FREELANCERS pretty tense stuff

[George Bellefontaine]

50 Cent stars as a young cop following his late father's footsteps as a peace officer. Unfortunately, he is lured by his dad's former partner, Robert Deniro, into a dangerous world of police corruption. Forest Whitaker also stars as 50 Cent's corrupt training officer.

Lots of drama and tension along with superb acting by all involved. Only problem I have is that you come away from this film wondering if there is such a thing as an honest cop. There are millions of honest peace officers in this world and it`s a shame that most cop films these days seem to involve only the corrupt ones.

Still, the film is worth seeing.

[Chris D]

Good point, George. Yes, I'm sure if I were a policeman, I'd be frustrated with the portrayals of police officers, and police work. As someone in the military, I get rather frustrated with Hollywood portrayals of the military. All too often there, Hollywood portrays the military as a corrupt organization, hell bent on seeking out war and wanting to kill civilians. Then there's always just one soldier, actually with a conscience, that goes rogue and sticks up for what's right. (i.e. "Avatar")

[Hdale85]

There are a good bit of good police officers out there, but in my experience with some things that have happened in the past and even things pretty recently related to crimes I have to say there are probably more bad then good cops unfortunately. I guess it's human nature to let power go to your head though. Again just my experience, I really doubt there are actually more bad then good, just seems like every time you need one you get a bad one.....

As for this movie, I was looking at it and then I saw the ratings online and they were really bad. I may have to take a peek now.

[bigburner]

As someone in the military, I get rather frustrated with Hollywood portrayals of the military. All too often there, Hollywood portrays the military as a corrupt organization, hell bent on seeking out war and wanting to kill civilians.

Really? Doesn't that honour belong to the politicians who direct you?

Nigel.

[Chris D]

Well, there's the political issue of who actually makes policy and sets strategy. (and then another of the "just following orders" shtick) But Hollywood is rather slanted on its take of all things, police and military.

[George Bellefontaine]

I really doubt there are actually more bad then good, just seems like every time you need one you get a bad one.....

I have several friends who are or were police officers. Believe me, only a fraction of their ranks are bad. Most are hard working dedicated souls who, unfortunately, see the worst of society and often have a hard time in trying not to take it home with them. I have one friend, now retired from The Royal Canadian Mounted Police who had to investigate a robbery of a MacDonalds where several young people were executed by the robbers. He has never gotten over what he saw. It haunted him for the rest of his career and still does to this day. So, sure there are those who abuse their power and use it to their own advantage, but it isn't near as bad as painted by Hollywood.

[Chris D]

Then there's the part where, on any given day, something could turn to crap, and they may have to put someone down, or even have their own life threatened. There's a similar aspect in the military, but it's generally not present every day unless you're in an active combat zone.

[George Bellefontaine]

Then there's the part where, on any given day, something could turn to crap, and they may have to put someone down, or even have their own life threatened. There's a similar aspect in the military, but it's generally not present every day unless you're in an active combat zone.

Very true indeed, Chris.

[Chris D]

I do find that aspect interesting, in a macabre way. There's few to no other jobs out there, where you could wake up in the morning and leave the wife and kids to go to just a routine day at work, then suddenly during the day have a non-random chance that someone pulls a gun or knife on you. Then after that, you're home again for dinner.

There's another interesting aspect that's growing in the military, with UAV (drone) "pilots". They may take their kids to preschool in the morning, go to work, then be a situation to drop a bomb on a terrorist halfway around the world, then have to drive home in their car, make dinner, and balance the checkbook. That's changing the nature of combat. And it's also changing the nature of that person that's waging combat. Traditionally, when you physically leave a combat zone, you leave all aspects of the actual war behind you, and then work on the parts inside you that have been affected.

Unfortunately, I very much forsee that UAV's will be used for more and more things worldwide. This includes outside of combat, in other surveillance and even the purely civilian world. I do NOT see this as a good thing, and it's really going to shake up certain aspects of society.

... now, what were we talking about, again?

[Hdale85]

I think Drones and what not take away the human aspect of warfare, detaching people from the emotions involved with actually killing someone and so forth which I think is a bad thing for sure. We already get that from media and what not just seems like it would add more.