American Sniper

Folsom · « **Reply #20 on:** 21 Jan 2015, 02:00 am »

Quote from: sts9fan on 21 Jan 2015, 12:32 am

This movie sounds very propaganday

No, not really at all. It makes you side with the soldiers, but not against the middle easterners. It does make you fearful of who's who, though.

Snipers on your side = inspiring. Snipers on their side = devil.

SteveFord · « **Reply #21 on:** 22 Mar 2015, 12:39 pm »

I finally saw this last night and it's really intense.
I feel like somebody beat me up in my sleep last night, it's that kind of a movie.

wilbs · « **Reply #22 on:** 20 Jun 2015, 06:14 pm »

really fascinating moral dilemmas faced by sniper,,,sad to see how one reality (war) conflicts and causes pain in a completely different reality of coping with personal home life,,,pacing of film brilliant keeping me nervous about the hero's next encounter

stlrman · « **Reply #23 on:** 2 Jul 2015, 03:07 pm »

Loved it

jk@home · « **Reply #24 on:** 3 Jul 2015, 12:18 am »

I enjoyed the movie, but I thought it had the same general idea as the Hurt Locker. Liked the latter better. Of course my son in law is an EOD, so I'm a little bias.

Thought it was a little strange that he was allowed to make personal phone calls while he was "on the job", gun in hand. Would think that would be a major distraction.

Wayner · « **Reply #25 on:** 3 Jul 2015, 01:57 am »

Thank God Jessi Ventura had the balls to sue the bride.

'ner

vinyl_guy · « **Reply #26 on:** 3 Jul 2015, 02:16 am »

Quote from: jk@home on 3 Jul 2015, 12:18 am

Thought it was a little strange that he was allowed to make personal phone calls while he was "on the job", gun in hand. Would think that would be a major distraction.

I really liked the movie. Well done all around. Intense without a question. I think maybe his job performance earned the right to make personal phone calls on the job. It would distract me but obviously he was able to handle it and be elite as his job. It struck me as a very lonley job and the phone calls may have kept him from going insane or breaking.

Folsom · « **Reply #27 on:** 3 Jul 2015, 05:09 pm »

He was often assigned babysitting jobs where there's no expectations of action, and sees nothing for a month, too. They just leave that out of the movies.

Another misconception is that he only protected marines, the reality being he mostly saved Iraqis. When he talks of disgust in his book it's for the resistance and their tactics that include slaughtering other Iraqis as well as marines.

Tyson · « **Reply #28 on:** 3 Jul 2015, 05:40 pm »

Makes a nice double-feature with Restrepo, which is basically a guy with a camera embedded with a platoon in the Korengal valley, which was one of the "hottest" sites in Afghanistan. It's a bit different than a fictional movie in that when the bullets start hitting around them, you are like "Oh sh!t, those are real freaking bullets!".

bladesmith · « **Reply #29 on:** 3 Jul 2015, 05:51 pm »

I wonder how we would "all" do, put in his position ?

I thought he did a very good job for our country. And considering how much reward he "actually" got for it.

And then, in the end, assassinated in his own country. His wife being sued ?

The whole thing is really bizarre.

geowak · « **Reply #30 on:** 3 Jul 2015, 08:23 pm »

Well let's face it. Most Americans, because no conscription exists, enjoy freedoms a great majority of countries don't . They are free to do mostly what they will, and have not had to fight for our country's liberties for many, many years.
Often times they speak about American soldiers, and what they face casually, as if they are from a far off place not connected to America. The real truth is that when 911 hit, a very harsh message was realized in America about how vulnerable to "bad guys" we really are. In time, everyone has forgotten those events and went back to things like shopping and sports.

The movie "American sniper" was about the REAL life of an American soldier and his family and what they had to sacrifice for our liberties. Also, it was about the "ugliness" of the job. As many, many American soldiers have to train for. I don't know how else one could see the film??....

Folsom · « **Reply #31 on:** 3 Jul 2015, 08:28 pm »

Armadillo is another one to watch. The majority of the guys in it voluntarily returned.

adydula · « **Reply #32 on:** 3 Jul 2015, 09:23 pm »

Great Movie....... Great American...... Great Sacrifice for us All...
So sad to see him getting killed by someone he was trying to help.

So sad to see Ventura suing his wife..... what a nice guy.

