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Act of Valor (2012)

Director: Mike McCoy, Scott Waugh

Time Out rating

Average user rating

9 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

This visceral warfare action thriller cleaned up at the US box office, which is a tad worrying given that it is essentially an army recruitment film. What separates ‘Act of Valor’ from the myriad of ‘Rambo’-style combat movies is that its cast are active US elite Navy Seals. Yes, real-life soldiers, acting. But while the Seals’ involvement allows directors Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh to dress their film in a cloak of authenticity, at what cost, when the performances off the battlefield are so leaden?

In an attempt to weave a storyline around the Seals’ heroics, writer Kurt Johnstad has cooked up a predictably shallow scenario involving Mexican drug traffickers and a terrorist plot to blow up Americans. The combat sequences, though, are stunningly executed, unbelievably realistic and extraordinarily tense. Which makes you wonder why they didn’t just drop the drama crap and shoot it as an informational real-time documentary. Instead, ‘Act of Valor’ reeks of military-sanctioned exploitation drama aimed solely at the ‘Call of Duty’ set.

Author: Derek Adams

Time Out London Issue 2170: Mar 22-28, 2012

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User reviews of this film

philsee said...

Posted on Apr 02 2012 00:52 A Russian, a Chechen and a Mexican walk in to a hack stereotype terrorist plot. Many bad guys die, but there are no friendly fire casualties. Hero smothers grenaaaaaaaaade! Tears at Arlington Cemetery. The film has a message - only the military can save the American economy, as if it isn't military spending that's destroying it. No wonder the military lavished its resources on this fascist propaganda. Dreadful.

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Hi,I'm trying to do a mol said...

Posted on Mar 28 2012 22:23 Hi,I'm trying to do a molibe application based on php mysql with a login form, a list form, an add form, and an edit form. I'm looking for script example to do this. I'm able to connect to my db without a login form. I saw your small app and it could help me if you share me your code.Thanks,Alain

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Marsellus said...

Posted on Mar 27 2012 09:09 There have been many films made on shoestring budgets that raked in bundles of cash. That doesn't make them good films. Commercial appeal has nothing to do with how good a film is. Pirates of The Caribbean 4 was one of the most successful films of 2011. Was it any good? Was it f*ck?!

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Jay said...

Posted on Mar 26 2012 21:42 Like it or not, it still shows the U.S. is the land of opportunity. Two former stuntmen come out of nowhere and make a film most of Hollywood wouldn’t ever touch. They do it on a shoestring budget, spend 3 years making it and then rake in a bundle because the public in general loves it.
What I find quite interesting is those I’ve talked to who claimed they saw the movie, but really hated it can’t tell me the first thing about it. One wonders if they actually did buy a ticket or just saw the trailer. I hope you’re not in that category.

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Marsellus said...

Posted on Mar 26 2012 11:46 Truly an awful film; from the acting to the dialogue to the cliched story and cardboard characters. I keep hearing the 'real Navy SEALS' point being made in response to criticism of the acting. Casting real soldiers sits at odds with the fact that the storyline is complete fiction. I don't understand the point. After watching this crap, I'd much rather watch actors 'fake' being Navy SEALS than watch Navy SEALS 'fake' being actors. Actors know what they're doing in a film, Navy SEALS know what they're doing in a fight and I don't know what I was thinking when I bought a ticket for this!

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Mal Content said...

Posted on Mar 24 2012 23:02 Act of Valor is the latest act of atrocity from the US military

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scrumpyjack said...

Posted on Mar 24 2012 00:24 Poor lads! Liked the "apology" for the awful "acting"! Play Station stuff.....like it but no cinema film!

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frank said...

Posted on Mar 20 2012 11:38 Bloody Hollywod liberals. Just because a high school jock wants to strap on a machine gun and go and kill a bunch of foreign johnnies for no readily apparent reason, they're labelled bad people! This movie will set them all straight!

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Jim said...

Posted on Dec 13 2011 07:04 Saw it at a private screening in October. Awesome combat movie. This is not your Hollywood bashes the military flick. This is real Navy Seals still on active duty playing the lead roles doing what they do best. The cinematography is luxurious and the sound will blow you away. The script was developed from actual Seal missions which is why you will need to fasten your seat belt before watching.

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