Rating of
2.5/4
Act of Valor review
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 04/30/12
A suicide bomber kills an American ambassador, his son and other innocent children in the Philippines. CIA agents Walter Ross (Nestor Serrano) is murdered while Morales (Roselyn Sánchez) was captured and interrogated for questioning. Chief Miller, Lieutenant Rorke and Chief Dave head the Bandito Platoon of SEAL Team Seven to rescue Morales. The score, realistic action and direction were superb. This however is overshadowed by the fact that the acting was not convincing, plot was all over the place and lack of better character build-up. There was a platoon and yet you never know who they really are, only faces in battle. Only real emotion seen was the conclusion.
The antagonist was no real threat, only in terms of his idea. Some lines were good such as: "Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people...Show respect to all people and grovel to none. When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself. Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision." Topics of family, sacrifice, duty and brotherhood were in full display. Act of Valor could have been better as a film if other aspects were taken into consideration.