Alex

Devil Doc · « **Reply #33 on:** 3 Jul 2015, 09:48 pm »

Quote from: geowak on 3 Jul 2015, 08:23 pm

Well let's face it. Most Americans, because no conscription exists, enjoy freedoms a great majority of countries don't . They are free to do mostly what they will, and have not had to fight for our country's liberties for many, many years.
Often times they speak about American soldiers, and what they face casually, as if they are from a far off place not connected to America. The real truth is that when 911 hit, a very harsh message was realized in America about how vulnerable to "bad guys" we really are. In time, everyone has forgotten those events and went back to things like shopping and sports.

The movie "American sniper" was about the REAL life of an American soldier and his family and what they had to sacrifice for our liberties. Also, it was about the "ugliness" of the job. As many, many American soldiers have to train for. I don't know how else one could see the film??....

Only 4% of Americans serve. That's sad. In my day we owed our country 6 years. But yet, the armed services prefer it that way. Conscripts are a PIA.

Doc

ajzepp · « **Reply #34 on:** 16 Jul 2015, 05:50 am »

I can't say I'm surprised, given how much I respect the people who participate here at AC, so I'll just say I'm really glad to see such respectful discussion about this film and Chris Kyle. I've seen some comments that were so incredibly absurd on other forums that I had to bite my tongue in lieu of saying something ugly.

Though I myself was not able to serve, I grew up around WWII vets in my extended family. I got a very clear idea of the sacrifices that were made by those who came before us, and while many may disagree with the politics of today, the men and women who serve presently continue to ensure our freedom is secured. It disgusts me when I see people happy to enjoy (and blatantly take for granted) the freedoms and security that others - such as those in my family and very likely many of yours - have provided for them, while making disparaging remarks about those who serve. As I explained to someone on another forum, Chris Kyle did a job. If you take issue with the war in Iraq or any other conflict America is engaged in now or in the past, take it up with the governmental decision makers.

The men and women who serve risk life and limb for those of us living in this country, and they often receive very little in return. As an RN who has provided care and resources for hundreds of vets during my 15 year career, I can say with certainty that typically they get the short end of the stick. Those who are so disillusioned and unappreciative of all that they've done over the years that they cannot help but be disrespectful, should at least have the common decency to shut the hell up and say nothing at all.

Anyway, I thought it was a solid film. Eastwood did an amazing job with Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima, and he did a great job with this film, as well.

thunderbrick · « **Reply #35 on:** 16 Jul 2015, 11:37 am »

Quote from: ajzepp on 16 Jul 2015, 05:50 am

Eastwood did an amazing job with Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima, and he did a great job with this film, as well.

+1! on Flags of our Fathers. Haven't seen Letters yet but plan to.

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #36 on:** 16 Jul 2015, 12:24 pm »

Quote from: Wayner on 20 Jan 2015, 08:32 pm

I don't think I can see this movie in the theater. I had a hard time handling Saving Private Ryan. I think I'll wait until the DVD comes out.....

Wayner

I know exactly what you mean. I'm glad I saw this at home (last night).

Awesome movie.

Folsom · « **Reply #37 on:** 17 Jul 2015, 03:01 am »

The other movies being named here often speak to a brotherhood that's formed during the events of war. There's something about it that supersedes politics, and makes it tragic and immensely beautiful. Sadly there just are not word to express this, so we often short-change ourselves with the easy-go-to's of patriotism. It's often not much more than a vehicle for the set of emotions vets and those that know them. I say that because I'm in many ways against so much war that occurs. The challenge is not to step on those emotions that have become attached.

Vet's can't share the morality non-vets tend to harbor for "the enemy" because they don't have empathy. They often negate a reason to understand as well. I don't blame them. I do the same damn thing whenever I move, basically I lose all gives-a-shits about tons of stuff and I throw it away or I'll go nuts. Logic and retention for its validity just aren't going to supersede my feelings towards the objects - rather than feelings about the objects. This is something people don't get so they very easily criticize vets. They can't understand how shrunk down the world is when it's you or them, and you're there whether you think it's a good idea anymore or not. I suppose there isn't much more reason to elaborate, as it doesn't change anything, but I do encourage anyone that's anti-war to understand they can't possibly understand and if they can keep their peace they might even find the vet is opposed to the war.

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #38 on:** 17 Jul 2015, 03:24 am »

Well said. I'd love to sit down and have a beverage with you. I'm sure we could solve all the worlds problems.

ajzepp · « **Reply #39 on:** 18 Jul 2015, 06:00 am »

Quote from: thunderbrick on 16 Jul 2015, 11:37 am

+1! on Flags of our Fathers. Haven't seen Letters yet but plan to.

It's so good. I actually rank it higher than Flags, which I loved. It's basically entirely from the Japanese perspective, which I thought was brilliant. Let us know how you like it once you get a chance to check it out!