Zero Dark Thirty

Jessica Chastain

“He only profits from praise who values criticism.”~ Heinrich Heine

If you personally have any vested interest in this film, then you probably will want to skip this blog post.

I saw this movie on Sunday, the same day as the Super Bowl.

Yes, I knew that the “big  game” was on but I just didn’t have any interest in it whatsoever.

I had been wanting to see this film ever since I knew about it, and I had planned on seeing it earlier but time constraints held me back. But last Sunday I just up and left and went to see it.

I don’t normally watch films at the theater anymore and I was absolutely and quickly reminded as to why that is the case.

After spending nearly $30 for concession food and to get into the theater, and over 150 minutes of watching this film, my money could have been put to better use.

I had allowed myself to become a bit nervous based on a conversation I had about the film’s scenes of torture. And as I sat there in the dark (with only two others in the entire room) I realized that these torture scenes were rather quick and to the point of the film.

But I was unphased. The torture scenes were similar to the scenes in the film, “Safe House” starring Denzel Washington. THOSE scenes were a little more intense.

The film progressed in the longest fashion that I had ever known. I realize that there was a full story to tell since the film started out with a few bits and pieces of the attacks that happened on the 11th of September. So there was over a decade to cover before the film got to the point of the plot: Find Bin Laden.

This could be classified as a thriller. It could also be called a drama. But the whole “based on true events” tag line (if it ever used it) was questionable. I hate it when Hollywood uses that to promote a film that has a story and a plot that supposedly had happened in real life. As it was said to me earlier, watching films in the theater is supposed to be an escape mechanism.

Quite honestly, I figured that this film was going to focus more upon that. But it stretched out in long scenes that dragged and dragged and dragged.

Covering over a decade of a timeline shouldn’t have to be that difficult. I’ve seen films that were done many decades ago that covered over several centuries in a timeline of a plot that took LESS time than Zero Dark Thirty.

It also could be that I had higher expectations of the film. And it didn’t deliver what I had expected. Although it was very amusing to see James Gandolfini as Director of the C.I.A. that was rather close to the President of the United States. Or was it amusing that he had more hair on his head than he did when he starred in The Sopranos?

Two-thirds of the film was to cover seven years in the hunt for Bin Laden. The rest of it actually was the siege on the compound in Afghanistan…. a story that we ALL know by now.  

It was quite lengthy in duration as the ending of the film. And I began to wonder how accurate it was to what happened in reality.

It was very interesting to me that they would put on film a quick view of Bin Laden after he had been eliminated…. laying there bloodied and dead as they continued to put bullets in him to make sure. But they never clearly showed his face during any time of the film. The actor who played Bin Laden is Ricky Sekhon.

Then at the end, I just rolled my eyes as the camera came in close to the main character Maya, as played by Jessica Chastain. And that was that.

I realized also other reasons why I do not go to the theater to watch these films.

Not only are concessions stands the Devil ($18.50 spent: which is my own fault), but the volume in theaters is insanely loud. No matter if they have to be loud enough for a crowded theater, its still too much.

As a child, I always had issues with extremely loud noises. I think that during Zero Dark Thirty, I jumped a half a dozen times because either gunfire or an explosion was so frickin’ loud. And then I remembered that I had this same issue watching “Savages” in the theater. The last movie that I had seen in the theater.

I am sure that the  couple who sat about ten to twelve rows back behind me had fun watching me bounce up and down in my wheelchair like a Jack-In-The-Box every time something went KA-BOOM!!

I didn’t even bother to stick around for the final seconds of the credits just to see if something was added. Something that many people miss, but doesn’t happen 100% of the time.

As I left the theater and walked through the front door, I turned on the television and found that the Super Bowl was at halftime and Beyonce was on stage doing her thang. I was so exhausted from the disappointment of it all that I had no interest in watching the second half. Although I do know that there was a power outage in the third quarter and there’s been some really hilarious jokes floating around on the Internet about it. And I do know who would end up winning. Isn’t that the important part anyway??

I think however that my expectations were far too high for this film. The excitement build up that I had when I found that they were making a movie about the hunt for Bin Laden had soared to a level of high that never should have been reached.

Then again, perhaps this film was made in too much haste.  At least for a Hollywood production. I figured documentaries and special programs would come, and they did. But a Hollywood produced film, I never really thought would come so soon.

The only example I have is the film “Selena” starring Jennifer Lopez. That film came out within just a few years of Selena’s death. And now when I watch it, I just wonder what Hollywood was thinking making a film so soon. But without this film, Lopez wouldn’t reach the status and level of fame that she has today.

So who knows? Maybe this film will catapult Jessica Chastain’s career?? I for certain had never heard of her until this.

All I know is that in my opinion, I should have waited for the DVD release. And as much as I was disappointed with it as a whole, I know that when that DVD release comes that the darn thing will end up in my collection.

I was asked later in the evening which movie I went to see.

I’ve been referring to it as “Zero Dork Thirty” ever since.

 

 

 

Venimus, Vidimus, Vicimus

No matter how long it takes, we will find you!

The military of the United States of America has done their job.

