It’s been awhile since America has made a full fledged propaganda film (unless you count Top Gun). Act of Valor is unmistakeably the work of the US Government, as the military oversaw and approved the script writing process, contributed live weapons and even real-life soldiers, both on and off screen. Military consultants advised the filmmakers on several tactics, and the film stars actual active duty Navy Seals as well.This doesn’t really have an effect on the film’s quality overall, but it’s a component worth mentioning when you factor in the filmmakers’ process of bringing this film to the big screen.

Act of Valor both fails and succeeds in the most unexpected ways. The most muddling aspect of this film is sadly, it’s action scenes. The editing is so choppy that one can’t even tell what’s going on- shots are fired and the camera cuts to four different angles in about one and a half seconds, leaving you mildly confused, outside of the recognition of certain bangs and claps, but then the sequence is over, and you’re left cold- wondering where the rest of the action scene is.

This is a sad fact, that the film’s best assets, its action scenes, are its biggest weakness. When you’re trying to sell a film about action starring real life action heroes, you damn well expect them to actually make the sequences fun, or even coherent.

The film’s best parts are surprisingly, in its dialogue-centered sequences. Whether it’s the cold and straightforward opening narration or the highly memorable interaction between one of the film’s sergeants and one of the film’s many villains, it is surprisingly well written; and proves to be one of the highlights of the two hour film.

Most of the film’s technical aspects are done very well. For example, the cinematography is very well done, whether it be an angle from the point of view of a moped or a helmet camera. Shots like this look to emulate a mission from the Call of Duty video games, something that us teenagers are sure to eat up.

Act of Valor contains several elements of greatness, yet it fails at what are arguably its most important components. Avoid paying for this, but if you’re looking for interesting dialogue and character studies that appear throughout, you may be mildly entertained.

Reviewers Score:(According to Rottentomatoes.com) 28%

My Score: 6/10