Imperial Life in the Emerald City

I just saw this movie an hour ago and it had to have been one of the dumbest I've ever seen. I like military type movies and I'm a soldier but even i couldn't suspend disbelieve enough to even remotely like this or believe it was possible. My buddy and I joked after it was over that it was just like what we'd do on mission, driving around aimlessly looking for suspects, grabbing and shaking high ranking officials and not going to jail for it. Even my wife, who know's nothing about military matters was shaking her head saying, WTF, why would you do the things Matt Damon's character was doing in the movie. As for Matt, what a wonderfully wooden performance. Save your money.

Green Zone is billed as an action film that's really a paint by the numbers political thriller that isn't very, well ... thrilling. First off, the film had no exciting plot twists. The story is all plot sprinkled with zero character development topped with redundant layers of theme. The theme, that "evil government lies to the people, etc...", can be interesting but when it's so thickly thrust into a script with such shallow, one-dimensional characters I find it hard to swallow (and it's not like I don't believe the GOV doesn't lie to us either -by both reps and dems). Secondly, after Matt Damon's impressive performance in The Informant I was ready for another. Not this time. He plays Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller like a wet leaf, a John Wayne"esquire" type antihero who "plays by his own rules" which seems VASTLY out of place for a character in the U.S. Military. It was more like Damon was the throw-caution-to-the-wind spy, Jason Bourne, who had gone to Iraqi to find the missing WMD's than a realistic depiction of an Army soldier. Finally, the film contained only two intensive action sequences, neither which were very exciting. The overall cinematography was unimpressive, lacking and was wrought with an overuse of hand held camera work. I suppose since it's P. Greengrass I should expect it but come'on, can you give us a break once in a while from the shaky cam (I'm getting a headache)? If you want a tension filled, beautifully shot war film please see the Hurt Locker. Overall, this film deserves five stars or a weak 6, if you're feeling generous. Definitely a rental (enjoyed Body of Lies more). Oh, and if you're getting up on your high horse about how "anti-war this" or "anti-gov that" this film is then I think you missed the point. It's simple ENTERTAINMENT created to make MONEY. Sure, the film has a strong political theme but it's called "show BUSINESS" for a reason and it's not because it's called "show POLITICS" (like Fox News or Michael Moore).

I enjoy Matt Damon movies and lean towards action oriented movies so the pre-views had me going for this one. However this movie was a waste of time. Matt performs his role good but it feels like everything else is so scripted and out of play it doesn't make you 'feel' into the movies. Even Damon at times seems to not fit his lines at times. The action scenes were decent thats about the only pro of the movie. The plot seemed a bit trimmed and rushed too fast. The was really no back story on anyone it just felt like you were in a pinball machine while your the pinball! But most annoyingly it felt like propaganda, I could not enjoy it.

I do not like movies about the invasion of Iraq, and I have never understood how "The Hurt Locker" that was released straight-to-video in Brazil could win an Oscar. However, "Green Zone" blends truth with fiction about the inexistent weapons of massive destruction (WMD) that was the justification of the American government to invade that millenary country. The excellent Matt Damon is tailored for this type of action movie and performs the role of a captain of the American army pursuing the truth about the WMD in Iraq and finds a conspiracy with the involvement of a high level Pentagon representative. My vote is seven. Title (Brazil): "Zona Verde" ("Green Zone")

Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass re-team and they brought their shaky, hand-held camera with them. It's Jason Bourne in a non-Jason Bourne movie, but it stands right up there with those films. Based on Rajiv Chandrasekran's book, it takes place during the early days of the Iraq war. Damon is Army Chief Roy Miller, baffled by poor intelligence that has so far led to squat in the WMD department. He soon finds himself in the middle of two opposing agendas. Aided by CIA Chief to Baghdad Martin Brown (Brendan Gleeson) and hindered by Special Intelligence Coordinator, Clark Poundstone (Greg Kinnear), Miller soon must go off the grid in order to find "Magellan", an Iraqi official who may or may not be providing false intelligence. Amy Ryan also shows up as a journalist in Judith Miller clothing. Lensed by the always hyperactive Greengrasss, "Green Zone" is a raw and breathlessly plotted thriller that captures the chaos on the ground, the intensity of every mission, and the suspense waiting in every Baghdad back-alley, bunker, etc. The action is immensely entertaining, especially the final nail-biting fire-fight. Of course we know about the WMD's now but Brian Helgeland's screenplay is still loaded with intriguing Iraqi politics, and questions about responsible journalism and governmental deception that still resonate today. Matt Damon again proves himself a bourne action hero and he anchors the movie with a determined and intelligent performance. Kinnear, as the slick politician who won't let anything interfere with bringing change to Iraq, and Gleeson, as the gruff CIA chief who thinks this change stuff is a bunch of crap, are both terrific. Khallid Abdalla also turns in strong work as an Iraqi citizen eager to do what's right for his country. "Green Zone" is first a great action flick, but with a strong story to boot.

It was the time when the whole world wants to know whether Iraq has weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and then US Army gets pressured to find evidences in Baghdad and other suspected nuclear facilities. It has a clear and understandable story line and I find the cinematography, dialogue and action scenes great. Matt Damon acting was cool so those other actors (Iraqi counterparts).The message of the movie is political in nature and blends it fiction. It emphasizes the importance of having a "trusted source" and why it is hard to manufacture democracy in the face of deceit. I considered this as one of Greengrass great work and if you are type of movie goers who likes action-filled scenes, twists and Bourne-like fight scenes then this is a good movie to watch.

A tremendous Iraq thriller with a brave and contemporary storyline. It is a story, and not a history. Yet it does skilfully blend a number of important political and historical themes into a fiction. Director Paul Greengrass delivers the tale superbly, Matt Damon shines as the soldier who learns too much. Brendan "In Bruges" Gleeson is marvellous in a supporting role as a CIA officer. When Baghdad is "secured", the hunt for WMD's start, and as that search proves consistently fruitless, questions start to be asked, and it is Damon who is the literal and figurative means for asking them. The plot revels in upsetting conventional stereotypes. The Americans are the good guys AND the bad guys. The Iraqis are simply trying to survive. And the press are neither good nor bad, just innocent dupes. Baghdad is convincingly portrayed as an anarchic hell-hole, the soldiers as decent men simply trying to do the job. However the Politicians fare less well. It remains a mystery as to why America, a country which has been the economic and technological powerhouse of the world for a century, is so hopeless at Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs. The backdrop of an Administration which went to war with little appreciation of the country it was dealing with, and no appreciation of what to do once the war was over, is witheringly parodied . A puppet Iraqi leader who "less than ten Iraqis had ever heard of" is installed, and the American administrative presence is headed by a cynical functionary with no sympathy for the country at all "and a handful of Washington interns". The brutality of the American Military, replacing the brutality of Saddam makes for unsettling viewing. Unsurprisingly, with Greengrass at the helm the action sequences are dynamic, realistic, and authentic. The hand held camera work is used effectively, unlike in the "Hurt Locker" where it is used because nothing else interesting is going on. Damon, as Chief Warrant Officer Miller, has to perform a role in mechanical plot terms which requires suspension of disbelief to great length, and for War Film purists, this will rankle. It is true that his freedom of action, movement and access bears no relation to the day to day reality of that role in real life. But hey, it's a story, and a good one. I doubt that this film will play well to an American audience which is neither particularly bothered about Iraq, or is bothered about finding out much about it anyway. It's natural constituency is the more sophisticated British and European markets. But it is to the enormous credit of both Universal that they made this, and Matt Damon that he fronted it. It took a long while before America was prepared for verite stories about Vietnam, and subsequently it is those that are remembered. No doubt that same cycle will have to be lived for Iraq too.

