Review of Act of Valor (2012) by Baole58 — 30 Jun 2013

More of the same generic action movie that you see in Michael Bay's films than a realistic war movie. The action sequences, just like many action movies, were enjoyable to watch and the way the soldiers move in silence is really intense, if at times it makes you feel like you're playing a FPS game, but some of the action sequences, such as the chase scene, feels too Hollywood.

That's about the only thing the movie gets right and the movie casts real SEALs as leading actors. You don't have to like the movie to support the troops for their services and fighting for their country, it's just a movie. They can't act, it's almost laughable when they talk, they don't even sound American, and the lame dialogues makes it more embarrassing than it already is.

The plot is so cliche, soldiers rescuing a kidnapped CIA agent and then save America from terrorists. You don't have to cast active duty Navy SEALs to make a war film more realistic, take Saving Private Ryan for example. A film, worthy of Best Picture, that defines the genre of war films featuring realistic battle scenes and a winning performance from Tom Hanks, he's not a SEAL.

This film would be more realistic if the actor's performances were more natural, it's not just about explosions and shooting with real ammunition. A film that's based on actual events doesn't always classify a movie as good, take J. Edgar and Amelia for example. If it does, more films should be based on true stories which would take away many creative ideas.

Act of Valor shows you what it's like to be a U.S. Navy SEAL but the film completely ignores the complexity of war, the soldier's attitude doesn't help the movie to try and show it either. Their extreme patriotism makes them feel so positive as if they'll complete their mission, without worrying about the consequences, and they'll return home safely to their families simply because it's America.

There's no character development, they end up being a group of soldiers with no discernible personalities, so it's not emotional when one of the soldiers, predictably, dies in the end or when Rorke leaves and his wife is upset to see him go.

This movie would probably be better if it were a documentary instead. It would be an intense and a gritty insight on the missions conducted by SEALs that would really capture it realistically, if well-made. In the end, the plot gets muddled as the movie goes on. The action sequences can't lift the movie above bad with it's mediocre script and poor acting.