Do you ever get offended by people when they talk about a topic that you know they know nothing about? Well, many soldiers and veterans of war have that same feeling about some war films. The movie "The Hurt Locker" is an example of a war film that many veterans have strong opinions on.The Hurt Locker is an American war film about a three-man Explosive Ordinance Disposal team during the war of Iraq. It is an intense portrayal of soldiers that have to disarm bombs in the heat of combat. The movie is a fictional drama based on true events.
Overall, the movie had high ratings and had good reviews. It won six out of the nine Oscars it was nominated for. A movie review in the New York Times claims that the movie "is the best nondocumentary American feature made yet about the war in Iraq."
Although it was praised by many people, the movie did not please many veterans of the war. Some say that the movie does not accurately depict what truly happens in war. Some even consider the movie to be disrespectful. In an article in Newsweek, a veteran talks about how the military takes great pride in their training and their mission. He believes that a movie like this that is not completely accurate is offensive. He goes on to talk about how Americans think they might know the truth about the war experience, but they will not know until Hollywood better portrays war.
In an article in the Los Angeles Times, many veterans and soldiers talk about the parts of the movie that are inaccurate. Sergeant Eric Gordon, an Air Force EOD technician said he laughed at the scene in the movie where a bomb was defused by wire cutters. He said, "It's similar to having a firefighter go into a building with a squirt bottle." Paul Rieckhoff, the executive director and founder of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, says that the movie portrays soldiers as being reckless. He says that soldiers are professionals, and at times, the movie makes you think the opposite.
I can see where war movies such as "The Hurt Locker" can be seen as offensive. Movies such as these are all dramatized to create an better storyline. Most of these movies are mainly fictional but they make you believe you know what really goes on during war. Should it be right that they find it disrespectful? After all, it is just a movie.
I think that veterans should feel somewhat disrespected but, also sit back and enjoy the movie. Although, disrespect is not Hollywood's intention, they do make drastic changes to war films and turn a soldiers dangerous experience into an action packed film. Many war films show what a soldier shouldn't do as opposed to what they should do. War films are made to entertain an audience and not to show what war is really like.
ReplyDeleteI feel as though the veterans have every right to take offense at war films, however it is my personal opinion that they need to realized that movies are fictional. They exaggerate the story to make a profit. It's not a documentary on the History channel--its a box office hit. I agree with Alex. No one wants to watch a bunch of soldiers follow all the rules. People crave action and adventure! Hollywood is giving it to them and doing a spectacular job.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with Ellie. The veterans were the ones who experienced war personally, so they are entitled to their opinion. In my opinion, I don't believe the war films portray soldiers negatively.If anything I've gained much more respect for soldiers thanks to the war movies we've been watching in class. Granted, it would be nice if movie producers would make their movies more accurate. But when it comes down to it, action, drama, and special effects draw a crowd, and a crowd equals money. So they're gonna do what they got to do to capture and audience's attention, even if that means not being accurate.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of you. I do not believe Hollywood is in any way trying to be disrespectful. I can see where veterans might find them offensive, but they are only fictional. Even though they are fictional, I don't believe they portray the soldiers negatively, like Victoria said.
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