I was almost giggling at the opening minutes of this film because I instantly knew that Paul Greengrass was doing it again & that was to send me through another hellacious thrill ride of a movie. That pace slows down a bit as things become very murky. The weight of what is at stake will erase that smile from your face. The other thing about Greengrass is that you have to have your brain operating at a high level to really appreciate the gifts of this master. This is the smartest movie he has ever made (& that probably accounts for the lackluster opening weekend box office). It deals with big issues in a big way. As another IMDBer noted the trailer makes it look like a Bourne rip-off. The only thing it shares with Bourne is the adrenaline rush those movies gave you (including Liman's excellent 1st Bourne). If Greengrass has a weakness it might be that he cannot resist making your pulse race. This is a very political & complex thriller. (FOX news fans stay away --your time is better spent watching Beck's home webcam.) It wears it heart on its sleeve & makes no apologies for the stance it takes. Matt Damon leads a very impressive cast of actors. He IS NOT Bourne here. It is a delight to see Brendan Gleeson & Amy Ryan here too & Greg Kinnear wears his reptile skin very well. Everybody seems to be underplaying things a bit to great effect. There are other actors from Greengrass's earlier films you may recognize including a cameo by a key player from what I think is Greengrass's best film "United 93". The Greengrass team is at the top their game AGAIN, but I am so sick of people whining about the camera work in his films. It is edge-of-your-seat 1st person POV cinema --but then again I like to ski downhill really really fast too. Ineviteably you can't help but to compare this movie to "The Hurt Locker" (which I also loved). This film is much bigger in scale, much more political (THL was almost totally devoid of politics), much less straight forward (although it doesn't have the open ending of the Oscar winner) & lacks the 1 signature iconic performance of the prior movie.

Greetings again from the darkness. The trailers and the involvement of director Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon gave me the initial impression this was to be little more than a "Bourne" rip-off. I am happy to report that's not the case. This is a fantastic story that is a cross between an Iraqi War movie and political thriller. Matt Damon plays an officer responsible for following the military intel for WMD locales in the early days of the invasion. He gets more frustrated and untrusting as each target comes up empty. When he questions the intel to his superiors, he is "politely" told to follow his orders. At the same time, he is approached by a grizzled CIA veteran played by Brendan Gleeson. The CIA happens to agree with Damon's character ... the intel is faulty and the belief is an ulterior motive is at play by the administration. Of course, this is not a documentary. It is merely another step in the exploration of what the driving force was for invading Iraq in the first place. Were WMD's a cover for the pursuit of Saadam? The script is based on a book, and leads us to believe the WMD intel was rigged because that was a great reason to present to our allies and citizens. The disconnect between the administration and the CIA appears evident. A smarmy Greg Kinnear plays an administration official who has much power ... and a special forces team reporting directly to him. The film highlights the blunders and poor decisions made early on in the invasion. Not really sure if they were blunders or if the mission was simply misguided. Either way, this makes for a great story and an intense one to follow. A real statement is made when one of the locals who has been assisting Damon, surprises him and states something along the lines of "You don't get to decide the fate of my country". That's not the exact quote, but it is the key point the film is making. The bad news is that Paul Greengrass is at his shaky camera worst. The first 15 minutes of the film and the climax chase scene to, through and outside the safe house were so bad that I felt queasy. I love well placed hand-held camera work, but this was beyond extreme - it was quite simply over the top and distracts from what should have been a near-classic.

Shake, shake, shake, shake your Damon. I'm sooooo sick of shaky cam, seriously. I don't know how I haven't gotten literally sick yet. Whoever is telling people this is a really cool way to film movies, STOP IT! This movie was a waste of my time. Now I'm sure there is an audience for this. Probably a big one. Unlike the rest of the free world, I still don't buy Matt Damon as an action star. As far as I'm concerned he seems like someone who should be attacking books at the most. This movie had some running around and shooting, and a hopping translator, and a lot of grainy greenness. What else? I dunno. Some guy who looks like Telly Savalas with a mustache and a message that will make you think. But only if you've never ever thought before. Honestly, it was like a spoof of itself. A lot of people running around spouting lines in very stern ADR work so you'll know that you're supposed to be taking this almost as seriously as they are. And it's how seriously it takes itself that makes it funny. I remember a time when people complained about movies like Rambo for having very little dialogue. This was hardly any better. But that at least was a good movie. This completely wastes Jason Isaacs. And Brendan Gleeson just looks grumpy the whole time. And all you can think is 'when is the next Harry Potter movie?' Matt Damon fans who enjoy shaky camera work might like it. Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend it. But it's up to you.