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.

Energy Secretary Chu Admits Administration OK with High Gas Prices

COMMENTARY | President Barack Obama‘s Secretary of Energy Stephen Chu uttered the kind of Washington gaffe that consists of telling the truth when inconvenient. According to Politico, Chu admitted to a House committee that the administration is not interested in lowering gas prices.

Chu, along with the Obama administration, regards the spike in gas prices as a feature rather than a bug. High gas prices provide an incentive for alternate energy technology, a priority for the White House, and a decrease in reliance on oil for energy.

The Heritage Foundation points out that hammering the American consumer with high gas prices to make electric and hybrid cars more appealing is consistent with Obama administration policy and Chu’s philosophy. That explains the refusal to allow the building of the Keystone XL pipeline and to allow drilling in wide areas of the U.S. and offshore areas.

The consequences of the policy are not likely to be of benefit to the Obama administration. The Republican National Committee has already issued a video highlighting the spike in gas prices and the failure of the administration to address the issue.

Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich has issued a half-hour video touting an energy plan he claims would result in $2.50 a gallon gasoline. The plan is based on unfettered drilling for oil and gas instead of a reliance on green energy. Gingrich has also savaged Obama’s touting of algae based biofuel as “weird.”

I’ve written about this issue so many times that it makes my head hurt and my feet stink. Obama and his ilk “have theirs.” Their chauffeured limousines, their 757s, their second and third homes, their vacation spots — all paid in full by the American Taxpayer.

The US already possesses the greatest oil reserves on the planet.

Mr Obama advocated drilling in Brazil over drilling in the US. I suppose that’s because little brown-skinned people and the potential despoiling of their environment doesn’t mean squat to our president.

Mr Obama thinks your energy plight is laughable. But hey, Mr Obama thinks we all need to suffer massive price hikes in gasoline anyway.

The goal, then, clearly, is to run all vehicles on electric power. Fusion isn’t technologically possible and hydrogen isn’t feasible either.

There’s just one itty-bitty problem, as I wrote here:

At the same time, Mr Obama wants to radically increase the number of electric vehicles in the nation — while, simultaneously — putting dampers on the construction of additional electrical generation stations.

That will certainly work well for infants, children and old people.

BZ

$1.15 trillion dollars?

Really?

And Bernanke wants another “Quantitative Easing” = Porkulus IV? $200 per-barrel oil?

Right, people.

Just vote Mr Obama in for a second term.

We’ll all be back to stone knives and bearskins.

China, at this rate, will dominate our nation — just as Mr Obama wishes.

All it has to do is call our debt.

BZ

From YahooNews.com:

COMMENTARY | President Barack Obama’s Secretary of Energy Stephen Chu uttered the kind of Washington gaffe that consists of telling the truth when inconvenient. According to Politico, Chu admitted to a House committee that the administration is not interested in lowering gas prices.

Chu, along with the Obama administration, regards the spike in gas prices as a feature rather than a bug. High gas prices provide an incentive for alternate energy technology, a priority for the White House, and a decrease in reliance on oil for energy.

The Heritage Foundation points out that hammering the American consumer with high gas prices to make electric and hybrid cars more appealing is consistent with Obama administration policy and Chu’s philosophy. That explains the refusal to allow the building of the Keystone XL pipeline and to allow drilling in wide areas of the U.S. and offshore areas.

And Obama laughs whilst you suffer.

Mr Obama thinks your energy plight is laughable. His limo gets 8 mpg but, hey, he’s “got his.” You’ll just have to live yours. And keep paying those taxes. His vehicles are exempt from energy regulations.

Mr Obama has his GM Top Kick-based limos, and he has his Canadian-built buses, and he has his helicopters, and he has his Boeing aircraft.

Mr Obama thinks we need to suffer massive increases in gas prices anyway.

In the meantime, Mr Obama and the Religious Left say:

Folks, you’d best get used to bicycles or walking. Or, if you’re older, just die and get out of the way.

Unless you’re a former president, in which case you’ll be afforded a handsome 7-figure retirement in perpetuity, Secret Service protection and unlimited healthcare.

BZ

Very nicely done, as an explanation from a Canadian perspective. As indicated, it’s evident that our Mr Obama values Saudi Arabian “CONFLICT” oil over closer, friendlier Canadian oil. “Conflict Diamonds”? How about CONFLICT OIL?

Further, from CNBC, Donald Trump says OPEC is larfing their asses off at our inane “leadership.” My quotation marks. To wit:

The leaders of OPEC are “sitting around their table, setting the price of oil and laughing at us because we have no leadership,” real estate mogul Donald Trump told CNBC Tuesday.

That includes U.S. ally Saudi Arabia, whose Prince Alawaleed bin Talal recently told CNBC the price of oil won’t exceed $100 a barrel. Crude oil is currently at around $108.

“I have many friends in Saudi Arabia and other countries and they can’t believe what they’re getting away with,” Trump said. “They can’t believe how stupid we are. We don’t need Saudi Arabia.”

This time Saudi Arabia is correct and, of course, Donald Trump is correct. We don’t need Saudi Arabia whilst we have the Bakken Fields, massive fields of our own natural gas, fields in ANWR, fields a short distance off our very own coasts. And Keystone XL.

Whatever greater pain WILL be felt by the American Consumer shortly, remember this: Mr Obama purposely CHOSE “CONFLICT OIL” over friendly oil, and purposely CHOSE to disallow drilling our OWN resources.

BZ