American Sniper

[BF]

When the movie was over, there was a hushed reverence in the theater....you could have heard a pin drop....literally.

[Rams]

I don't go to movie theaters often any more since I got our big screen but, I'm thinking this one will put me in one of their seats.   

[Jersey mike]

I hadn't been to a movie in years until a couple months ago, my brother took me to see Fury, it was excellent.

[pais]

When the movie was over, there was a hushed reverence in the theater....you could have heard a pin drop....literally.


[/quote
 Glad I'm not the only one that noticed the same thing, BF. Also glad that Ohio was not the only state that this happened in! As the movie trailer continued into the credits, yes you could of heard a pin drop. No one moved a muscle, literally. I have never seen this happen in a movie theatre before.
  I took my 14yo son and a friend of his to see the movie, Saturday afternoon. After the movie as we walked to our car, my son said that it was a great movie. I agreed! After that not a word was spoken over the 15 min ride home. Those two young men were silent and somber. Hopefully my son understands a little more, why we fly the Stars and Stripes so proudly 24/7 at our home. Among many other reasons, mind you.

[MAD6Gun]

 My wife doesn't like to g of to the movies. We were watching FOX and friends this morning and they were doing a segment  on sniper. Said she would like to see it. I went to a buddies house and saw Fury Friday night. Good flick.....

[Oldfishguy]

Good movie in many regards.

The movie itself is very well done, and a shot at Oscar along with Mr. Cooper as lead actor.

For many viewers, the idea of PTSD will be finally understood.

But I think the real impact of this movie is that it sticks with you, even a couple days later now .  Maybe the better word is . . . "haunts".

[BF]

I've seen both. 

The movie Fury doesn't even compare. 

[Raider]

I just saw this with my wife and we experienced the same thing- absolute silence at the conclusion.  I expected it to be intense, but didn't expect it to cause such an emotional event for me.

I found myself crying several times through the movie.  I suppose this makes me soft or weak to some.  I don't care. 

The helplessness he had in his inability to save men.  I stood outside a burning bunker with one of my Marines trapped inside.  The heat was so intense, I could not force myself to take another step forward and then the ordnance in the bunker went high order.  I and my corporal were furtunate to live through the blast.  I've come to terms with the fact that I'm not God- I'm not all powerful and can therefore expect that I will in some situations, find myself powerless.  Still, this hit close to home.

Also, the scene with the butcher.  I don't like to curse, but found myself saying out loud, "KILL THAT M***** F*****!"  I can't count the Iraqis who with tear streamed faces, thanked us for ousting Saddam for the terrible torture that he and his men brought on them.  I saw men with life long injuries from the torture.  Men who cried about their daughters had been abused.  Men whose lives were irreversibly altered by bad people.  They gave us cigarettes, flowers, and some offered daughters as brides. 

I felt like we were doing a good thing only to see us punt and give the country back to an even worse brand of evil.  I couldn't help but to think that our sacrifice was for naught. 

This seemed like as good a place as any to get a little weight off my chest.  I wasn't able to explain to my wife why I was crying.  I just couldn't put it into words until I started typing.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Just got home from watching it. It was an excellent movie ! I too was saying to myself "kill that MF'er".

[Stanley Steamer]

My HS girlfriend's Dad was a sniper in Vietnam.....I asked him about it in '87.....he still wouldn't talk about it.....

[Jess from VA]

Raider, I was moved by your your post.  

And also your point of view on having sacrificed in the service of Country for a good cause, then have that cause and sacrifice seemingly marginalized and abandoned.  With a few exceptions, this seems to be a pattern ever since WWII.

All gave some, some gave all.

Thank you for your service.  

[Raider]

Thanks to all for hearing.

[old2soon]

Raider-all I'm gonna say is Mom and Dad went to their graves NOT knowing their Son had been shot at. And thanks for your service and Welcome Home.

[Rams]

Excellent movie about one brave and patriotic man, his family and his brotherhood.   

We are extremely fortunate to have such patriots serve and protect us.

[Oss]

Went to the movie alone this evening

I had read the book, Clint Eastwood directed a magnificent
movie and I too sat after it was over shaking my head even
though I knew how it would go

Raider you said it very well, thank you

[BF]

I admit that I welled up at the end of this movie.   :'(

I live in a very heavily military populated community.  I work on a military installation.  I carried a weapon in my service. 

