Review of Act of Valor (2012) by Ethan K — 09 Oct 2012

I really feel bad about the horrible Bagging i'm about to give Act of Valor. Because out of all the movies that should be amazing and well done, it's this movie. But sadly, I feel like it was put into the wrong hands. If someone told me that the movie was directed by a first time director, or a director with not a lot of experience, I would actually expect that, because it really feels like it was filmed by an amateur. Which is not a good idea considering how good the movie should have been because of it's importance.

Act of Valor feels sloppy, like a person who really has no idea what he's doing was given the camera. It also doesn't help that the script is incredibly weak, and the cinematography boring. In the beginning of the movie, I couldn't help but wait for the action. One of the main attractions of the movie is of course the realistic missions that these guys go on. And while those scenes are interesting because of it's realism, it's poorly put together. Edits are choppy. The filmmakers try and put an emotional moment in the middle of it all, but it just comes off as being cliche and cheesy, even towards the end when the emotion is really supposed to pay off. So basically, the one thing that I was interested to see in this movie, is brought down by the simple fact that it's not well edited.

The number one big thing, is that the movie uses active navy seals instead of actors. The directors basically stating that "They couldn't imagine anyone else being in the movie" and that is just not the case! The only thing that they add is bad acting, literally. It's not surprising of course, I mean, they don't act! it's not their job. So why did the co-directors think it was a good idea? I have no idea. Maybe publicity. Because if that was their goal then they succeed. But at the cost of adding something negative to the movie? Bad decision. Because even if they were to pull off some crazy cool stuff that actors just could not do, it still wouldn't benefit the movie in the long run because their acting is so stilted. And again, it's not their fault, it's the directors fault for putting them in the movie when there was no reason too.

I hate to hate the movie because of how patriotic and sentimental it is, but a person can't overlook the fact that it's a horribly made film. There were some things that do earn it's one star rating though! I did enjoy the realistic action sequence in the first half hour of the movie, there was one entertaining dialogue scene, I did start to feel something for the characters at the end for the first time, and it doesn't make the list for "worst movies I've ever seen"... But i'm sorry. I'm inclined to say it. It's not that far off.

Prediction: 4.0/10.

Score: 2.0/10.