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Act of Valor (2012)
8/10
What can I say, Excellent - Finally!
13 February 2012
If you are tired of Hollywood action movies that are poorly coordinated and where the directors just guess at everything, like I am, you are really going to like this movie.

Personally, I have actively served in the military and the thing that really bothers me is the non- realism of military roles that I see in movies. Directors and crew blatantly cut corners, hire no nothing actors and extras to portray military roles. Actual direction to the actors and extras that I have heard straight from their lips: "just to pretend because the audience doesn't know any better and doesn't care." Well WRONG, we do care...

There are of course directors that DO care for realism such as Ridley Scott & Oliver Stone. Directors that care hire people like Dale Dye or equivalent to produce such realism. It is a very hard thing to do when the "sides" or script simply say "insert tech talk" or "insert military maneuver" and your movie doesn't even have the technical adviser.

For someone who has been there and done that it is excruciating to see actors do everything wrong, shoulder rifles wrong and hear stupid and unrealistic dialog. Since my service ended I have been working in film and TV myself to somewhat try and make a difference in this manner.

This movie may not have Oscar winning acting, but it gave me a true chilling effect of realism. Some say they were not real active duty. Well I can't vouch for that but what I can tell you is that everything they did and said were extremely accurate and I have little problem in doubting that statement.

See/view the film as you want, some will see it as propaganda... Well, anyone showing pride in something is going to show everything at it's best and only the people who have never been there will confuse pride with propaganda. Freedom It is the right to be able to question and doubt everything, but it is the soldier that actually fights to provide this very freedom that everyone else takes advantage of. Sure others will see this film as a recruitment tool. Sure, and again when pride is shown in a cool way of course the young may choose a career in the military. The same being said with movies with doctors, firemen or policemen.

See this movie as a statement to reality in a technical way, pay attention to how things are spoken, how weapons are suppose to be used, held, fired and reloaded on the fly. When you use real military there is an automatic understanding of positioning. I understand that Hollywood need to be in there to actually film things and understand the need to make changes to do so but I could not find very much wrong with what I did see.

To mention live rounds... this is unheard of in film just because of the danger level and would never be accepted in civilian North America. That is why the movie was shot where it was and on live fire ranges. I am impressed.

I very much liked it and the portrayal of the soldier. I felt pride, technically things, were accurate and as they should be. Good Job!
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Twin Sitters (1994)
1/10
Awful
13 August 2010
OK I don't know who the idiots were in the other reviews that rated this movie 10 of 10 but most likely it was the director and Barbarian Bothers.

I honestly wanted to pluck my eyes out, make myself deaf and then shoot myself in the head.

Save yourself the hour and a half of life you wont get back. Acting was terrible and I am very surprised that people would be involved in making something like this.

I only write this review now because this type of crap is making it's way back onto TV recently. I guess you can show anything on TV if the price is right.
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Lava Storm (2008 TV Movie)
1/10
It was quite bad
9 April 2010
Story and writing was horrible...Where on earth do you have relationships as depicted in this story. The acting seemed delayed and unresponsive in many parts as if the actors lost touch with the storyline... I wish more writers and directors would use facts and consult experts. The main problem with movies like this is that money takes priority over quality...

I don't blame the actors in this but they did what they could with a bad script.

I guess that is what you get when you have a first time director and an executive producer who is also the writer.

Words of advise to the public, don't waste your time with this film.

To the actors - choose your scripts, directors and producers more carefully.
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Sub Zero (2005 Video)
1/10
Wow, this was so bad it was funny
31 January 2010
Warning: Spoilers
This is the main reason why writers, directors and producers need to consult professionals and the need to hire technical advisors.

Is it about pumping out crap for the almighty dollar with no realism? A 10 year old learns enough science and "know how" to shake their heads at the bad direction, realism and science.

*EMP - does not blow things up...lol go back to school *Learn military protocol - this is a joke. *The rock climbing techniques demonstrated by the actor demonstrated a willful disregard for accuracy.

I am sick and tired of "the powers that be" producing crap just for the sake of a story to put on TV.

Put more effort into it-

Learn something from Ridley Scott...
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