 

Now that we’ve been hearing that Bin Laden is dead, Americans have been more or less celebrating.

 

Many are rejoicing. A lot of them, so overwhelmed with excitement that they are unable to restrain themselves from their inner jubilation.

 

And yet, not even a full twelve hours after President Obama spoke to the nation, and to the world and confirmed the news, I have heard some people talking about how we shouldn’t “glorify death”.

 

Umm… what?!?

 

People- Americans are NOT glorifying the death of Bin Laden. But rather we are rejoicing in the comforting notion and thought that he is no longer able to cause bloodshed and destruction. He can no longer destroy what freedoms and peace we have in this nation. This is by far, is not a glorification of death!!

 

Bin Laden was an enemy of the nation. He was an enemy to the world. Including those whom he wished to have died because of his radical thoughts of interrupting peace.

 

The United States military did what they had to do: Their job. And that means to defend and protect our country. Even if it means war.

 

The United States of America now has their justice for the horrible attacks that took place on 9/11 because of Bin Laden. Those whom we loved and lost, the innocence gone. We did not attack him. He attacked US! Why? Because he threw a temper tantrum because the leaders of Saudi Arabia chose to allow the United States to help with the liberation of Kuwait. Bin Laden wanted his group of people to get rid of Hussein’s troops out of Kuwait. But he did not get what he wanted. So he decided that he would attack the United States of America.

 

And now look at him today. He started a fight, and he lost. Paying the ultimate price for it.

 

It definitely isn’t over, now that he is dead. I really don’t believe that it is. For sure there will be some group of people who will want their retaliation. And they will try! But our military is strong. We have held our resolve and position since this started and we have not backed down.

 

“Frothtonomy” has it right today. In his blog entry, he mentioned that the United States of America didn’t ask for this. The same as we did not ask the Japanese to attack Pearl Harbor which led us into World War II.

 

http://millsap.wordpress.com/2011/05/02/ding-dong-the-bitch-is-dead/

 

If history teaches us anything, its that if you mess with us… you’re gonna get it!! We are going to MESS YOU UP when we get to you!!!

 

No matter how long it takes we will find you. And we will have our justice. Freedom isn’t free. But we as a nation, will do whatever it takes to make sure that we have our freedom.

 

With the fact of people so excited and happy about the news about the death of Bin Laden, there’s been a lot of them who just haven’t had a lot of self control. But you know what? That’s just how emotion works. I may not agree with what they have to say, you may not agree either. But to actually tell them that they are wrong or ask them, “How could you?” isn’t the right response just because you disagree.

 

After a while, the over the top reactions will cease. But the opinion of the country and of the world will remain the same. We rejoice that this evil man can no longer hurt anyone.

 

So allow people their emotions. Allow people there opinions. If you are someone who disagrees, fine then. Just because a few MILLION people are excited that we as a nation finally got what we have been wanting for almost ten years, doesn’t make us bad people. And it should not annoy you as much as it does.

 

 

 

 

 

Buh-Bye Bin Laden!

The media has gone into a frenzy. The world is in absolute celebration mode. Americans tonight, are rejoicing and some are in tears. But tonight- will be one more night in our nation’s history that will forever be on the minds of those who lived it.

This day has been coming: 9 years, 7 months, and 20 days. It most certainly has been a day that many Americans have been dreaming of. Praying for, and hoping without end.

The mastermind behind the attacks of 9/11, is dead.

At 9:52 PM CDT, I received a telephone call from a neighbor. She told me that Bin Laden was dead. I was thrown back in my wheelchair… stunned and filled with overwhelming excitement.

I turned on the television, knowing that it did not matter what channel or network I wanted, if this was really happening, then it would be on everything!!

I was right. Everything was interrupted to share through the media that this had happened. Naturally, like millions or perhaps billions across the world, were waiting for this to be confirmed.

At approximately 10:35 PM CDT, President Obama spoke to the nation, telling us that Bin Laden had been killed by United States military forces. I am sure for countless others just like myself, it was all I needed.

I am sure that blogs are on fire about this topic, and will be for many days to come. I am just one of the many who decided to write about it. Television and radio, the Internet and so many other websites will be flooded with these messages from many American citizens of their unrestrained jubilation over this event.

For many Americans, especially those of us who lived through 9/11, the population had added the question of, “Where were you on September 11th?”. Now, there is a new question. “Where were you on the first of May when it was announced that Bin Laden had been killed?”. Most certainly it will be a question that will be of better cheer than the previous.

It does not matter what side of the American political spectrum you base your beliefs upon. What matters now is that all Americans are united once more in gratitude that the evil man who slaughtered thousands of innocent men, women, and children can personally do the world no more harm.

I will always remember those who suffered on 9/11. And I will always remember this day. A date that be looked upon as a great and glorious victory for our men and women who are serving in our military and who have served since that time in September of 2001. (Which includes my very own younger brother. I love you bro, thanks for everything you’ve done!)

I will always give thanks for those who sacrificed their own lives, so that the rest of the nation, the rest of the world, can be able to witness the downfall of an evil lunatic with nothing but blood on his hands and murder in mind.

LET FREEDOM RING!!

God bless this world, and GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!