Is Act of Valor the Closest Thing to Military Propaganda That You Will See in Theaters?
Have you heard about Act of Valor , the upcoming Navy-approved action film starring actual Navy SEALs as Navy SEALs on a covert mission that is based on actual Navy SEAL missions? The one that totally glamorizes Navy SEAL-dom and resembles, as EW points out, a feature-length Navy SEAL recruitment video? Not yet? Well, you're in luck, because now there's a trailer.
Act of Valor was directed by Mike McCoy (Hot Wheels: Fearless at the 500) and Scott Waugh, who previously directed the documentary short Navy SWCC.
The synopsis, courtesy of Relativity Media:
An unprecedented blend of real-life heroism and original filmmaking, Act of Valor stars a group of active-duty Navy SEALs in a powerful story of contemporary global anti-terrorism. Inspired by true events, the film combines stunning combat sequences, up-to-the minute battlefield technology and heart-pumping emotion for the ultimate action adventure.
Act of Valor takes audiences deep into the secretive world of the most elite, highly trained group of warriors in the modern world. When the rescue of a kidnapped CIA operative leads to the discovery of a deadly terrorist plotagainst the U.S., a team of SEALs is dispatched on a worldwide manhunt. As the valiant men of Bandito Platoon race to stop a coordinated attack that couldkill and wound thousands of American civilians, they must balance their commitment to country, team and their families back home.
Each time they accomplish their mission, a new piece of intelligence reveals another shocking twist to the deadly terror plot, which stretches from Chechnya to the Philippines and from Ukraine to Somalia. The widening operation sends the SEALs across the globe as they track the terrorist ring to the U.S.-Mexico border, where they engage in an epic firefight with an outcome that has potentially unimaginable consequences for the future of America.
You can find Act of Valor in theaters Feb. 17.
[via EW]
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Comments
I wouldn't care if it was any good. Say what you will about 'Top Gun' it's still a phenomenally entertaining film. Unfortunately, 'Act of Valor' doesn't seem to be about anything and the trailer does, indeed, look like nothing more than a recruitment video.
It's obvious Navy SEAL recruitment, but also an underhanded way to get more people into the Navy as a whole. The vast majority of those who enlist in the Navy with 6 year SEAL contracts end up getting dropped from training (only a small % of SEAL candidates make it), and are then assigned another Navy job not of their choosing for the rest of the 6 years.
Who cares if recruits young men and women into the armed services? Oh God I hope that doesn't happen (read with extreme sarcasm please)...I'd rather they stay home and watch the Kardashians and keep updated on the latest ganster rap. We all know that is time well spent. If movies had that much influence on those with freewill, then why am I not a cowboy or Luke Skywalker?
Oh go on young hallowed men, who chose the cold. wet, darkness, and danger beset for you. Your actions carry us, the sheep, to the light that warms and welcomes us. For without you, our perseverant wolf dogs, there would no longer be us sheep. We are the America, and the world, that truly need you (no matter how little we might understand) in order for our love to go forth and try to make things better for all.
First of all, Kent's post was about the most sanctimonious and pompous thing I've ever read on the Internet, and that's a tall order. Is that some poem I didn't read while I was getting a useful-to-society Bachelor of Science degree or did he write it himself while getting his BA? Secondly, it is about time that we get to see the military portrayed positively rather than as PTSD afflicted nut jobs like we have to continually endure in anti-military Hollywood garbage like the movie "Brothers." Do ya really think that a pro-military movie is going to suck the "sheep" into becoming the American military's next killing machines? Not anymore than anti-military exaggerations like "Platoon" are going to keep people from joining the military. Stop acting like making a pro-military movie is some sort of irresponsible thing and to right the wrongs of society we have to discourage young people from joining, after all if no one joins there won't be a United States military and then all oppression and wrong in the world will stop right? Give me a break, I have a feeling that if young people are influenced to join the military by anything, video games such as Modern Warfare 3 do a much better job than any "propaganda" movie whether Hollywood choses to believe it or not.
Your comment honestly terrifies me. This worship of violence and empire would be more at home in North Korea.
For Bill above! Bravo and thank you!
Having been prior service myself, US Army, its great to see there are still some people remaining in Hollywood who want to portray soldiers in a positive light. Long gone are the 1940's when Hollywood and John Wayne cranked out movies concerning any battle that was fought.
Should "Black Hawk Down" or "Saving Private Ryan" also be considered propaganda also?
For the record and those of you that do not know, initially, this was NOT intended to be a feature film. The US Navy themselves approached the writers and directors for the sole premise of creating a recruiting video for the navy as well as the SEAL's themselves. It wasn't until they started to shoot that, when the idea to produce a full length film came about and the Navy agreed
Links for last comment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A...
AND
http://online.wsj.com/article/...
Also, ask Jessica Buchanan what her thoughts are on the Navy SEAL's.
It's the same Hollywood that is working with government to usher in regulation and even censorship of the internet. The fact that it was originally intended to be one thing or the other doesn't change the fact that this is naked propaganda.
How much of the taxpayer dollars went into this?