I stood and saluted before I walked out.  As the wife and I were leaving, I looked back....a good half of the men in attendance were doing the same thing. 

I welled up again just watching these trailers. 

This is a very powerful movie.  If you don't ever go to the movies again, go and watch this one. 

I'm not the only one either.  From our local paper.....

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/local/local-viewers-flock-to-american-sniper-1.426714?tc=cr

“The theater was packed full at noon on Sunday with lots of military personnel,” Trudi Bombine-Collier wrote on the Daily News’ Facebook page. “No one said a word after the movie was over - not a dry eye in the theater.”

Jaina Mann saw the movie at a Saturday morning matinee at the AMC Destin Commons 14.

“Military spouses will totally relate to Taya Kyle (Chris’ wife),” she wrote. “When it was over, everyone got up in silence.”

According to many viewers, that response was very common.

“When the movie was over, the only sound you could hear were sniffles - even from the men in the audience,”

American Sniper - Official Trailer [HD]	powered by Aeva

American Sniper - Official Trailer 2 [HD]	powered by Aeva

American Sniper - Featurette [HD]	powered by Aeva

[jimmytee]

I have not seen the movie. The trailers tear me up alone. I was not a sniper, but it still hits close to home. I can easily imagine my reaction to actually seeing it.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I have not seen the movie. The trailers tear me up alone. I was not a sniper, but it still hits close to home. I can easily imagine my reaction to actually seeing it.

You should go see it. It is emotional. You may get emotional, that's ok you won't be alone . I think one of the things I appreciated about the movie was how they showed what the wife's went thru. Also how some thought it was not worthwhile being there but they did their job regardless.

[Raider]

Raider-all I'm gonna say is Mom and Dad went to their graves NOT knowing their Son had been shot at. And thanks for your service and Welcome Home.

Haha. Good plan.

We'd find small arms projectiles on the ground after they had been shot in our compound. I used to give them to the young guys telling them to show it to the young ladies, "This one almost got me." I figured it was sure to get then some action. Haha

I couldn't keep quiet. I received an award in 03 that spelled out some hairy antics. No hiding that.

[Jersey mike]

I've seen both. 

The movie Fury doesn't even compare. 

BF...since I haven't seen Sniper, I wasn't trying to compare the movies based on the substance of them, I was only commenting because of the stress that must have been tremendous on that tank crew, especially after the final battle and the way the final scene panned out showing the result of their fortitude and sacrifice.  If I remember right, that was based on actual event too.

From hearing the reviews it seems I may need to get to see this movie also.

[Firefighter]

I want to say thank you to all you service men and women out there. I try to understand what you go through, or have been through, but realize there is no way I can without being there myself. I know there are many people who don't have a clue and take their freedom for granted which must be frustrating for you, especially after you have put your life on the line, but there are many of us who do know the truth of why we are free. So Thank You again!
Firefighter

[BF]

I've seen both. 

The movie Fury doesn't even compare. 

BF...since I haven't seen Sniper, I wasn't trying to compare the movies based on the substance of them, I was only commenting because of the stress that must have been tremendous on that tank crew, especially after the final battle and the way the final scene panned out showing the result of their fortitude and sacrifice.  If I remember right, that was based on actual event too.

From hearing the reviews it seems I may need to get to see this movie also.

I'm not downplaying the movie Fury.  Went to see it when it first came out and liked it.  However, Fury is not in the same league as American Sniper.  There is no comparison to the two movies. 

American Sniper is a very powerful and moving movie....an experience that I believe that everyone in this country should see. 

[Novavalker]

I'm going to see the movie tonight.

One of our snipers killed an ISIS scum bag last week. 

http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/01/19/canadian-snipers-shot-at-isis-in-iraq-after-visit-to-front-line-turned-into-firefight-senior-officer-says/

[big d]

Went with the wife Saturday to see American sniper. It hit a little to close to home on several fronts. While I was never in the service I had two nephews, brothers that were over there. Seeing my sister (their mother) every time they went out and she couldn't talk to them for weeks and or months at a time was heart breaking. Also on 9/11 I was working at the Union carbide complex in westchester county and was outside on a break when I heard the planes following the river, I didn't think much about it cause the military played war games and followed the river on a frequent basis. Then I was told by a fellow employee he heard the twin towers were hit and on fire. My sister in laws husband was in the building in front of the towers when they were hit. He actually saw people he knew jumping. It destroyed him mentally.
  Clint Eastwood nailed this movie. It's been several years since I've been to the movies but this is one I would see again.
   A huge thank you to all who served...

