GREEN ZONE (Paul Greengrass, 2010)

When I heard Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass, the team behind the second and third Bourne movies, were teaming up again to make a movie called Green Zone, I immediately took interest because I used to wrestle under that name.

I kid. But I did wanna see this movie since Greengrass is an explosive director and Matt Damon is just so dreamy to look at. Well what did I think of the flick? I know you got your panties in a bunch just waiting to know.

While the film was entertaining in some parts, through the majority of the film it felt really tedious and, dare I say... boring. The action is so relentless at some parts that it just beats you (HAHAHA nice pun!) over the head with it, and it just ends up becoming stale.

This movie had a similar effect on me like another recent movie, Michael Mann's Public Enemies. All the pieces are there, but something, somewhere, just didn't reach me and totally immerse me into the world that the movie presents, leaving me feeling cold and detached. It's kinda like that scene in X2 when Iceman forms that ice wall between Stryker and Wolverine in the mansion. The thing is there and I like what I see, but emotionally I couldn't be so far away.

But overall, the film is nice one. I really enjoyed the story, as it combines political elements and molds it into an entertaining docu-drama, much like what Greengrass did with and Bloody Sunday and United 93. The opening scene in the flick is phenomenal, as well as the take-down of a helicopter. Of course, Greengrass keeps his trademark shaky camera and jarring editing intact, and I didn't have a problem with that, as Greengrass is one of the only directors who knows how to handle handheld cinematography well.

Another complaint I would like to share is that the sheer attractiveness of Matt Damon really just distracted me. Sometimes he would be talking and then I would just get lost in his eyes and then something important would happen and then I would have no idea what was going on HAHAHAHAHA IS HE KIDDING?!?!?!?!?!?! I feel on a second viewing I will like this film a lot more than the first time around.

BOTTOM LINE: Green Zone has all the pieces in place, from a solid script, cast, and director (and some terrific sequences), but something got lost in translation and left me feeling cold and distant.