based on some historical figures and events and interwoven with fictional settings and characters. Nevertheless, the movie is very entertaining and epic in every way. We’ve come to expect nothing less from Ridley Scott.

The story is not over complicated or convoluted. It’s simple tale of revenge. Maximus, played by Russell Crowe, is a great general of the Roman army who leads them to victory over Germania. Commodus, the son of the emperor Marcus Aurelius, arrives after the battle is over. Maximus is greatly favored by the dying emperor of Rome to succeed him and return the Rome in the hand of republic. This does not sit well with Commodus. He murders his father and plans to murder Maximus. But Maximus escapes and return to his home. Upon arriving at home, he finds his wife and son murdered by Commodus. This sets off Maximus on a mission of revenge.

Russell Crowe, Djimon Housou, and Joaquin Phoenix make a great trio in the movie. They are all great in their role. Especially Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix. Phoenix was simply amazing as the villain Commodus. He made a great foil to Maximus. The script, directing, and cinematography were also top notch. The overall setting and shots were simply amazing. This is one of the few movies you might want to upgrade from a DVD as I have. The better picture and sound quality is well worth the investment.

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Adventureland Blu Ray Review

Adventureland is Greg Mottola’s follow up to successful Superbad. The trailer and small previews all point out that fact very proudly. The marketers also touted it as similar movie. That would have been except Adventureland is a very different movie. It is not a teenage sex adventure film like Superbad. Instead, Adventureland is a coming of age romance film that is vastly different from Superbad. The movie does have some funny scenes and moments. However, it is more drama than comedy.

The movie is about a recent college graduate who has to move back home to earn some money before heading to New York to attend graduate school. He initially planned to travel the Europe after the graduation. However, his parents encounter financial difficulty when his father is demoted. Forced earn his own money, he moves back home and takes job at local amusement park called Adventureland. The job is terrible and funny at same time. We meet various funny characters. But, he falls hard for an employee named Em. She is a college student who is taking a break and working at the amusement park. The overall story revolves around this couple.

The story is a fairly entertaining. The setting of 1980s is clearly aimed at the older generation who might feel nostalgic about their time in the 80s. However, it’s a film a Superbad fan will also be able to appreciate. The movie has right balance of drama mixed in with some comedic moments. Overall, it is a very enjoyable film with broad appeals.

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Pride and Glory Blu Ray

Pride and Glory Blu Ray Review

Any fan of cop drama or gangster film will immediately recognize the overall plot and tone of Pride and Glory. Regardless, Pride and Glory is well acted urban police drama with very good moral dilemma. Like any good movie, Pride and Glory does not define good and evil in simple terms. There is vast gray area where the main characters inhibit. If nothing else, the acting of Edward Norton and Colin Farrell makes the movie a very enjoyable affair.

The plot is fairly straight forward. It’s the tried and true formula of corrupt cop vs. good cop. Except, the corrupt cop and the good cop are from same family. Jimmy, played by Colin Farrell, is tough cop who works murder, drugs, and prostitution. He works the most dirty and hard cases. Ray, played by Edward Norton, is the brother in law who comes from a family with a big tradition of serving in the police department. One day, four cops die in a shootout at drug dealer’s apartment. Ray digs deep and starts to find out about the truth behind the shooting and Jimmy’s involvement.

The movie works because of the cast and the fine acting job. Colin Farrell, Edward Norton, and Jon Voight form the core of the excellent cast. Edward Norton and Colin Farrell are nothing short of amazing. They are two of the best actors Hollywood has to offer. The extended cast are also very good. Everyone from family to the police department are excellent. While the story is not something that will leave you guessing, the overall movie will leave you satisfied.

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Lord of War Blu Ray Review

Lord of War is your typical thriller movie. At the end of the movie, you might not feel like you’ve been entertained like a typical summer blockbuster. This is no James Bond or Mission Impossible flick. Instead, it delves into the business and politics behind war and who it benefits. While we have all seen the caricature of “gun runners” in prime time television or one of many action/thriller films, this movie accurately portrays the gun running business. According to director, the events in the movie are actually based on real events. This makes it even more eye opening and disturbing at the same time.

The movie is about a man named Yuri who rises from nobody to become one of the biggest arms dealer in the world. In pursuit of more and more money, he gets knee deep in the arms dealing business. He does not see himself as evil or good. Instead, he simply views himself as businessman. One day, Interpol agent gets information on Yuri. This leads to cat and mouse chase. Over the course of the movie, we see Yuri question himself on the morality of arms dealing. It isn’t some revelation or midlife crisis. Instead, we see realistic struggle of Yuri. When all is said and done, the perfect ending makes a powerful statement.

Nicholas Cage is always masterful in any role he plays even in bad movies. The portrayal of Yuri is downright perfect. He does perfect job conveying multiple side of Yuri. Bridget Moynahan was as good as Cage as Ava as loving but someone who chooses to avoid the reality of Yuri’s real job. And, Ethan Hawke as the righteous Interpol agent adds perfect foil to Nicholas Cage’s gray character. This is one of the best film of 2005 and nobody should miss it.

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Kingdom of Heaven Blu Ray Review

With Kingdom of Heaven, Ridley Scott dives into the Crusade era warfare. Scott has directed great war/action movies in the past. Scott explored Roman Empire in Gladiator. He returned to modern day warfare with Black Hawk Down. While Gladiator and Black Hawk Down emphasized more on action, the Kingdom of Heaven takes different approach. While set in middle age, the movie seems to be relevant in today’s Middle East conflict.

Orlando Bloom plays Balian, a secret son of noble heritage that used to be a blacksmith but now fight in service of Jerusalem. As the movie opens, Balian works as blacksmith but is quickly involved in some trouble. He takes a horse a follows a noble who is headed to Jerusalem for the latest Crusade effort. The noble, Godfrey of Ibelin, turns out to be his father. Through various heroics, he takes command of Jerusalem.

The movie is based on historical events. While there was some great dramatic licensing from Scott, the movie stays faithful to the overall event taken place in the movie. As with other Scott movies, the Kingdom of Heaven has great cinematography and costumes. The movie looks authentic. Orlando Bloom does great job as the main lead and answers the critic on whether he can carry a movie as the lead. The strongest point of the movie was the fair treatment of Middle East conflict and its origins. Scott does not vilify the Christians or Muslims. While there are villains in the movie, it is not the main characters that strive to end the conflict. Toward the end of the movie, Scott captures the Middle East conflict when Balian asks Saladin what Jerusalem is worth. Saladin answers “Nothing, Everything.”

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