There are few things you need to know about me before reading this review because I’m completely biased.

I love our military. Any man or woman who puts on a uniform and puts their life on the line to help protect my freedom has my undying respect. It is why I support organizations like Fisher House and more recently the Green Beret Foundation.

I’m also a huge fan of special forces stories, books, games and movies. I grew up reading Tom Clancy novels like they were candy and while I suck at multiplayer games, I love first person shooters that are out these days.

All that being said, I just returned from seeing Act of Valor and this is a movie you should go see.

Hollywood usually screws up balls to the wall action movies like this, but from start to finish this is full of action and awesomeness that you want to see.

Sure, there are huge plot holes from magic intel that they never really address, but I’m ok with that. I’m not there to question a perfect plot because when you go see a movie like this you know what you are in for and it isn’t anything that is going to get nominated for an Oscar.

When I first heard about a movie being made using real Navy Seals I was a little worried because it sounded like a cheap Hollywood gimmick.

But, from the opening shot of the movie it is clear that the creators of this movie have the utmost respect for the military and while it makes for great headlines, these guys did a great job with the film. It is not always an easy movie to watch and while voice overs are usually a sure sign of crap, they are beautifully done in this film and I hope to find the text of it somewhere online so that I can read it as a whole.

For the tech geeks like me out there, you should know that this movie was shot using HDSLR cameras. Read this article if you want to know more about it. Trust me, that it does not distract from the story in any way and in fact I think it adds a certain grittiness to it.

If I have any complaint about the movie it was that there was too many POV first person shooter type of shots. The opening scene almost made me motion sick from the jump cuts and POV shots. Sure, they were playing off the familiar view we have while playing video games, but there was a bit too much for my tastes.

I also want to say that this was the first R movie I have ever let my son see.

I checked the IMDB Parental Guide before making the decision to take him. As a dad let me be point blank with you that if you let your kid play games like Call of Duty, Battlefield 3 or anything like that, then this movie contains nothing they haven’t already seen. Plus, it gave us a lot to talk about after the movie since it has some hard and valuable lessons on what it means to be a responsible man and I’m glad I took him.

It is bloody, violent and full of appropriate cursing. I say appropriate because when people are shooting at you it makes anything appropriate.

This is a guys movie. The audience applauded at the end and rightfully so. You should take a guys night out and hit this movie. Support the men who made this piece of awesome fun cinema.

Thank you again to every single soldier both active duty and retired. I can never thank you enough for all that you have done and will do.

Show some support by seeing this movie. I give it an ass kicking A.

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