You might have clicked on this post expecting to find some anti-American, leftist liberal rant on the military and how America is a bully, based on the title I posted. But you’re not going to find that here. Ever.
And it’s pretty rare for me to post a movie review, and this isn’t really that, either.
But I did almost walk out of this movie. Twice, actually.
But before we get to that, let me tell you the reasons why I think you (and everyone else) should see this movie. In the process of doing that, I think I can better explain why I almost walked out.
You need to see this movie because, as everyone who sees it will agree, Chris Kyle (the American Navy SEAL & sniper whom the movie depicts) did some amazing stuff for America.
Hero? Yes. Expert skills? Definitely. And the fact that he survived some incredible horrors of war only to be taken from this earth in such an unexplainable way (no spoiler alert– this was news in 2013), well, it’s one of those great mysteries. He served his country bravely and to honor his memory, you need to know his story. You need to know that he was willing, like so many, to give his life in service to protect you; protect me.
Bradley Cooper as Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle.
You need to see this movie because you need to give a face to all those soldiers you are grateful for and realize the horrors they face.
They fight and die every single day. All over the world. They are willing to give what many are not– their lives. We thank them, we honor them, we post statuses about how grateful we are on Facebook, but do we really realize what they are going/have gone through? This movie gives you a glimpse of the realities of war. Other movies have done it, but for some reason, this movie makes you feel like you’re in it. It puts you there, and I promise, that gratitude you felt for our soldiers and sailors before this movie will only be multiplied after. Perhaps you’ll even decide you want to do more to honor our brave and our fallen. Perhaps you’ll finally understand what war PTSD is and why it is a very, very real thing. Perhaps you’ll honor the memory of not only Chris Kyle, but all of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for these United States.
You need to see this movie because you live in a bubble.
Stated plainly, we complain about dumb things most of the time. We live in comfort and freedom, and for the most part, we’re blessed beyond measure. We complain about bad hair days and people who get on our nerves and when we run out of coffee or get cut off in traffic and the fact that we hate Mondays. And yet we have the opportunity to live in peace. Meanwhile, all over the globe, children are born into war zones and suffer unimaginable torment at the hands of Evil.
This is why I almost left during the movie. As a Social Studies teacher and a student of the world, I’m well aware of the atrocities committed throughout the world historically and in present day. But I’ve only read about them. I’ve only heard about them. I’ve never had to witness them with my own eyes. Sure, American Sniper is a movie and it’s a dramatization of events, but it’s realistic. It’s horrible. And it truly shows how Evil is alive and working in our world.
Not only was I sobbing at various points throughout this movie, I found myself praying, “Come, Jesus. Come.” I almost couldn’t take it– this realistic depiction of evil. I don’t want to believe that people are capable of doing such horrible things to each other, but they are. Oh, they are.
The bubble around me popped. You can’t watch a movie like this, see the horrible things that man is willing to do to another man (or woman or child), not just in the name of a god or of an organization, but in the name of hatred, and go back to your cushy life and pretend the horror doesn’t exist.
Our soldiers face this evil every day on the battlefield and they persevere. They press on. They fight it and try to protect freedom because that’s one of our basic rights as humans. And they make split-second decisions that we pray we never, ever have to make. This is why we are grateful– because they have to make the decisions and carry out the actions we never, ever want to have to face.
Our nation and our world face this evil– those who torture and murder and kill for no good reason at all. It manifests itself in many ways, but people all over the world are suffering.
This world so desperately needs love. It so desperately needs joy. People so desperately need rescuing. They so desperately need the Savior.
American Sniper is not a “Christian” movie. While there are mentions of God, it’s not a theological movie in any sense. But if you can walk away from it and not be moved just by seeing how good we’ve got it and how horrendous daily life is for others across the globe, I fear your heart is too far gone.
Chris Kyle. Photo from http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2014/07/09/chris-kyle-video-deposition-to-be-played-in-american-sniper-trial/
When the movie ended, our theater was silent. People filed out without speaking. The weight was heavy. I cried my way to the car.
This is an emotional film, packed with violence, foul language, and the realization that we have so, so much to be grateful for, and so, so much work to do in the world combating Evil, not just on the other side of the globe, but within our own neighborhoods; within our own hearts.
See this movie. Honor the memory of Chris Kyle. Honor the memory of every fallen soldier who has ever stared Evil in the eye and said, “bring it.” Honor those who have stared Evil in the eye and lived to tell– those still haunted by their memories.
See this movie so that you can get out of your bubble and realize just how good you’ve got it and how much work there is to do.
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Hale and Hearty Words 
I saw the movie and you couldn’t have said it better. This man and other soldiers werr protecting our lives and the freedom we all take for granted. So please go see the movie. If it doesn’t change your mind then you have no heart or feelings
It is good to see that a civilian has finally come to realize what a lot of us vets have been dealing with for years. Don’t get me wrong. I know that all of us would gladly do it all again. But some of the scars that we carry for life are truley heard to bear.
