I haven't decided whether I'll watch American Sniper or not.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

I like to have an open mind about things. And while Clint Eastwood exhibited batshit craziness while talking to an empty chair for a half hour at the Republican National Convention, some of his movies have been pretty decent works of film that were worth seeing.

I will say that everything I've read about Chris Kyle makes me suspect he was a pathological liar who at least publically proclaimed that he enjoyed shooting people during war. I personally find that quite disturbing. Most war veterans actively avoid having to talk about whether or not they shot anyone on the battlefield, so for someone to brag about it makes me wonder about that person's mental character. No one should ever express pleasure about killing another human being even if one has to, I'm sorry. I also wonder about a man's judgment who thinks a good exercise for a fellow vet with PTSD is to take him to a shooting range.

But all that being said, the potential unsavoriness of Kyle's character doesn't necessarily make a movie about him not worth seeing. For example, I found Martin Scorsese's "The Wolf of Wall Street" to be a very well done film, even though I found Jordan Belfort (and just about everyone else in the movie) to be possible the most despicable, disgusting depiction of a character in any movie that I've ever seen. (Of course, the fact that the real Jordan Belfort was more than happy to have a cameo in the movie still lends me to believe that it wasn't intended 100% as an complete indictment of Belfort's character. Unless Belfort is a total psychopath who didn't care how harshly he was depicted, and that might in fact be the case.)

I suppose what is swaying me against seeing American Sniper is not the film itself, but rather the insane fanatical fan base around the film who wish to turn Chris Kyle into the next Messiah who died for our sins. Many of these same people would whine and moan about "political correctness gone amok" if someone suggested their racially charged posts and tweets cross the line, and yet if anyone dare brings up Kyle's glaring personal defects, you might well have defecated, urinated and vomited on the American flag itself. The mythologizing of Chris Kyle as an American hero has been astounding. I have a former classmate of mine on Facebook, never served a day in the military, who insists daily that Kyle was one of the greatest Americans who ever lived. And it's the same thing with him as it relates to other military themed movies. Some people just like to live vicariously though the cowboy mentality image that's portrayed to the world.

It is interesting that "Selma" didn't make 1/10th of what "American Sniper" made this weekend. In a way, both movies deal with subjects who have been highly mythologized as great American heroes, perhaps glossing over whatever flaws they certainly had in life. But the key difference between the two is that Martin Luther King's legacy was non-violence and a message of love and brotherhood amongst human beings, and Chris Kyle's legacy was shooting people. Given the choice between the two, I'd rather spend my time and money with the former and not the latter.

So, I just don't know if I'll be watching "American Sniper" or not. I enjoy well-made movies, and perhaps "American Sniper" can deliver in that department. But all the hoopla and insinuations surrounding it from its fan-boy followers has given me second thoughts about it. I felt the same way with "Zero Dark Thirty", which from all reports was a solidly produced movie. But to date I haven't bothered to watch it, nor do I still feel any great urge to do so.

[BainsBane]

1. I'll see it

because Eastwood is a great film director. I'll take it as a work of fiction, which is what it is.

[hack89]

2. I will never miss a Clint Eastwood movie

just like I will never miss a Coen brothers movie - I have never been disappointed.

[Victor_c3]

3. As much as I probably shouldn't, I'll probably try to watch it

I watched the official preview (although with the sound was muted) and it was interesting to me. It appeared, at least to me, that the main character was troubled by his decision to shoot a boy.

I was in a real life situation where, after a firefight, I came across a child that someone in my platoon had shot. I was the first guy to find him and, with the help of my medic, was right in the middle of trying to stabilize/save him. I've been in a lot more intense situations, but this one moment sticks out in my mind as the most troubling event of Iraq for me. I see and remember dealing with this child, his parents, and the rest of his family constantly when I'm with my own children and it completely destroys me at times. This child's image permeates and stains the moments I have with my own family. Truthfully, I feel like I deserve to feel this way.

I'm not exactly surprised that this guy claims to have shot more people than records can substantiate. As a guy who is very messed up because of war, I can attest that war does some pretty crazy things to a person's mind. I get into moods where I relish the feeling of being in combat and rush it produces and, 5 minutes later, I turn right into being a person who is overwhelmed by the feelings of sadness, guilt, and shame combat produces as well. I don't know how to explain this fully, but the feelings you have when you are on a combat patrol can't be beat.

For what it's worth, I've become repulsed by violence and depictions of violence. My oldest daughter (she is 6) came home from school and started to talk and play like the other kids in her class and pretend that she was shooting stuff. I stopped her dead in her tracks when I heard that. As a guy who has fired a weapon more times than I care to recount in combat, this was very upsetting for me. I don't want my kids to have to experience what it actually feels like to shoot someone.

Maybe I won't watch the movie.

Anyways, I'm done with my rant and I'm not even sure if this is making any sense. I'm going to go "be crazy" in some other thread now...

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. FWIW

The film is pretty intense.
Bradley Cooper, who plays Kyle, is extraordinary in it.
The rush of combat is shown, as is the re-entry problem.

I watched it cause I wanted to see how his story would be addressed. The closing scenes are very very moving, and I understand how and why the people felt as they did about his passing.

Did not read the book, so have no idea how the film differed, esp. concerning his kill rate.

You might want to see the movie on dvd, where you can turn it off if it becomes problematical, maybe.

And what you said makes sense to me, btw.

[Nyc72dem]

4. Well if you don't go I'll go again for you.

I saw it with my girlfriend who is black. I'm white. She went to see Selma with her mother and sisters. It doesn't interest me. I have to take my mom to see Sniper. She wants to go see it but just had some chemo treatments. In a week or so I guess we'll go. It was very good.

[bigwillq]

5. I thought Zero Dark Thirty was boring

and I didn't like the sequence when they "caught' Bin Laden. I thought that sequence would be so much better.

[edhopper]

12. That sequence was done

almost point by point exactly as it really happened, and in real time.

I thought it was a very good movie (only the torture parts bothered me and should not have been included)

[Deny and Shred]

6. I am undecided on viewing it, too

"The next Messiah who died for our sins" - provacative allusion. It implies the modern-day Judas is a disturbed war vet to whom the modern-day Military Messiah was offering guidance - at a firing range. There does seem to be a 'IFF fanbase' who find that compelling.

I'll probably see it down the road on HBO.

[840high]

7. I will.

[dissentient]

8. I have zero interest in seeing it

sounds boring to me.

I have found popular war movies to be mediocre in the past, like "Black Hawk Down" and "Zero Dark Thirty". Both of these movies are highly praised, and I thought they were both pretty crappy movies.

I guess those who are more into patriotism and punching their fist when they see American soldiers kicking ass might feel differently about these type of movies, but they don't do much for me.

[benz380]

9. I'll wait for it on Netflix. I hate watching movies with obnoxious strangers.

I'd rather watch it with obnoxious family members.

[ileus]

11. It's an okay movie IMHO.

Not very good at connecting the ends together, 4 tours 4 or 5 returns stateside.