Green Zone: A Humble Movie Review

Green Zone is one of those movies where a majority of casual movie goers will enjoy but heavily scrutinize by critics and people who are obsessed of conducting anti-war demonstrations. Again, like always, I am a sucker with action movies and I love this movie.

Green Zone is the story of a group of soldiers led by Matt Damon as Miller, conducting raids to the supposed locations of WMD or Weapons of Mass Destruction, which is the basis of why US and its allies invade Iraq in the first place. Upon discovery of finding nothing on this locations provided by their intelligence he began questioning the credibility of the source, which leads him to his own personal investigations finding the terrible truth of the invasion. The action sequences on were top notched and you will probably think Damon is portraying a younger version of Jason Bourne of the Bourne Trilogy, which he also played. Many online movie goers refer Green Zone as Bourne 4, a prequel of some sort. The only difference between Bourne and Miller’s character is that one is a special operations guy and the other guy is the charismatic chief warrant officer.

The shootout sequence greatly reminds me of Black Hawk Down, complemented with the expected shaky cam. Paul Greengrass, the director should lessen the shaky cam shots because they were excessive. Shaky cams were heavily used during the first quarter and the last part of the movie Thank god they lessen those shots on the majority of the film.

I praised the performance of Khalid Abdalla (Freddy, Miller’s translator)  and Yigal Naor (General Al Rawi, one of the antagonists). Even though they are not Iraqi nationals, I think they were both from Israel, but they pulled off a very convincing Iraqis and you can see in their mindset that they want the Americans give them their most sought complete freedom of their country.

The film highlights all the internal blunders of the government that leads them to an unnecessary invasion and potential civil war. For the past three movies that I watched (Edge of Darkness, From Paris with Love, and now with Green Zone) there is always one bad ass CIA guy and this time he was portrayed by Brendan Gleeson. He is like one of the last guys trusted by Miller and one of the potential instruments of declaring the whole truth of the invasion to the world. Gleeson’s character clashes with the Pentagon asshole named Poundstone, portrayed by Greg Kinnear throughout the movie. As the CIA wants to uncover the truth through the assistance of Miller, Poundstone intervenes and tries to convince the world that the US occupation of Iraq is necessary.

Of course, this leads everybody chasing everyone else, and I love how the main climax ended and how we treated with the epilogue. The movie is good in delivering the conflicts of political bullshit of the war, but don’t expect it as a full on war movie like the Black Hawk Down. Expect very aggressive but few shaky cams and cover your ears due to amount of really loud gun battles.

I highly recommend this movie, have it in your DVD collection later, either pirated or the real original version. I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars of awesomeness.

Movie Theater A-Holes

I still watch movies in theaters even if there is a DVD quality pirated version of the same movie being sold nearby. There is a different feeling if you watch the movie in the theater itself, complete with greasy and heart attacking foods and seating in a comfortable chair.

Being surrounded with complete strangers in a theater has its drawbacks, since there are at least 1 person or a group of wackos and dicks among them that will ruin your movie experience for you. This is the list of Movie Theater A-Holes, and sadly, there are mostly done by “cool” teenagers who should frolic somewhere where they can be run over by a bunch of 10 wheeler trucks.

Loudmouths
They are the ones constantly chatting with their companions in a loud and annoying manner. They talk indiscriminately and nonstop especially during the good parts. It’s okay to talk but more discreet and not too freaking loud you megaphone sucker.

Seat kickers
They place their feet on the back of the chair in front of them as if they are lying in their bed at home, sometimes with a little force that you can feel. Fortunately, I encountered such people in a diplomatic manner and I managed to convince them to place their feet in the floor, because that is where are they suppose to be in the first place.

Cellphones… so bright…
Answering and texting through their cellphones can really be distracting especially if the backlight of their unit can lit an electric less country. Use your darn hands to cover the cellphone and be courteous with your fellow movie watcher and go outside and answer your phone.

Status Addicts
Same as above, instead of answering or sending SMS over the air, they will just post their current status on Facebook and tweets on, of course, Tweeter, via their phones. Who the freaking cares if your status, sugar-coated with cheesiness left and right, that you are watching the movie? it is only beneficial for your personal stalkers who deeds whenever you post a status on your page. All your constant pressing of buttons and the bright light of your cellphone kills the experience.

Baby seating in theaters
I like kids, I like babies, they are the greatest things in the world, even they are sometimes obnoxious. But please, do not bring them in theaters, especially in inappropriate movies. Most of the time they will not be quiet and cry throughout the movie. Try to find a guardian or baby sitter for your kids or if you really want to watch the movie but there is no one to take care of your kid, just go buy a pirated version of same movie and watch it at home, with your other hand caressing your little you. Piracy can be the solution of your quality time with your offspring.

Crunchy Munchy
Just like the obnoxious munchers in public vehicles, they are not speaking much but every excruciating and disgusting sound of their food munching is already annoying. Can they have it in moderation and not shove their face in their popcorn bowl like there are running out of food.

Popcorn Throwers
Oh man,  this pricks should shove their popcorn bowls up their oversexed behinds. They think it is funny to throw popcorn pieces to random strangers. They think they have conquered the world by throwing food items and giggling like an innocent schoolgirl who just saw her first porno.I would pay to watch a big, scary, Batista like guy, who just got hit by a random popcorn and immediately pinpointed the culprit and beat them senseless, that would be entertaining to watch than the actual film.

“Cool” kids that would say a random loud comment as if they are the best thing
ever.
They will ruin the movie experience when they say random loud comments that can be heard all the way outside of the auditorium, followed up by forced laughter among their friends with matching high-fives on the side. These misguided and probably got dropped when their babies think they are witty, funny and overall cool. But most of the movie patrons who wants peace and order may go medieval on these sorry souls.

Movie watching in a theater, even if it is already run down or with an elegant and expensive interior design, should be enjoyable at the same time, be courteous with other movie patrons. Just like that singing Frog from that Meet The Robinsons commercial usually shown in Ayala Cinemas, it is not your living room. So next time you watch a movie, think about that singing Frog then behave, be civil and enjoy the show.