Active duty Nave Seals give us a taste of war in Act of Valor. Courtesy of Alliance Atlantis
The military has long trained actors to portray them in movies with a solid level of success. Most of us take for granted that what we’re seeing is an accurate depiction of how the elite freedom fighters handle business in battle. This movie takes care of that naivety.
Directors Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh found eight active duty Navy Seals to show the public the life they live and how missions are actually conducted.
Watching the precision and intensity with which these highly trained men operate is something I’ll never forget. The tactical operations are shot brilliantly, with great first person perspective similar to video games like Call of Duty and Modern Warfare.
What hurt the movie, was having the audience sit through actual Navy Seals attempting to act – And when I say “attempting”, I’m being generous. The movie also gives off a strong odour of a recruitment video for the US Military.
The saving grace came from showing the consequences and costs associated with joining the armed forces. Also interesting, was the depiction of the villains, as they were not the typical radicals I expected, having a certain level of complexity to them was refreshing.
Bottom Line: Regardless of the flaws, Act of Valor will give you a look into the Nave Seals the likes of which you’ve never experienced before.
Grade B
Runtime: 100 minutes
IMAX: No
3D: No
