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 Green Zone 

What grade would you give this film?
A 38%  38%  [ 3 ]
B 50%  50%  [ 4 ]
C 0%  0%  [ 0 ]
D 13%  13%  [ 1 ]
F 0%  0%  [ 0 ]
Total votes : 8

 Green Zone 
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loyalfromlondon
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Post Green Zone
Green Zone

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Green Zone is a 2010 American war thriller film written by Brian Helgeland and directed by Paul Greengrass. The film was inspired by the non-fiction 2006 book Imperial Life in the Emerald City by journalist Rajiv Chandrasekaran, which documented life in the Green Zone, Baghdad. The film stars Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear, Brendan Gleeson, Amy Ryan, Khalid Abdalla and Jason Isaacs.

Production began in January 2008 in Spain and moved on to Morocco. The film was released in Australia and Russia on March 11, 2010, and in the US and some other countries on March 12, 2010. The film was released on DVD and Blu-Ray on June 22, 2010.

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Fri Mar 12, 2010 3:20 am
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Post Re: Green Zone
A-

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Last edited by David on Thu Jul 22, 2010 9:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.



Fri Mar 12, 2010 8:51 pm
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loyalfromlondon
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Post Re: Green Zone
Gunslinger wrote:
Superb! Paul Greengrass, one of the best living directors, has crafted the finest Iraq War film to date.

Except for, y'know, that one last year. You know, that one that just won Best Picture a few days ago?

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Magic Mike wrote:
zwackerm wrote:
If John Wick 2 even makes 30 million I will eat 1,000 shoes.


Same.


Algren wrote:
I don't think. I predict. ;)


Fri Mar 12, 2010 9:04 pm
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Post Re: Green Zone
I honestly thought this was more interesting and engaging than The Hurt Locker. I enjoyed how Green Zone touched on the controversial, foolish decision to disband Iraq's military, for example. Or the way Greengrass cuts between the disorienting, fast, violent action on the streets of Baghdad and the green zone poolside bureaucracy (which is the strongest thematic connection between this film and its spiritual source, Rajiv Chandrasekaran's Imperial Life in the Emerald City).

Bigelow gets the spoils, which is fine. She made a great "red-wire-blue-wire?" style suspense film. In my opinion, though, Green Zone is the richer cinematic experience.

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Fri Mar 12, 2010 9:16 pm
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Post Re: Green Zone
trixster wrote:
Gunslinger wrote:
Superb! Paul Greengrass, one of the best living directors, has crafted the finest Iraq War film to date.

Except for, y'know, that one last year. You know, that one that just won Best Picture a few days ago?

Don't forget Taking Chance.


Sat Mar 13, 2010 3:21 am
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The Lubitsch Touch
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Post Re: Green Zone
I dunno you guys I was talking to some hipster auteurists and they assured me it was Redacted, so, yeah

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Sat Mar 13, 2010 12:48 pm
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Post Re: Green Zone
The hipster auteurists should see Battle for Haditha. It's far better than Redacted. :P

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Sat Mar 13, 2010 3:08 pm
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Post Re: Green Zone
Fast-paced and intelligent. Although the film loses a bit of luster by dividing itself between "macho action movie" and "conspiracy thriller" (it would've been more effective overall with a more narrow focus), director Paul Greengrass brings his trademark intensity and frantic camerawork to this film. We learn almost nothing about Matt Damon's character but that doesn't really matter: he's in Jason Bourne mode here. Greg Kinnear is appropriately slimy, while Amy Ryan and Brendan Gleeson are also effective. Green Zone is not one of the greats of either genre it works as but it is still, on the whole, an engaging thrill ride with smarts. B


Sat Mar 13, 2010 8:42 pm
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Post Re: Green Zone
It serves its purpose by kicking ass.

The shaky camerawork wasn't noticeable to me at all, btw.


Sun Mar 14, 2010 2:01 am
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Post Re: Green Zone
It's no Hurt Locker...

...but it is really good. Greengrass' frenetic and exciting Bourne style seem perfectly suited to a war film, and there's just enough politics to balance out the action. I had issues with the climax, but that's a small complaint.

But what the hell was Jason Isaacs doing slumming it as a (basically nameless) soldier? He did a terrific Yank accent, but was mostly wasted here.

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Magic Mike wrote:
zwackerm wrote:
If John Wick 2 even makes 30 million I will eat 1,000 shoes.


Same.


Algren wrote:
I don't think. I predict. ;)


Sun Mar 14, 2010 3:56 am
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Post Re: Green Zone
trixster wrote:
I had issues with the climax, but that's a small complaint.




