Act of Valor

SksA1 said:
Just watched it...i loved it

Every body needs to calm down and remember its a damn movie...

If you want "the real deal" then go enlist and get your self in a fire fight.

As for them having their barrels pointed up...it was live fire guys, dont think id like a bunch of guys running around behind me with barrels pointed at a kill zone
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The point many are trying to make is that the movie was marketed as 100% authentic action as the real SEALs do. The reality is, there's still Hollywood crap in it that makes it unrealistic.

Yes, the acting was lame, the story wasn't killer, but the overall experience was decent. Good angles, not a lot of jerking and flashy camera crap. Minimal/#### movie type lead ups to action scenes. Good sound, lots of gun play and plenty of bad dudes getting their just dues.

Entertaining? Yes. Authentic? No.

TDC
 
I can understand that but people still need to realise that there is only so much hollywood can do with military works. Certain aspects cannot be released, others can simply not be captured on video and put in sequence so they match up exactly... If life were that great hollywood wouldnt be hollywood...

I greatly respect everyones opinion, but sometimes opinions are better left open to imagination.
 
First-time directors Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh were looking for a specific seal of approval for their debut film, Act of Valor. To their relief, the filmmakers received the SEALs’ thumbs up for their anti-terrorist action flick. It’s critical, because active U.S. Navy SEALs appear in the movie, playing versions of themselves on clandestine missions.

“We are extremely proud of how this film has worked out with the creation of a new kind of authentic action genre,” McCoy says during a recent interview from Los Angeles. “More importantly, we are finding out that the men and women in uniform are telling us that this is true to their experiences.”

Indeed, the SEALs in the movie have quietly embraced Act of Valor as an accurate representation of what they do.

“I think they are really proud of what the movie depicts,” Waugh says.

The movie, which opened Feb. 24, chronicles the pivotal assignment of an elite SEALs strike force sent on a covert operation to recover a kidnapped Latin American-based CIA agent, who may have information about an impending terrorist attack in the U.S.

When the unit discovers the potential attack is moving forward with assistance from drug cartels, they reassemble to eliminate the threat.

Intense firefights, refined communication devices and realistic “boots-on-the-ground assaults” are key elements in Act of Valor. So are the appropriate location backdrops filmed in Mexico, Cambodia, Puerto Rico, Ukraine and Florida.

Even some of the weapons exchanges come across as jarringly real, with some scenes featuring bursts of live high-calibre ammunition.

“We first set out to make an action movie with actors, but once we were immersed inside the SEALs community, we realized how deep the brotherhood goes,” McCoy says. “The only way to pay tribute to these guys was to use real SEALs doing what they do.”

Actors Alex Veadov, Roselyn Sanchez, Nestor Serrano and Emilio Rivera star in the movie, while several SEALs veterans — who are not named in the credits — played themselves.

“We told the SEALs to be who they are,” Waugh explains. “We had the actors underplay everything to mesh with the SEALs, and we think it worked on many levels.”

If the SEALs in the film are concerned about exposing their identities to potential enemies, they aren’t saying. “The guys aren’t worried about it, so we aren’t going to worry about it,” Waugh says.

Of course, all of the detail and the high-tech hardware arrived thanks to the complete co-operation of the U.S. Navy and the SEALs organization, which also acted as advisors.

Are the filmmakers worried that Act of Valor might come off as a “recruitment” tool? “It’s really an anti-recruitment movie,” McCoy says. “It shows that it’s a hard place to earn a living with huge risk and sacrifice.”

Both the U.S. Navy and the SEALs were, apparently, hands-off when it came to Act of Valor’s narrative, which underscores the violence associated with the SEALs’ covert campaigns.

“We had complete creative control on storyline,” McCoy says. “[The SEALs] didn’t want us to give certain things away, so they were cautious about showing technique, tactics and procedures.”

Adds Waugh: “We were respectful of their classified ops.”

However, the Navy did negotiate a final cut, but only to delete moments addressing security concerns. It also kept unused footage for real-life training purposes.

Mind you, Waugh and McCoy, under the banner of their Bandito Brothers production company, had previously shot a successful video for and were on friendly terms with the Navy. The former L.A.-based stuntmen, who are friends since childhood, produced the Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewman informational project, which ended up counting as their Act of Valor calling card.

The duo just might be on the verge of signing former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for their next action flick, Black Sands. But for now, they’re focused on Act of Valor.

“We haven’t started pre-production,” McCoy says of the next movie. “We’re still holding on to these moments.”

http://arts.nationalpost.com/2012/02/26/act-of-valor-was-inspired-by-true-u-s-navy-seals-stories/
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Supposedly the entire movie was cored around 5 actual Acts of Valor although the directors won't say exactly which ones they are.
 
cant believe it only cost $12 million to make, that is a feat in itself. but I guess they didnt really pay the actors anything
 
SEA-TAC AIRPORT - 20-year-old Marine Lance Corporal Ryan Harnish came as close to death as you can get. That is why the reunion with his family and friends at Sea-Tac Airport Friday night was so emotional.

Harnish was one of the first Marines into Baghdad. While under enemy fire, he was hit in the head by a rocket propelled grenade.

