If You Hate ‘American Sniper’, You’re Probably Not American

Charting Course ^ | 1/20/15 | Steve Berman

[lifeofgrace]

I promised a review on American Sniper. When I sat down to write it, looking at my notes, with all kinds of Biblical references and cultural divides, I couldn't write it that way. It's much, MUCH simpler than that. If you hate American Sniper, and what Chris Kyle stood for, the literal Hell he walked through, and returned from, and the message of healing he promoted before his tragic murder by one he was trying to help, then you're not an American. I don't mean you should be deported (although you should consider self-deporting), but I do mean you don't share the American spirit or values produced by our heritage. You exist here and breathe the same air, but somehow your lungs don't breathe in the freedom, love of God, family and country that Chris Kyle represents. You wish he was The Deer Hunter or Rambo or some other dysfunctional anti-hero. But he was just Chris Kyle. A man doing his decidedly unpleasant job, and unapologetic for opposing evil in the sharpest way possible: killing in the crosshairs. If you hate the movie, there's no shame, but I also don't have to listen to you, because you're not American.

[Dr. Sivana]

Those who hate the movie reveal more about themselves than the movie.

People have different tastes in movies. I do not care for the modern style of directing where camera shots chasnge every one-half second. I find it jarring. This has nothing to do with my feelings about snipers, but about my feelings about movies.

There are probably some conscientious Quakers out there who have been in the country for 300 years who wouldn't care for the movie on content grounds. I would not question their citizenship.

[Pollster1]

The Wall Street Journal duly recorded an opening weekend at $105.3 million, almost double the film’s production budget of $59 million, calling it a “surprise”

The success of this movie among so many real Americans is a surprise. The unpopularity of Obamacare among those who must be forced through massive fines to obey the ruling class is a surprise. The lack of new jobs for working Americans under socialist policies is a surprise. Life is full of surprises to liberals.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

Message to Hollywood: Give people stories they want to see and they will turn out—Compare the box office for Afirmative Action Annie, Selma and American Sniper? Its like comparing Captain America and Captain Planet. In these times US movie goers want a patriotic Film.

[samtheman]

Bookmark

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

:: They don’t understand why Chris Kyle is a hero, because they don’t see America as worthy of heroes. They don’t see America as any better than the evil we opposed in Iraq. ::

Boom!

I hope that leaves a mark!

[Guenevere]

Thank-you.....Well said!

Hollywood promotes every dysfunctional, vile, indecent idea they can think of......

...but give them a true hero......a God fearing, America loving, family honoring man......
...and they try to tear it apart.....

Going to see this great movie today!

[SoConPubbie]

There are probably some conscientious Quakers out there who have been in the country for 300 years who wouldn't care for the movie on content grounds. I would not question their citizenship.

I would.

Just because you hold a belief, no matter how sincere you are in that belief, does not make it a good thing, it does not make it an honorable belief, or even one that the Bible supports in context.

[georgia peach]

Michael Sams ,football player, is a “hero” for “coming out”.So says our President.’Nuff said.

[Dr. Sivana]

Just because you hold a belief, no matter how sincere you are in that belief, does not make it a good thing, it does not make it an honorable belief, or even one that the Bible supports in context.

I didn't say it did any of those. I simply stated that under our system, they can be considered American citizens.

[MNGal]

Thank you, Lifeofgrace, for posting your review. You boiled the controversy over the successful this movie down to its simplest terms.

While it’s true that there are people that may not care for the cinematography of the movie, or the premise of killing (for any reason) based on religious beliefs, those are not the people that have been taking shots at the movie’s message and it’s director, Clint Eastwood.

Again, I think your thoughts are right on target.

[Doofer]

Watched the movie, it was OK but not great.

[HotHunt]

[randita]

IMO, the movie was not as great as the message it conveyed. But it was a very engrossing movie.

[lifeofgrace]

People have different tastes in movies. I do not care for the modern style of directing where camera shots chasnge every one-half second. I find it jarring. This has nothing to do with my feelings about snipers, but about my feelings about movies.

There are probably some conscientious Quakers out there who have been in the country for 300 years who wouldn't care for the movie on content grounds. I would not question their citizenship.

If you're critiquing the movie in the genre of film, that's not an issue at all. Me, I think it had too many cuss-words, dishonored God too many times, and gratuitous sex scenes. But you know, that's how Chris Kyle was, that's how Texas rodeo people are, and that's how (most) Navy SEALs are.

If you look at this as a film made to entertain, you're missing the point of the movie. It was not made to entertain. It was made to be a light to those who suffer darkness. And the realism is part of the cure. It had to be made that way, and thank you to Clint Eastwood for doing his job, continuing Chris Kyle's legacy in a way.

If you see the point of the movie and still hate it, I don't need to hear more, and I thank you for your opinion. But it sounds like you get the point, just don't care for the style, and that's a valid point, although it's like saying I agree with Kyle's job but couldn't he have shut his eyes when he fired so he didn't see the kill...probably not.

[Quality_Not_Quantity]

The use of the term ‘surprise’ in the box office results reminds me of the phrase ‘unexpectedly’ repeatedly by the government when quoting unemployment, GDP or other statistics.

The people are the only ones who aren’t unexpectedly surprised; we live it every day and see it all around us.

[bray]

You won’t be disappointed by this masterpiece.

Pray America is waking

[bray]

No, because he was our sheep dog.

[sargon]

Me, I think it had too many cuss-words

That's part of the realism. Soldiers cuss. A lot. Especially when placed in stressful situations.

dishonored God too many times

I missed that. Are you referring to taking the Lord's name in vain?

and gratuitous sex scenes.

Now wait a minute. There was maybe 1 sex scene that I recall, and there was no nudity in it. I'd hardly call that gratuitous.

But you know, that's how Chris Kyle was, that's how Texas rodeo people are, and that's how (most) Navy SEALs are.

Agreed. As they say: "different strokes for different folks..."

[opbuzz]

Haven’t heard anything from POS Jesse Ventura yet.