[BobB]

Sue and I just got home from seeing American Sniper this evening.  As some here have mentioned, there was dead silence in the theater while the credits were rolling.  Fury, which we saw a few weeks ago, does not compare to the power and emotion of this movie.  A must see.

[blackvalk]

I haven't seen this movie, but I do remember at the end of "Saving Private Ryan" trying not to breath because I was afraid  the people around me would hear my emotion.

I did my best to keep it quiet and inside.

[Stanley Steamer]

I heard ppl sniffling in the one I went to....and as the credits rolled, everyone stood up and clapped

[Jack B]

Borrowed from a new friend. Please read:
 Some of you may have seen American Sniper by now but if you haven't you should read this first. I post it on this page because everybody needs to know what George and Laura did during this time of mourning in Texas that to my knowledge was never publicized just as they probably wanted.
Jack Smith
If you plan on seeing "American Sniper" be sure to read this:
.
Make sure you take the time to read what is written here. This will make the movie experience far more meaningful and make you question our leaders even more.
This is a long read. It’s worth your time. Our government may be a mess but we Americans still have HONOR!
This is why America will remain strong. We take care of our own as well as others who may not deserve taking care of. I just wanted to share that out of a horrible tragedy we were blessed by so many people at Chris Kyle’s funeral.
Chris became the armed services number #1 sniper of all time. Not something he was happy about, other than the fact that in so doing, he saved a lot of American lives.
Three years ago, his wife Taya asked him to leave the SEAL teams as he had a huge bounty on his head by Al Qaeda. He did and wrote the book "The American Sniper." 100% of the proceeds from the book went to two of the SEAL families who had lost their sons in Iraq .
That was the kind of guy Chris was. He formed a company in Dallas to train military, police and I think firemen as far as protecting themselves in difficult situations. He also formed a foundation to work with military people suffering from PTSD. Chris was a giver not a taker.
He, along with a friend and neighbor, Chad Littlefield, were murdered trying to help a young man that had served six months in Iraq and claimed to have PTSD.
Now I need to tell you about all of the blessings.
Southwest Airlines flew in any SEAL and their family from any airport they flew into...free of charge. The employees donated buddy passes and one lady worked for four days without much of a break to see that it happened. Volunteers were at both airports in Dallas to drive them to the hotel. The Marriott Hotel reduced their rates to $45 a night and cleared the hotel for only SEALs and family.
The Midlothian, TX Police Department paid the $45 a night for each room. I would guess there were about 200 people staying at the hotel, 100 of them were SEALs. Two large buses were chartered (an unknown donor paid the bill) to transport people to the different events and they also had a few rental cars (donated). The police and secret service were on duty 24 hours during the stay at our hotel.
At the Kyle house, the Texas DPS parked a large motor home in front to block the view from reporters. It remained there the entire five days for the SEALs to congregate in and all to use the restroom so as not to have to go in the house. Taya, their two small children and both sets of parents were staying in the home.
Only a hand full of SEALs went into the home as they had different duties and meetings were held sometimes on a hourly basis. It was a huge coordination of many different events and security. Derek was assigned to be a Pall Bearer, to escort Chris' body when it was transferred from the Midlothian Funeral Home to the Arlington Funeral Home, and to be with Taya. A tough job.
Taya seldom came out of her bedroom. The house was full with people from the church and other family members that would come each day to help. I spent one morning in a bedroom with Chris’ mom and the next morning with Chad Littlefield's parents (the other man murdered with Chris). A tough job.
George W Bush and his wife Laura met and talked to everyone on the Seal Team one on one. They went behind closed doors with Taya for quite a while. They had prayer with us all. You can tell when people were sincere and caring.
Nolan Ryan sent his cooking team, a huge grill and lots of steaks, chicken and hamburgers. They set up in the front yard and fed people all day long including the 200 SEALs and their families. The next day a local BBQ restaurant set up a buffet in front of the house and fed all once again. Food was plentiful and all were taken care of. The family's church kept those inside the house well fed.
Jerry Jones, the man everyone loves to hate, was a rock star. He made sure that we all were taken care of. His wife and he were just making sure everyone was taken care of….Class... He donated the use of Cowboy Stadium for the services as it was determined that so many wanted to attend.