One of those should be: How the hell did Freddy (the translator) just happened to arrive at the very same spot as Miller/Al Rawi at that very moment? I mean you have to keep in mind that they were chasing around those streets in the dark and he had no support from the helicopter and wasn't just behind any of those following Al Rawi. Yet he just appeared out of a corner to do what he did. That bothered me a bit.

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Thu Mar 18, 2010 9:52 am
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loyalfromlondon
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Post Re: Green Zone
Yeah, that was basically it. Considering Freddy was a cripple, there was no way he could've kept up with Miller the way he was running.

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Magic Mike wrote:
zwackerm wrote:
If John Wick 2 even makes 30 million I will eat 1,000 shoes.


Same.


Algren wrote:
I don't think. I predict. ;)


Thu Mar 18, 2010 10:58 am
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Post Re: Green Zone
He also came from a different direction, just appearing randomly to shoot the living proof of a fraud and make sure history isn't rewritten in a film.

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Thu Mar 18, 2010 11:23 am
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Post Re: Green Zone
The mechanics of the moment slightly stretch credulity, but it's such a powerful scene, so who cares? :P

Not only does it resolve the central mystery in a moving, surprising way, but it speaks to the Shi'a–Sunni conflict and anti-Baathist sentiment.

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Thu Mar 18, 2010 3:46 pm
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Post Re: Green Zone
While I did like a lot of things about the movie I did not think it was in a moving and powerful way, but rather in a deus-ex-machina way.

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Thu Mar 18, 2010 4:04 pm
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Post Re: Green Zone
Eh, I enjoyed how it "came together" in the end and how the Freddy character became integral to the plot. Even if it was a deus ex machina. :P

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Thu Mar 18, 2010 4:17 pm
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Post Re: Green Zone
Its the movie shot in "Vomiting Greengrass Vision"?
or as also called
"Real 3D is see no shit Vision"?

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Fri Mar 19, 2010 1:23 am
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Post Re: Green Zone
Green Zone gets itself a bit above the typical war movie thanks to a strong performance by Matt Damon and a good screenplay that doesn't overrun with cliches. Though it starts off a bit slow, once Freddie (Khalid Abdalla) comes into play the film keeps it stamina for a great portion of the film. The film's action scenes are strong but don't overtake the storyline, a problem action films are experiencing today. Damon shows that no matter what role he is in, he can give at least a good performance in it and he exemplifies another solid one here. The introduction of Lawrie Dayne (Amy Ryan) is a bit downgrading to the film and could of work solidly without her character involved. As such, the ending seems a bit too hopeful and takes away from the feel that was produced as the film was nearing its end. The final chase sequence is also too long and ends up being kind of useless as the film wraps up. Outside of those downfalls and with director Paul Greengrass' strong direction the film is a positive. **1/2


Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:48 pm
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Post Re: Green Zone
trixster wrote:
It's no Hurt Locker...

...but it is really good BETTER. Greengrass' frenetic and exciting Bourne style seem perfectly suited to a war film, and there's just enough politics to balance out the action. I had issues with the climax, but that's a small complaint.

But what the hell was Jason Isaacs doing slumming it as a (basically nameless) soldier? He did a terrific Yank accent, but was mostly wasted here.

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Sat Jul 24, 2010 8:45 pm
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Post Re: Green Zone
B


Green Zone falls into the category of falsely marketed movies. I am not surprised that some went into this film expecting some sort of a Jason Bourne in Iraq. Anyone with such expectations will be sorely disappointed. Not only does the film not contain nearly as many action scenes as the Bourne flicks, Damon's character is also quite a different one.

It's not a bad film by any means, but having been spoiled by The Hurt Locker in the preceding year this just pales by comparison. Of course the story tackled here has a bigger scope to it, but it never strikes any emotional cord. Damon's performance is solid, but he is not given very much to work with. Amy Ryan is unfortunately wasted. The plot is your predictable "corrupt government covers up things" and considering we've got Greengrass at the helm the movie is surprisingly mundane. Only rarely does his style shine through. Don't get me wrong, it is competently directed...but not more either.

I liked the ending and how Freddy ended up actually "finishing" the whole tuing. One of the few truly surprising moments in the film (though based a lot on coincidence too). It is a servicable film, but it doesn't distinguish itself much from the likes of The Kingdom and such. It is intelligent, mildly entertaining, but at no point does it leave a very lasting impression. I expected more of Greengrass and Damon.

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