act of valor review

This is a movie that’s worth seeing. Maybe you don’t want to because you don’t like action movies, blood and gore gross you out, or you have no interest in the military. Regardless, you should see it anyway.

This isn’t just a movie; it’s a chance to see the protection and operations performed by some of the best trained men in the world. There is of course a story. And it is fictional. But the things that happen, happened in real life. The technology they use is used in real life. The missions they planned have been planned in real life. And the Navy Seals themselves are Active Duty Navy Seals in real life.

This is a no bullshit film: no actors, no CGI, use of live fire (for authenticity), and real life stories molded to fit the fictional arch created for the movie. It’s the closest you’ll ever get to really understanding what it’s like. Your appreciation for the men and women who do this every day will grow tenfold. I’m telling you, GO SEE IT!

I’m only going to tell you the basics of the plot, because honestly, though the story is good, it’s not the best part of the movie. A platoon of Navy Seals, recently called back from leave, is going on a mission to retrieve a kidnapped CIA agent. Their mission reveals to them a much bigger plot to terrorize the United States with suicide bombs sneaky enough to go undetected but lethal enough to kill almost an entire stadium of people. Scary shit. These Navy Seals uncover the plot and move into action from one mission to the next in an attempt to stop the culprits.

This isn’t your typical action movie, for many many reasons. But the biggest is that our action heroes are actually heroes. They are bending the laws of physics in an unreal manner. They are doing what they’ve been trained to do and what they happen to be awesome at. There was no point in this movie where I felt like that couldn’t happen in real life. It’s not Tom Cruise taking on 25 guys by himself and walking out with barely a scratch. It’s an accurate depiction of true action heroes.

For me, the men in this movie are the best part. And no, it’s not because we see them shirtless, because we don’t (I was mildly disappointed but also understood these men aren’t paid to exploit their assets the way the men of Hollywood are). These men are the best part because they are the story. Their families, their actions, their lives, their skills, their stories made this movie. Without the men who participated we would’ve received a much less authentic movie. How could an actor understand what it’s like, to be these men? To live like these men? To make the sacrifices that these men make? They couldn’t.

They could try their hardest to create an accurate depiction, but even the best actor couldn’t even come close. I’m telling you to go see this movie. You will laugh, cry, be appalled, be delighted, grow attached, and feel blessed that these are the kind of men who protect us every day without even thinking twice.

Kristen is a confused young adult who sometimes thinks TV shows are actually her life. Wouldn’t that be cool? Unless she was a victim on Dexter, or a deranged privileged teenager on gossip girl, or a wolf on teen wolf, or Liz Lemon! Never mind. It wouldn’t be cool. Kristen is a young adult. Follow her @kris10_Alyse or read frustrateddreamer.com