"Act of Valor"; short on dialogue, long on ego

The movie, "Act of Valor", is seen through the eyes of the Navy Seals giving you a first hand perspective of being on a mission with them, the reality of war and all the emotions that go along with it.

Unlike most military based movies, "Act of Valor" blends actors with actual Navy Seals to make it as realistic as possible. That only happens when the military supports the movie. In this case, it was actually the Pentagon's idea. Think of it as a recruiting tool.

And why would people not flock to see this movie when our culture is nearing the tenth year of following a myriad of reality television shows? The movie raked in $25 million over the weekend.

The Navy Seals are elite athletes and their recent actions have been heroic, I give them that. Their official motto is:  "Ready to Lead, Ready to Follow, Never Quit". Other navy seal quotes are: "The only easy day was yesterday!" another is "don't  bother running, you will only die tired".

However, the Seals certainly are not the 'Quiet Professionals' from our Fort Bragg community. The arrogance that surrounds them has also bitten them in the recent rescue attempt that killed British aid worker, Linda Norgrove. Something they were not so eager to fess up to, or make a movie about.

"Act of Valor" is action packed, violent and glory seeking. In my opinion, it hits too close to home for many who have lost loved ones in our community, or the many wounded warriors who have sustained life changing injuries over the past nine years during the war.

The glimpse into the Seals' secretive world does not leave much to the imagination and what they do is really no secret anymore.

At least on the movie's web page, www.actofvalor.com, it promotes the Navy SEAL foundation though donations on the site that directly supports the community and their families.