Entertainment Act of Valor: Most realistic war movie Page
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The Avion, february 28, 2012
Act of Valor
Peter Tan
News Editor Without a doubt, Act of Valor is one of the most true-to-life war films I have ever seen on screen and even outshines the HBO TV series Band of Brothers in terms of realism. While Act of Valor has been panned by the critics for poor acting, I say that these
critics are focusing on the wrong aspects of the film. I would actually consider this film to be almost a documentary rather than an entertainment film. The actors in the movie are real-life Navy SEALS, which of course leads to stiff acting, but also leads to the most realistic combat scenes that Hollywood might have ever seen. Tapping the rear man as you clear the side of the building to tell him to follow, stacking up against a doorway and giving each other that crucial nod before storming the room and clearing the far corner of a room first are all things anyone who has undergone CQB training can attest to. Throughout the movie, there are many small elements of standard procedures that military people both past and present will pick-up and appreciate. The stand-to the team undertakes before LT makes the radio check back to HQ brought back memories of high-kneeling in the darkness with a 40lb rucksack. Other elements like proper radio protocols, the 5km march to the objective and how LT informs the other guy that his back space was clear before shoot-
Fans Forgive Lucas
Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace
Karissa Aponte Hewitt Staff Reporter
Rewind to 1999: Men adorned with Darth Vader helmets and makeshift light sabers camped outside movie theaters awaiting the release of the prequel to the beloved Star Wars Trilogy. Thirteen years later, old fans and new fans alike stood outside theaters prepared to once again watch the tale of Anakin Skywalker’s
childhood, but this time in 3D. Fans dressed themselves in red and black paint, trying their best to look as menacing as the favorable Darth Maul. Yet, no one was as intimidating as the person dressed as Chewbacca. The Wookie stood outside the Pavilion movie theater on opening day and collected tickets. The Phantom Menace storyline was no more pleasing than it was the first time; it still reigns as the least favorite of the saga. Yet, the pod racing made the 3D stakeout beyond thrilling. As the racers navigated their way through the cliffs of the dangerous Tattooine, the 3D was amazing. Who wouldn’t want to watch a flick where it seems as if they’re flying a pod racer alongside everyone’s favorite Jedi-turned Sith Lord? The movie itself is much better in 3D, it allows for an experience of excitement that the original release did not give. As Star Wars left the theater, each person realized that the release of The Phantom Menace means one amazingly awesome thing: we all get to experience the clone wars, Anakin transform in Darth Vader, the destroying of the Death Star, and the cute little Ewoks bigger and better than ever in 3D!
PHOTO COURTESY/LUCASFILMS LTD.
ing off the LAW are all evidence that the directors made an excellent decision with using actual SEALS for the movie. Unfortunately, with the time restrictions that movies have, certain scenes in the film could not be developed further. The current nature of war is that of small teams executing precise missions as opposed to large scaled arm conflicts and sometimes the entire military machine is geared to putting a handful of Tier One operators at the right place, at the right time, with the right equipment, as seen in the scene where AJAY and another guy are dropped into the ocean to meet with the submarine so they can execute their recon mission in Somalia The Special Warfare Combatant Crewmen (SWCC) teams who operate the boats that exfil SEALs also make an appearance in the movie, laying down some heavy firepower, providing that shock and awe effect. Excellent realism aside, the acting is definitely stiff, but in some ways that enhances the realism. The awkwardness of how Chief and LT converse about their families could reflect reality. A friend pointed out that if you were 6’3”,
weighed 220lb and undertake high-risk missions on a constant basis, a simple conversation about parenting would likely be awkward. Unlike other unrealistic gratuitous explosion fests like Battle for LA, Act of Valor ends with a sad note that reflects reality – that not everyone makes it back. In a day and age where games like Call of Duty and Battlefield 3 desensitize violence and death, this brings everyone back to the reality that there are people who make the ultimate sacrifice for others. Overall, this movie shows just a glimpse of what it really is like to be a Tier One operator and the kind of demands that it takes. What you do not see in the movie is the countless hours spent training, preparing for the mission and getting to the objective. For the sake of marketability, the movie has to show all the action sequences that will draw the crowds in. If you truly want to find out more about how the Special Forces work and train in real-life, I highly recommend watching Discovery’s “Surviving the Cut,” and reading Tom Clancy’s “Special Forces.: A Guided Tour.”