Act of Valor is playing on most local screens, and came in Number One this past weekend at the box office. My wife and I helped make that so, and we’re proud of it.

What I did not realize, until I had seen the entire movie, is that Act of Valor was filmed using live rounds:

As they said: “That ain’t CG.”

The developers, Scott Waugh and Mike McCoy, had already shot specialized training video for the Navy’s SPECWARGRU, and actual SEALs were utilized.

Waugh and McCoy subsequently thought that a popular film could be built upon this foundation. First slated as advisors, it dawned on everyone that only SEALs could portray the SEALs as written, and that no cadre of stunt people extant could even begin to offer the physical credibility and accuracy demanded of the script.

Filming took place in Cambodia, San Diego, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Florida, Mississippi and the Ukraine.

As far as I know, this film is also a FIRST in terms of the primary equipment utilized: Canon DSLR cameras were used as principal capture devices, with various Zeiss and Panavision lenses. Yes. You read that correctly. Canon EOS 5D Mark II DSLR 21.1 megapixel cameras. Like you see below:

Because of its origin, this film has been generally excoriated by the cinematic elites of Hollywood and various media forms. Pamela Geller panned it. Debbie Schlussel panned it.

I just wanted to see it even more. And no, I don’t think it’s “Jew-baiting” or “anti-Semitic.”

The movie made $24,700,000 this past opening weekend alone.

Shane Hurlbut was the DP (cinematographer) and I have to say that, due to his eye, the film is verily a feast for the eyes. I particularly enjoyed his POV shots over the barrels of various weapons, placing you immediately into the fray.

Further, now that you know that the film was created under LIVE FIRE conditions, I suspect you’ll have an even greater appreciation than I did for his rather immediate and precarious camera placement. As the SEALs told Hurlbut: “hey, a vest and a helmet and you’ll be fine.”

Here, you can see PBR chainguns turning vehicles on the river’s shore to wafting metal molecules. In truth, PBR chainguns did in fact turn vehicles on the river’s shore to wafting metal molecules.

There will be no Academy Awards given here. This much is obvious. But in my estimation that isn’t the point. The point is: where are our heroes? Where are the lines of delineation? Why is everything gray — and — what is wrong with actually declaring heroes and villains?

Because, sometimes, things really are that simple.

Do you know why I am able to write this post? And why others are able to pan the movie and declare themselves Omnisciently Leftist?

Because we don’t speak German on two accounts. And because we don’t yet speak Spanish in this country nationwide. And because we don’t yet adhere to Islam and Sharia Law.

Because of our AMERICAN SOLDIERS, past and present.

The point is this: who will keep us safe in the future?

“Damn few.”

BZ

P.S.
Click on each photo to enlarge greatly.