No disrespect to you or to Mr Kyle in my post. I am a veteran of the USMC as well as my brother and my father and grandfather the Army. Unfortunately, it is true that Mr Kyle has made some statements that the Navy refused to confirm. The situation with J. Ventura is an interesting one also. The filmmakers have admitted to “elaborating” events and people in this film to get the American public to “go see it”. The so-called “Butcher” character never existed so the whole scene with the drill that got every one so upset was made up Hollywood storytelling. The Navy refused to confirm the claim about the 2,100 yard shot and Mr Kyle even heard reports of the real-life “Mustafa” still being alive and well. I did see the movie and I agree that our combat vets deserve the best we can give them, but we can’t let Hollywood trick us into believing everything they tell us. Mr Kyle was his own person, and unlike in the film, he stated he never felt one bit of remorse for anyone he shot. That was him. It’s not my place to judge him. He also did not kill the child along with his mother as depicted in the film. Perhaps his book would have been a better choice for most. If you still want to know what vets go through, pick up a copy of “Marine Sniper” which details the tale of Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock. Another true hero that most Americans haven’t heard of.
I have gone through all of the comments and just have to say, REALLY? This is her blog. What she feels. Do not take it personal
Thanks Jenny for YOUR thoughts on the movie.
Jennifer, thank you for your thoughts. I am a 16 year veteran with multiple combat tours under my belt. I went to see American Sniper, much against my wife’s loving worry for me. I did not see it for the war memories that haunt me, but to support and honor Chris Kyle. During this movie I realized one thing, I owe my life to Chris and his fellow snipers. I served on the security detail for the Commander of US Central Command back in 2004. We were protected at different times by Chris. I did have to take a break from the movie because the images were so close to what I lived through in Iraq. I did not say anything to anyone but yet when the movie was over I was brought to tears by total strangers thanking me and welcoming me home. People hugged me, told me thank you, gave me words of encouragement. It was nothing I could have ever imagined or wished for. I struggle each day to live with the memories of the horrors I have seen and lived through. Thank you for writing and encouraging people to see the movie.
We should absolutely honor those fighting for our country, and yes we should thank Chris Kyle as he is a vet. However, before you praise him as a hero, you should research into him and the history that comes along with him. How he had been sued for falsifying information in the book this movie is based off of.
I respect the armed forces just as much as the next guy but really ‘why I almost walked out’ its just a movie…..
It’s not un-American to speak up against an unjust war. It’s not un-American to want to keep your soldiers in the US with their family instead of killing innocent Iraqis for oil. It’s not un-American to wish your tax dollars went to schools, libraries, infrastructure, and innovation instead of guns, tanks, bombs and jets.
The hardest part of this whole thing is knowing how many families in our country lost a husband and a father for NO good reason in Iraq. The war was marketed as a war on terror even though Iraq was not the home of the terrorists who attacked us. It was marketed as a war against WMDs even thought they had now WMDs. And further to the point, you don’t fight a war on terror by sending troops over seas and putting boots on the ground. You’ll never win that way because every innocent person hurt by a tank or a bomb has a loved one who now has a legit beef with America. When we do battle in that manner, we spawn more terrorists.
Wars against terror are won by the CIA. They’re won with spies and intelligence. And although it may sound crazy, they’re won by taking the high road. Our government knows that. Our generals are fully aware of that. But we do it anyway because it maintains the status quo for the politicians in Washington. They get their oil. They get their votes. They wear flag pins and attend military funerals. The rally the masses with rah rah speeches about chasing terrorists. In reality they’re sending our sons and daughters overseas to kill someone else’s sons and daughters.
There will always be an enemy out there for us to go kill, because there will always be “leaders” at home who profit from this sick cycle of death.
Will someone please explain to me exactly how Chris Kyle “protected our freedoms”? Seriously, that is such a vague statement, I want to know specifically what would have happened to our freedom if he hadn’t killed all those people. Someone sees one movie and begins claiming this guy was a hero. I think we should all watch less movies and read more books.
It was a heavy movie to watch. To see everything to feel the horrors reach into my own heart. My boyfriend and I saw it together. And I cried like a little baby, helps not that I am an overly emotional girl anyways. But our movie theater was silent through the movie. It was silent at the end. People tiptoed out during the credits. I bawled my way to the car. I felt empty as I drove home. And the only thing I could do was think about just how unfair it was for his family and Mr. Kyle. He had just mentally made it back to his family… only to be killed…
It’s a movie. It’s meant to make money. Our military is made of volunteers and they are financially compensated. You almost left the movie because it was too real and you used that as your headline for ‘click bait.’ Your article is nothing but propaganda. Go home, you’re drunk.
And teachers complain they don’t get paid enough! Military personnell get paid peanuts to go to war! And some are traumatized for the rest of their lives!! With no job to go home to!!