"It hit me square on," said Harnish.

The grenade didn't explode, but left a hole in his kevlar helmet.

Harnish was knocked out for several minutes, but amazingly as soon as he came to, he grabbed his rifle and continued firing.

"It made me mad, I got mad." said Harnish.

He then fought for several more hours before he could get the medical attention he needed.

"He actually, he called me while he was on the stretcher," said girlfriend Jessica Drake. "I don't know how he ended up calling me, but I couldn't hear him. All I could hear was a bunch of yelling in the background,"

"I have a headache mostly, I've lost some hearing in my left ear," said Harnish.

The good news is he should recover.

To Harnish's family from Federal Way, he is a hero, and they are so thankful for another touch and hug, knowing they came very close to never enjoying these simple things again.

"There is a lot things he talked about that a lot of moms don't want to hear until their sons get back," said his mother Debbie Adams.

"It's the best day of my life, having him home," said stepfather Rob Adams. "Very proud of him, extremely proud."

http://www.komotv.com/stories/24507.htm
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The RPG scene was one of those that everyone called BS on....
 
SksA1 said:
I can understand that but people still need to realise that there is only so much hollywood can do with military works. Certain aspects cannot be released, others can simply not be captured on video and put in sequence so they match up exactly... If life were that great hollywood wouldnt be hollywood...

I greatly respect everyones opinion, but sometimes opinions are better left open to imagination.
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Naturally some methods and/or techniques are closely guarded secrets. However, running visible lasers like is shown near the end is complete BS. Same goes for the end when the main character(can't remember his name) blatantly charges into that room alone without cover and gets shot. Then his partner charges in alone, shoots the last remaining bad guy, fails to clear/secure the room and immediately turns his back to the hall and proceeds to work on his partner. Looked like Hollywood drama crap to me.

TDC
 
Suputin said:
That RPG scene really happened. Yet here we have a bunch of armchair commandos saying how it is so unrealistic blah blah blah yet it really happened to some SEAL.
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Yep it did happen. What didn't happen in that film though was the glorious victory at the end where they ran home. If you study the battle it is bull####. But great film
 
I reserved comment until I actually watched it.... Try too anyway.... Some of it at least....

Lame. Bad camera. Bad acting. Overall, just bad.

People (gun people) are so wrapped around that these are 'real' seals that the movie is awsome no matter what.

Sorry. It is just a bad 'B' rate movie. It was like they made a movie about a video game. It was shot on cheap cameras.

Very disappointed, too much hype. It bombed everywhere. It got deleted pretty quick.
 
rivetc78 said:
I reserved comment until I actually watched it.... Try too anyway.... Some of it at least....

Lame. Bad camera. Bad acting. Overall, just bad.

People (gun people) are so wrapped around that these are 'real' seals that the movie is awsome no matter what.

Sorry. It is just a bad 'B' rate movie. It was like they made a movie about a video game. It was shot on cheap cameras.

Very disappointed, too much hype. It bombed everywhere. It got deleted pretty quick.
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Please share the awesome movies you make with the rest of the class!!!

Its funny...its "cool" to hate this movie...makes you look badass/super knowledgeable to all your friends maybe? It is JUST a movie...meant to entertain for 1.5 hours and most of you just download so it cost you nothing anyways, don't pick it apart as you watch it then run to the internet and show how much more commando you are.

I am willing to bet 99% of the haters never did any service or dropped out before they finished BMQ...

The ending alone meant a lot to anyone in the forces.

- J
 
??

So I didn't like the movie and you have to attack me personally?? Alright..

Edit: I see that calling out people and insulting them is something you do on this board. Good Luck.

I never said anything about the people or the services depicted in the movie.

Sorry, buddy. It's a crap movie.

Calling out people won;t make it better and certainly will never win an argument.
 
rivetc78 said:
??

So I didn't like the movie and you have to attack me personally?? Alright..

Edit: I see that calling out people and insulting them is something you do on this board. Good Luck.

I never said anything about the people or the services depicted in the movie.

Sorry, buddy. It's a crap movie.

Calling out people won;t make it better and certainly will never win an argument.
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I call people out who claim stupid things is all....but w/e my apologies
 
I liked it, did anyone post this yet? The poem was my favorite part;

“So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.

Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and grovel to none.

When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself. Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision.

When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home.”

~ Chief Tecumseh (Poem from Act of Valor the Movie)
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Still doesn't hold a candle to the original though!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAf2qjrOGO0

No idea how embed works. None.
 
haha, i love all the know-how coming from the crowd. It was a movie. ment for entertainment.

I liked it. Enough to watch it over and over... i like to call it SOF ####. ;)
 
Its clear that many here don't quite understand the merit of professional movie production, plot lines and good acting.

Was AOV entertaining? Yes. Was it a well made movie? NO! Was the plot interesting and/or fresh? NO! The acting? BAD! Authenticity? For the most part yes, some typical Hollywood crap as well.

A movie that is entertaining isn't necessarily a good/well made movie. Personally I'm getting tired of sub 100 minute movies. It appears that they can't write movies that last longer than 100 minutes or are appealing to the A.D.D. crowd.

TDC
 
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