The Veteran [Blu-ray]

I decided to watch this fim based on all the great reviews here but have to say I was left pretty disappointed.
It's been drawn into comparison with Harry Brown which in my opinion is only similar by the council estate. The yobs and their culture are hardly a feature in this film.
There is a good atmosphere and soundtrack but the whole film is mostly uneventful. There is 2 fights both over in under a minute and the only action sequence though shot well and actually very realistic is over in about 5 and right at the end.
The acting is good throughout but the storyline is confusing and it seems to jump from one an the start to another pretty soon, maybe it just wasn't engaging enough.
I love gritty brit thrillers and I'm afraid this was neither thrilling or terryfing as the cover claims.
Ok if you catch it on tv and nothing else is on.

Plot synopsis was intriguing and it starts well with a bleak picture of a soldier returning from the army to a run down estate ruled by a vicious gang. After that plot follows a ridiculous and needlessly complex plot that leaves more unexplained than it reveals. Film seems grittily and violently realistic in the action until it culminates in a totally implausable shootout and a surprise ending that did not answer any of the outstanding issues, did not have any message that I could see, and left me thinking what a waste of an evenings viewing. Really cannot see the point of this film, how ever well acted the main character was.

This is a film that has a bit of a split, and I sort of agree with most commentators. It is nearly a very good film, but an overly contrived plot takes away from what could have been a real gem. Its premise is that Bobby (Toby Kebbell of `Rock n' Rolla' fame) has returned from a tour of Afghanistan. He has had enough and opts out of being a soldier; he returns to his South London Estate to discover it is now the playground of gun toting drug gangs.

He is looking for work and one of his ex comrades gets him to meet his brother. This guy is working for Counter Terrorism and thinks he has a good job for Bobby. He has to follow a pair who are terrorists but one is a British Agent Alaya (Adi Bieshi). Bobby is attracted to her and has to make contact after Home Office employee Brian Cox, decides he is good for business. The plot then takes a bit of a nose dive in terms of double plots and twists, that are both unbelievable and probably unnecessary. However, the pace does pick up and we get some very realistic and gritty violence. There is also palpable tension for most of the film; this is one of Director, Mathew Hopes' strengths. It is actually almost uncomfortable at times, and that has to be down to the excellent acting we have from nigh on the entire cast. Toby Kebbell is particularly good and even pulls off the shoe horned love story bit with more than a modicum of realism.

The final part of the story is what most people will want, and that is a good shoot out, but it has been said by some that you will be left a little unsatisfied, I think this was entirely intentional and was not let down. This is a powerful, gritty and well made Brit flick, the plot has issues but overall it deserves a thumbs up, just not brilliant and not quite worth four stars, but I still quite enjoyed it. It runs to 98 Minutes so will not out stay its' welcome. If you like Brit gangsta type films this should be on your to see list, but it is not a reprise of `Rock n' Rolla, so if that is your bag probably best to miss this one out.