Act of Valor, directed by Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh, stars active-duty Navy SEAL's and some other people, but really it's ALL about the SEAL's. Given that these guys could kick my ass in every ridiculous way imaginable I'm going to tread kindly here in the acting department but seeing as how this is really a big plug for our boys doing the hard work I'm going to shout it out for this one!
Plot:
An unprecedented blend of real-life heroism and original filmmaking, Act of Valor stars a group of active-duty U.S. Navy SEALs in a film like no other in Hollywood's history. A fictionalized account of real life Navy SEAL operations, Act of Valor features a gripping story that takes audiences on an adrenaline-fueled, edge-of-their-seat journey. When a mission to recover a kidnapped CIA operative unexpectedly results in the discovery of an imminent, terrifying global threat, an elite team of highly trained Navy SEALs must immediately embark on a heart-stopping secret operation, the outcome of which will determine the fate of us all. Act of Valor combines stunning combat sequences, up-to-the-minute battlefield technology, and heart-pumping emotion for the ultimate action adventure film-showcasing the skills, training and tenacity of the greatest action heroes of them all: real Navy SEALs.
Seriously when the boots hit the ground, locked and loaded, I was literally on the edge of my seat. The helmet cams and single view shots make you feel completely in the thick of it and was something worth experiencing. These guys are the real deal. Period. And nothing I say about this film will ever change that. As someone who loves the world of fantasy, I also love the country I live in as well as the people who put their lives on the line to protect it. NO matter how I personally feel about anything else I pay these men and women the respect they deserve.
Act of Valor is macho based and underwhelming in areas, especially the acting. But to have the real guys sitting in front of the camera versus actors who don't know squat about what it's really like...I'll take the bad acting any day of the week. The film as whole does shy away from flag waving and chants about USA and frankly I thought that was a tasteful decision. We get that the movie is about the guys and gals defending our country and that's all it needs to be. Recruiters will probably be pushing this to the folks thinking of joining the ranks but rightly so.
I would have liked a little more detail about how and why modern day warfare is fought but maybe the general public is not privy to that intel. Which brings me to the military usage throughout the film. I felt lost at times when the lingo is flowing like wild. I have no clue what 3 clicks means or many of the other things they were talking about. But I did understand that coming in "hot" means the bad guys are on my ass so things are about to get hairy!
The showing I went to had a nice moment before the film where the theater manager came in and asked all military who have previously or are presently serving to stand. When about 10 folks (from what looked to be of the age range of 20's to 70's) stood everyone in the theater clapped. And after the film finished the management also gave us a chance to write thank you letters to those serving now. I wrote mine and I hope whoever gets it laughs hard. :)
Act of Valor is rough around the edges for sure, action packed and gun fire heavy but emotional when it counts and overall worth watching. Hooyah!
Getting 4 'so the names Crisco is it' Sheep
KD 
