At the Movies with Fatwayne

Talk about a heart wrenching, gut busting, suspenseful movie! This one is all that and more. I have to tell you that I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and wished that I had a pill for my queasy stomach. I don’t recall a more tense film for the viewer to sit through than this one.

The up close camera work combined with the realistic setting does the trick. This combined with the “anything can happen” script gives you a most intense war drama.

The story centers around a Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit during the Iraq war in 2004. Our men are working in Baghdad and there is danger all around them. It is amazing that anyone could remain sane in the environment depicted in this movie. The unit’s job is to disarm IEDs (improvised explosive devices) also commonly known as roadside bombs. These hellish devices can be detonated by cellular phones or trip wires, etc. Our soldiers have a mind blowing job that can’t help but get to them psychologically. That is unless you are SFC William James! James is a man who thrives on the excitement and adrenalin rush of confronting death and winning. This puts him at odds with his team mates who are trained to do their duty by the book.

The film was shot in Jordan and the deserted and litter strewn streets add to the suspense of the story since any pile of trash could be the hiding place for an IED. The friction between the team members and their loyalty toward each other makes for a riveting tale of tension and camaraderie.

Sgt James is truly an adrenalin junkie and even if he survives his tour of duty it is doutful that he would be able to adjust to civilian life. And so we follow him and his team in their day to day activities that make you wonder where men like these come from!

If nothing else, this film should make us grateful for our men and women who serve in our military and ultimately protect our country from terrorist and sick minded individuals that mean us harm.

Rated – R -

Fatwayne’s Rating –  -