Q: As we progress though the film, "The Hurt Locker," how is the idea of realism being used for this movie? What kind of effects do you think this has on viewers?
A: I think realism is used quite a lot though out this film. Of course I have never been in any of the situations that real soldiers have been in, so I could not say that out of experience. But, from what I have herd and read about the movie; it is said that it portrays an overwhelming sense of realism. It shows this in the high tension situations the actors are put into. When being a part of a bomb squad you never really know how your day will go. Any moment should be their last, and I think the actors bring this to the screen in a way that is completely believable. Another is the emotional trauma that a person can sustain for being forced into high rise situations. Like when the soldiers are ambushed in the desert, or when their comrade steps on a bomb and is there one second and gone the next. See that type of thing has to do a number on someone, and in this film they show glimpses of the turmoil people face.
I think this film, for me always, is made to make the viewer uncomfortable. It's a good movie don't get me wrong, but watching the events it shows is not an enjoyable thing. When you think about it in terms of this really happening to someone, it makes me feel horrible. I don't know how people go through things like that and come home to a "normal" life. I truly think the men and women who serve this country are amazing and deserve to be recognized.
Q: What do you think your biggest take away is from this class? What would be a suggestion to make the class better for next year?
A: I think my biggest take away from this class is that i have learned to look at movies a different way. To think about how accurate something is, and how and why it was made the way it was. I learned to look at movies with a different take. Not just the entertainment part, but also the meanings that are behind the words and actions. I understand how much work goes into creating a movie no just from the director, but also from the production stand point. I can see what makes some movies different from others in the was that they are assembled and produced. My suggestion to you is that maybe have a broader diversity of movies to analyze. Old classics, independent, foreign, blockbuster, and ect. could bring a broader understanding of how movies developed over time and what makes a great movie.