Hi, Jennifer. I completely agree with what you have presented. We whine about our little problems. I think we should give those soldiers the honor that they deserve. For a matter beside the point, I do think though, that soldiers should stop going to war. For Jesus does want us to show everyone love. I don’t care what denomination they are, or if they are black or Muslims, or whatever. God loves them, and Jesus may want them as well. I don’t think Americans should be going over to countries to kill evil with evil. (Fighting fire with fire.) Jesus loves all, and I don’t think we, Men and Women of the World should go and take judgement to them.
Thank you for the post, you are certainly someone I will be following, and I am sorry if you feel like I was pointing my argument at you. For I wasn’t and I just want people to give some other people a chance. God Bless Jennifer, have a great day, or night for that matter. I live in Australia. Haha.
First I want to say thank you to Jennifer for writing this blog. The movie was absolutely amazing and I do believe it is time that our country starts to learn a little more about the lives of our service members and their families.
Secondly, I tend to read a lot of blogs like this one but never write any comments on them. I use these blogs to remind myself of one of the many reasons I joined the military. I joined for the freedom of all Americans. This freedom is not limited to any one opinion. These blogs show me that we still have that freedom that I fight to protect. People are able to get on here and agrue their position on things, while I go overseas and see men, women and children tortured and killed for speaking their opinion. While it hurts to see people post things that I don’t agree with, I like more that we are still able to do it. I hope that you all keep that in mind when arguing your points in the future and thank those that fight so that you may keep that right.
Spot on! Most Americans do live in a bubble. Vietnam made sure I don’t live in one. As George Orwell said, “Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.”
What a nice job on your article.
I would like to add to it by mentioning depiction of the spouse. This hits the nail on the head at what it’s like to be in that position. The reality of war doesn’t stop overseas. It continues for years in the minds of our loved ones, playing over, and over. Spouses eventually go as crazy as the warrior, as nobody can understand why they stay with such seeming abuse. Abused? Yes. Another sacrifice we make to bring our soldiers home. Home is a state of mind, not the soil we stand on. Sadly, some may never get home due to the lack of humanity from some.
Isaiah 6 :8 to me as a soldier this is our verse. I hoe whoever reads this message reads that’s verse…. To the person who wrote this article, thank you.
You are right, I clicked on your blog expecting a negative post. I loved it though, everything you said is dead on. We do live in a bubble and the moment I see the twin towers fall I am reminded every single time that there is evil in this world. This movie is so realistic when it comes to the struggles our military face daily. I’ve seen it twice it’s an ache that can’t be described.
Reading your review of the movie and the comments from your respondents just confirm to me what an extraordinarily paranoid society America has become. Evil is waiting round every corner to ambush you and force you to do unspeakable things if it doesn’t kill you all first. That is the “bubble” you are living in, a world where you wear the white hat surrounded by a sea of black turbans.
In reality you live in a world which is run by the corporations, AIPAC and the NRA and it is in their interest you see yourself as the persecuted good guy, and do all you can to keep them in power, and indeed be grateful for that privilege. America has always been good at re writing history (as all powerful nations have) and this film is another example of black and white
propaganda, be grateful for your strong military and don’t give a second thought regarding the legitimacy of what they do, everyone they take on is absolute evil, ask Lockheed Martin et al.
Great post. Please understand I am not being critical – just a lesson learned perhaps? My son is leaving for Parris island for Marine Boot Camp in a out 43 days. Marines are not the same as soldiers, and while it may seem silly – Marines are Marines – just thought you might want to understand the difference do your blog has more credibility because it has many good sentiments. Please forgive me if you are offended, as that is not my intensional.
I read your article twice —I did not get– WHY YOU ALMOST WALKED OUT OF THE MOVIE —
I know the story of Chris Kyle – saw the movie – I love -honor- respect – all my Military men and women..
Amazingly written! As an army wife, I completely relate with this movie and it perfectly depicts the struggles these soldiers face when returning from war. Thank you for writing this!!
Thank you for understanding, for caring and for voicing what many would view as a contrarian view. It seems that we as a nation far too often send that 1% off to fight our battles and promptly forget them as we ‘struggle’ to find time to fill our lives with minutae.
I still struggle with some memories that I would dearly love to erase (and am looking forward to the time when my King does just that when I get Home), but am ever mindful of those who continue to pay the price both in combat and after the guns fall silent. It is disturbing to me that the media seem ignorant of the 22 veterans who end their own lives every day; that and a populace who just don’t seem to care!
Bless you for caring; thank you for speaking up.
Very well said! Very well said! You wrote everything I have always thought. Our soldiers protect our freedom. The bubble does need to be broken.
Thank you so much for sharing this!
Jennifer is right on about the bubble we live in, but that’s why I watch these movies and get so pumped for them, not only cause I’m a fan of war films, but because that is a life I can’t live through or even think about living through that’s and why I have such gratitude for the men and women in our armed forces. This movie is a must see for anyone with family or military history.
If you REALLY want to honor these folks just go here …http://www.navysealfoundation.org/
wow, all this accolades for someone who ENJOYED killing. And we did not belong there and a lot of this movie is fiction. He had been on TV shows saying he wished he killed more. REMEMBER people … fiction… read the book !!!
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