American Sniper... Who's seen it?

sc_rufctr · 04:50 PM

I'm really looking forward to this. The Shorts look epic and I intend to see it as soon as it's released locally on the 24th of this month.

Snipers have always fascinated me. It must be one of the most challenging jobs in the military.
Being based on Chris's real life service history should make this more than worthwhile and I'd expect Clint Eastwood has done a terrific job as director.
He seems to be getting better with age.

RIP Chris Kyle.

So how does it hold up? Is it worth seeing?

LakeCleElum · 01-09-2015, 09:59 PM

Wife just finished the book today.....Was gonna pass it on to me; but said she can't recommend it - very poorly written.....Movie could be different story?

Bill Douglas · 01-09-2015, 11:13 PM

I think I'll see that one.

afterburn 549 · 01-10-2015, 01:46 AM

Its a Eastwood flick right?
Should be good!

onewhippedpuppy · 01-10-2015, 04:18 AM

It looks excellent, I definitely want to see it.

mreid · 01-10-2015, 06:17 AM

I thought it was outstanding! We watched it over the Christmas break. My wife thought it was a fairly predictable rah rah film, but she also was not familiar with the story and the ending. In my opinion, it was the perfect balance of war, family, and the challenges of military sacrifice. I highly recommend it.

Kistle · 01-10-2015, 06:31 AM

I read the book and found the entire story very riveting. That said, as Bob's wife pointed out, the book wasn't really written very well. It seemed to me the whole time I was reading that wow, a story like this could really be told in a captivating way, but this isn't it.

I'm looking forward to the movie. The story can stand on its own without all the rah rah, so I hope the movie isn't too over the top. But, most movies about Seals, etc... tend to overly dramatize an already dramatic story. That's I guess why I prefer documentaries over movies, but I look forward to this one nonetheless. The ending in this one is particularly sad and sobering.

JA

jyl · jyl's Garage

Is this the movie where he talks to his wife on a telephone, saying "I wanna come home", from and during the middle of a firefight? I think I saw that in a trailer. Looked so stupid that any interest I had in seeing the movie vanished.

John Rogers · 01-10-2015, 07:24 AM

I saw it a couple days ago. Well worth the time. The book is compressed some so some of the tings he talks about are missing but it stays pretty true to what was written.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

This is one where the movie has to be better than the book.

nynor · 01-10-2015, 07:51 AM

the movie was okay but formulaic. i was going to write more, but decided it would be a spoiler. let's just say that after about half an hour, i knew what the rest of the movie was going to be.

flatbutt · 01-10-2015, 09:00 AM

Hijack alert....Go see Unbroken. I don't know how much "license" was taken with the story but if half of it is accurate you will be humbled.

scottmandue · 01-10-2015, 09:07 AM

I wanted to see it but the trailers actually turned me off... seemed kinda sad... maybe rent it when it comes out on redbox.

DavidI · 01-10-2015, 11:09 AM

I read the book, watched interviews, and saw the movie. I thought all were outstanding. I am fascinated by the warriors who are able and willing to do what most of us cannot. It pisses me off that the scumbag who killed Chris still walks the earth.

Godspeed Chris!

vash · vash's Garage

Doesnt the movie open next weekend?

Flat Six · Flat Six's Garage

Read the book last summer (?), watched the movie Thursday. Thought the movie was good (I like the book/the story, and I'm a Bradley Cooper fan), but liked the book better.

***SPOILER ALERT***
My understanding is that the movie was partially re-shot/re-edited after Kyle's death to put greater emphasis on the angst/PTSD/home life anguish parts of the story and less on combat -- a little too much shift, IMHO. Long movie, more than 2 hours. I'd have preferred more 'in-country' story, myself. Pretty fascinating stuff in the book; would've liked to have seen it on screen. Maybe they'll do a director's cut when it comes to DVD.

david c. · 01-10-2015, 06:35 PM

The book is essentially a collection of paragraphs/thoughts that are either poorly organized or not organized at all. It has no flow. I had the same reaction as one of the other posters above: The book could have been great - all the nuts and bolts of a great story - are there but the editing of this hero's story was not done well at all. I can't remember a professionally published book that was so poorly put together.

I am hopeful that Clint has been able to tell an integrated story with this film and I'm looking forward to seeing it.

John Rogers · 01-10-2015, 08:24 PM

For those who think the book is poorly written......remember it is the thoughts and recollections of a SEAL sniper from Texas that went through quite a bit and NOT a professional story teller such as a Tom Clancy novel. In light of that, it is pretty well put together and does not dwell on the BUS/S training as much as some movies do and a lot of detail stuff is left out due to the time needed to make the movie viable.

david c. · 01-10-2015, 08:30 PM

John, you are entirely correct. I fault the editor or ghost writer, not Mr. Kyle, who I am quite certain was one hell of a guy.

sc_rufctr · 01-10-2015, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyl

Is this the movie where he talks to his wife on a telephone, saying "I wanna come home", from and during the middle of a firefight? I think I saw that in a trailer. Looked so stupid that any interest I had in seeing the movie vanished.

I agree that it seems "corny" but soldiers are able to talk to their wives on mobile phones.
But would they do it during a firefight? I doubt it but it would not surprise me if they called their wives moments after.

I know in the Aust Army they have very strict rules about communications using civilian devices.
Generally it's heavily restricted but I'd imagine concealing and using a mobile phone in the field would be easy.