Post by Rob W. Case on Jun 18, 2015 0:08:44 GMT -6
American Sniper, the film based on Navy Seal Chris Kyle's autobiography enjoyed remarkable success during its run in movie theaters. And after seeing it, it’s not that difficult to see why.
The Story:
The film begins within the war in Iraq, where we meet American Sniper Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper) in action during a tense moment in which a mother hands her little boy (used as a “human shield”) a bomb and instructs him to head towards a convoy. At that point, the lives of American soldiers rests on the pristine judgment, accuracy, and skill of Kyle. At the point Kyle makes his decision, we catch a glimpse of a young Chris Kyle (through flashback) in Texas, hunting deer with his father, hitting one from a fairly long distance. For a while, we see a churchgoing family whose father teaches him and his brother the values of protection and loyalty.
As he grows older, Kyle’s life is full of its ups and downs like any ordinary person. He gets a new girlfriend, Taya (Sienna Miller) after he catches his old one cheating on him, but his life is radically changed after America is attacked on September 11th, 2001. The terrorist attacks stirs up anger and an undiluted thirst for justice which inspires him to train to be a Navy Seal. From there, Kyle’s life and new relationship is put on hold to serve America by defeating Al Qaeda in Iraq.
But apart from all of the regional turmoil, the heart pounding suspense, not knowing what will happen next, or which life (or lives) of one of your fellow soldiers is going to be taken or permanently impaired, lies another drama. As Kyle serves his country, his relationship with Taya, whom he ends up marrying and begins a family with, is strained as he is heavily determined to defeat the insurgency in Iraq. That said, the war takes a tremendous toll on both his mind and his family.
And yet, when things begin to come together for Kyle, shock hits the audience that ends the film on a very solemn and silent note.
Why I enjoyed this movie:
I thought “American Sniper” is an excellent film for a variety of reasons.
1.The film is intense, and the constant struggles that occur not only in the battlefield (which is one of the reasons why I liked the Hurt Locker), but at home as well, make for some intriguing events which kept me interested at every turn, and caused the movie to be fast paced.
2.The directing by Clint Eastwood is superb. It carries within its narrative a sense of heroism in the face of evil.
3.It effectively tells a story that is bold and deep without it being ruined or diluted by political correctness.
All in all, out of 4 stars, I give American Sniper 4 stars.
The film is rated R and runs approximately 2 hours and 12 minutes.
To view the film’s first trailer, please click below.
To view the film’s 2nd trailer, please click below.
Unforgettable Quote:
Wayne Kyle: There are three types of people in this world: sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. Some people prefer to believe that evil doesn't exist in the world, and if it ever darkened their doorstep, they wouldn't know how to protect themselves. Those are the sheep. Then you've got predators, who use violence to prey on the weak. They're the wolves. And then there are those blessed with the gift of aggression, an overpowering need to protect the flock. These men are the rare breed who live to confront the wolf. They are the sheepdog.
“American Sniper” is now available at Redbox kiosk machines everywhere.
The Story:
The film begins within the war in Iraq, where we meet American Sniper Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper) in action during a tense moment in which a mother hands her little boy (used as a “human shield”) a bomb and instructs him to head towards a convoy. At that point, the lives of American soldiers rests on the pristine judgment, accuracy, and skill of Kyle. At the point Kyle makes his decision, we catch a glimpse of a young Chris Kyle (through flashback) in Texas, hunting deer with his father, hitting one from a fairly long distance. For a while, we see a churchgoing family whose father teaches him and his brother the values of protection and loyalty.
As he grows older, Kyle’s life is full of its ups and downs like any ordinary person. He gets a new girlfriend, Taya (Sienna Miller) after he catches his old one cheating on him, but his life is radically changed after America is attacked on September 11th, 2001. The terrorist attacks stirs up anger and an undiluted thirst for justice which inspires him to train to be a Navy Seal. From there, Kyle’s life and new relationship is put on hold to serve America by defeating Al Qaeda in Iraq.
But apart from all of the regional turmoil, the heart pounding suspense, not knowing what will happen next, or which life (or lives) of one of your fellow soldiers is going to be taken or permanently impaired, lies another drama. As Kyle serves his country, his relationship with Taya, whom he ends up marrying and begins a family with, is strained as he is heavily determined to defeat the insurgency in Iraq. That said, the war takes a tremendous toll on both his mind and his family.
And yet, when things begin to come together for Kyle, shock hits the audience that ends the film on a very solemn and silent note.
Why I enjoyed this movie:
I thought “American Sniper” is an excellent film for a variety of reasons.
1.The film is intense, and the constant struggles that occur not only in the battlefield (which is one of the reasons why I liked the Hurt Locker), but at home as well, make for some intriguing events which kept me interested at every turn, and caused the movie to be fast paced.
2.The directing by Clint Eastwood is superb. It carries within its narrative a sense of heroism in the face of evil.
3.It effectively tells a story that is bold and deep without it being ruined or diluted by political correctness.
All in all, out of 4 stars, I give American Sniper 4 stars.
The film is rated R and runs approximately 2 hours and 12 minutes.
To view the film’s first trailer, please click below.
To view the film’s 2nd trailer, please click below.
Unforgettable Quote:
Wayne Kyle: There are three types of people in this world: sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. Some people prefer to believe that evil doesn't exist in the world, and if it ever darkened their doorstep, they wouldn't know how to protect themselves. Those are the sheep. Then you've got predators, who use violence to prey on the weak. They're the wolves. And then there are those blessed with the gift of aggression, an overpowering need to protect the flock. These men are the rare breed who live to confront the wolf. They are the sheepdog.
“American Sniper” is now available at Redbox kiosk machines everywhere.