Act of Valor (2012)
Certified: 14
Duration: 101 minutes
Directed by: Mike McCoy, Scott Waugh
Starring: US Navy Seals (full names not released), US Navy Special Warfare Combat Crewmen (full names not released), Jason Cottle, Alex Veadov, Roselyn Sanchez, Nestor Serrano, Emilio Rivera
KRS release

Real-life US Navy Seals who are still on active duty play Navy Seals on a rescue mission in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, two CIA agents (Nestor Serrrano and Roselyn Sanchez) who had been striving to uncover a terrorist ring run by smuggler Christo (Alex Veadov) and fanatic Shabal (Jason Cottle) are murdered.

The Seals soon learn that Shabal’s plan involves a deadly attack on US soil. This would see a number of bombers being smuggled into the US, delivering special explosives into crowded areas across the country and disseminating panic and terror.

The Seals’ agenda is to stop Shabal and Christo and this will take them from the Pacific to the Mexican border.

If you are looking for deep acting Act of Valor is not what you are after, since most of the cast are real-life soldiers rather than professional actors.

If, however, you need a dose of intense adrenaline amped up with a tangible feeling of realism then Act of Valor is what you are in dire need of.

The film appeals to anyone who is interested in action movies and military life.

But, more importantly, it provides a peek into the life of what these men and women endure in the daily execution of their duties.

Act of Valor in fact serves as a homage to the military services.

The first sequences are designed to root the commandos in reality, with real-life wives, girlfriends and families.

When the action starts you know whose side you are on.

The action sequences are shot in close-ups rather than wide shots to provide the audience with the feeling of being in the midst of the action.

Military connoisseurs will enjoy the faithfulness of the film towards its subject matter and even the language used is as authentic as possible.

This gives the film its unique slant. The way the commandos prepare themselves for battle is incredible while the action sequences themselves feel so real.

The Seals give the audience a chance to look through their eyes: stalking silently through a field, surveillance duty, boarding and disembarking from a submarine and other sequences.

Inevitably enough the film is patriotic in its attitude but that is to be expected.