American Sniper. What was your take away?

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Finally saw the movie. Didn’t read the book. Haven’t followed the story in the news, but have read several reviews of the film which tended to delve deeper into Chris’ life. Even with that information in the back of my mind I’d say I was able to appreciate the film as is.

As film quality goes (script, direction, production), it played very much like a made-for-tv movie. Certainly not Oscar worthy at all. Here’s the thing, though: the film did not convey a particular message, that was clear. It just pulled the curtain back on a very condensed version of the life of an american sniper. However, I could see that each viewer in the theater walked out with their own take away.

Mine was the toll being a soldier in active duty takes on the soldier and those around him.

For those who have seen the movie, what was yours?
 
Mine take was very much the same as yours. I didn’t read the book either by the way.

Wasn’t a pro or anti war movie per se-- just examined how it impacted the lives of the soldiers and their families as it dragged on, how it changed them and their own views on what they were doing.
 
I do wonder how many soldiers could do what Chris did and not be deeply disturbed or affected by it. Chris seemed to come out o.k. right? Kind of reminds me of Sargeant York from WW I.
 
I haven’t seen the movie, but I did take away the following from an interview with him: c-span.org/video/?305347-1/author-chris-kyle-american-sniper
Host: CHRIS KYLE, THIS WEEK IS VERY MUCH WRITTEN IN THE VERNACULAR AND A LOT OF SWEARING IN THIS BOOK. >> Guest: YES, SIR. AND IN THE MILITARY THERE IS A LOT OF CUSSING. THAT IS PART OF THE MILITARY CULTURE. IT IS A ROUGH, GRUFF TYPE OF SOCIETY, AND WE’RE NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT, SO IT’S – I DON’T TALK LIKE THAT ON A DAILY BASIS, ESPECIALLY NOW HERE IN THE CIVILIAN WORLD, BUT THERE IN THAT TIME IT’S, IT’S ALSO KIND OF A WAY OF STRESS RELIEVER. YOU’RE CONSTANTLY IN HECTIC SITUATIONS, AND THIS IS A WAY OF, YOU KNOW, JUST VOICING IT AND GETTING IT OUT AND THEN MOVING ON.
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Unfortunately, a lot of people seem to use the language outside its place, without actually being in those kinds of situations to relieve stress. I am not one to judge here, just to note for young people in particular looking at the military to know they have a civilian side too.
 
JamalChristophr said:
I do wonder how many soldiers could do what Chris did and not be deeply disturbed or affected by it. Chris seemed to come out o.k. right? Kind of reminds me of Sargeant York from WW I.
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NO ONE can kill that many people and still be OK, Im sorry, I just dont believe that, while he was killing dangerous people, he was still taking lives, All we can do now is just hope and pray that God viewed all those killings as being justifiable.

I dont know about anyone else, but Im getting fairly tired of hearing the frequent tag line to his life/ the movie, ‘the most lethal sniper in US history’. Somehow I dont think this is something to brag about (maybe its just me though?)
 
I saw the movie and liked it. It was definitely not like a made for tv movie. It was a true story about a life of a soldier who was a sniper and bravely served his country. It showed the stress of being in the war, trying to maintain a marriage and family while you are deployed and trying to readjust to civilian life when they return.
It made me realize that serving in the military where so many put their lives at risk, lose their lives or are horribly injured is mostly a thankless job. Do they feel appreciated for what they do?
 
We keep treating soldiers like they’re holy men/women. My parents both served. I volunteer at the VA. While these are mostly good people, and they deserve respect for their service, they’re just people. This unhealthy reverence makes honest discussions about the actions of the military and foreign policy difficult. I think this movie is slightly harmful to that discussion.
 
mikekle said:
NO ONE can kill that many people and still be OK, Im sorry, I just dont believe that, while he was killing dangerous people, he was still taking lives, All we can do now is just hope and pray that God viewed all those killings as being justifiable.

I dont know about anyone else, but Im getting fairly tired of hearing the frequent tag line to his life/ the movie, ‘the most lethal sniper in US history’. Somehow I dont think this is something to brag about (maybe its just me though?)
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Would God ever see the taking of lives as justifiable?
 
DerekTM said:
We keep treating soldiers like they’re holy men/women. My parents both served. I volunteer at the VA. While these are mostly good people, and they deserve respect for their service, they’re just people. This unhealthy reverence makes honest discussions about the actions of the military and foreign policy difficult. I think this movie is slightly harmful to that discussion.
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The sanctification of war… yes, incredibly disturbing and a definite trend in society.
 
I saw it about 2 weeks ago by chance. (Nothing else on at the time I spontaneously decided to go into the theatre. I was highly impressed by the story and Bradley Coopers portrayal of the sniper. (Good Lord it was a thousand times better than Birdman)

I was shocked by ending though. I hadn’t known that bit. My daughter and I were a bit flabbergasted that anyone would take a psychotic person out to the wilderness and give him a big gun… as therapy. :confused:

Overall, I thought it was a great story that lends itself to continued significance in US military history.
 
LNR said:
Would God ever see the taking of lives as justifiable?
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That depends on the circumstances, in the OT, God instructs people to kill for many reasons, although they usually involve some sort of blasphemy…but then also in the OT, we have the 10 commandments (thou shalt not kill).

IMO,( and I know some will not agree, but I personally believe this), but I believe the killings in a war could go either way with God, depends on if the war itself is just or not, if the true reason for invading is something nefarious, like greed, oil rights, etc. then I dont think God would consider that to be a ‘just’ war.
 
DerekTM said:
We keep treating soldiers like they’re holy men/women. My parents both served. I volunteer at the VA. While these are mostly good people, and they deserve respect for their service, they’re just people. This unhealthy reverence makes honest discussions about the actions of the military and foreign policy difficult. I think this movie is slightly harmful to that discussion.
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Of course they are people. But they don’t have a job like a mailman, store clerk, janitor, teacher, librarian, etc. We should have reverence for people who serve our country or our cities - like policemen and firemen too. There is nothing unhealthy about honoring those who risk their lives. My father served in World War II and my two uncles also.
 
7_Sorrows said:
Of course they are people. But they don’t have a job like a mailman, store clerk, janitor, teacher, librarian, etc. We should have reverence for people who serve our country or our cities - like policemen and firemen too. There is nothing unhealthy about honoring those who risk their lives. My father served in World War II and my two uncles also.
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It’s not healthy that we treat them with such reverence that questioning the actions of the military is treated like heresy. Honoring them for their service and blind jingoism are not the same thing.
 
DerekTM said:
It’s not healthy that we treat them with such reverence that questioning the actions of the military is treated like heresy. Honoring them for their service and blind jingoism are not the same thing.
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Blind jingoism?
 
7_Sorrows said:
I didn’t say that honoring the military for their service and blind jingoism are the same.
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I never said you did. People often confuse blind jingoism with honoring the military. In our country people take “honoring the military” to the extreme - to point of being jingoistic. Questioning the military in any way is treated like sedition or treason. That is what I was criticizing.
 
DerekTM said:
I never said you did. People often confuse blind jingoism with honoring the military. In our country people take “honoring the military” to the extreme - to point of being jingoistic. Questioning the military in any way is treated like sedition or treason. That is what I was criticizing.
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Ok. Sorry. Thanks for your explanation.
 
Is it any wonder why Americans now treat our returning soldiers with respect since those who fought in Viet Nam were so horribly treated when they came back? Sometimes the public bends over backward but it is to be expected from that history. They were spit on and called baby killers. Those men were drafted too and didn’t have much choice.

I like to see our soldiers treated respectfully now. They have a hard job that needs to be done as long as we need to be protected.
 
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