The charter buses transported us to the stadium on Monday at 10:30 am. Every car, bus, motorcycle was searched with bomb dogs and police. I am not sure if kooks were making threats trying to make a name for themselves or if so many SEALs in one place was a security risk, I don't know. We willingly obliged. No purses went into the stadium!
We were taken to The Legends room high up and a large buffet was available. That was for about 300 people. We were growing.
A Medal of Honor recipient was there, lots of secret service and police and Sarah Palin and her husband. She looked nice, this was a very formal military service.
The service started at 1:00 pm and when we were escorted onto the field I was shocked. We heard that about 10,000 people had come to attend also. They were seated in the stadium seats behind us. It was a beautiful and emotional service.
The Bagpipe and drum corps were wonderful and the Texas A&M men's choir stood through the entire service and sang right at the end. We were all in tears.
The next day was the 200-mile procession from Midlothian, TX to Austin for burial. It was a cold, drizzly, windy day, but the people were out. We had dozens of police motorcycles riders, freedom riders, five chartered buses and lots of cars. You had to have a pass to be in the procession and still it was huge. Two helicopters circled the procession with snipers sitting out the side door for protection. It was the longest funeral procession ever in the state of Texas. People were everywhere. The entire route was shut down ahead of us, the people were lined up on the side of the road the entire way. Firemen were down on one knee, police officers were holding their hats over their hearts, children waving flags, veterans saluting as we went by. Every bridge had fire trucks with large flags displayed from their tall ladders, people all along the entire 200 miles were standing in the cold weather. It was so heartwarming. Taya rode in the hearse with Chris' body so Derek rode the route with us. I was so grateful to have that time with him.
The service was at Texas National Cemetery. Very few are buried there and you have to apply to get in. It is like people from the Civil War, Medal of Honor winners, a few from the Alamo and all the historical people of Texas. It was a nice service and the Freedom Riders surrounded the outside of the entire cemetery to keep the crazy church people from Kansas that protest at military funerals away from us.
Each SEAL put his Trident (metal SEAL badge) on the top of Chris' casket, one at a time. A lot hit it in with one blow. Derek was the only one to take four taps to put his in and it was almost like he was caressing it as he did it. Another tearful moment.
After the service Governor Rick Perry and his wife, Anita, invited us to the governor's mansion. She stood at the door, greeted each of us individually, and gave each of the SEALs a coin of Texas. She was a sincere, compassionate, and gracious hostess.
We were able to tour the ground floor and then went into the garden for beverages and BBQ. So many of the Seal team guys said that after they get out they are moving to Texas. They remarked that they had never felt so much love and hospitality. The charter buses then took the guys to the airport to catch their returning flights. Derek just now called and after a 20 hours flight he is back in his spot, in a dangerous land on the other side of the world, protecting America.
We just wanted to share with you, the events of a quite emotional, but blessed week.
To this day, no one in the White House has ever acknowledged Chris Kyle! However, the President can call some sport person and congratulate him on announcing to the world that he is gay?? What is happening to our society, our honor and our pride??
Please, keep this moving!

Living the dream...

[Pappy!]

Raider - I think you wife understood why. Give her a great big hug!

[Raider]

Raider - I think you wife understood why. Give her a great big hug!

 

[Gavin_Sons]

Went and watched it last night. Great movie

[flamingobabe #44]

First...thank you to all vets and service men and women....you make our freedom possible....

Jack B....wow....that was awesome.....I would like to know the author......

Mark and I never go to movies....we went opening day to see American Sniper......excellent movie.....the USA is in such division these days that Americans need a hero

[T-Bird]

Thanks for posting Jack. I read this just before I saw the movie....I still have a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye.
R.I.P. Chris

[Oss]

The Republic of Texas no doubt did right by their sons

 

Thank you Jack B   I had not known any of what you posted except for what I saw in the movie

[Ken Tarver]

Raider & Jack B

THANK YOU



Ken

[blastedbugler]

Saw the movie today  "The imitation game".
This is the story about how the English boffins broke the German Enigma code during the war.
They say it saved millions of lives & shortened the war by 2 years.
Another way of fighting that you rarely hear about.
"American Sniper" is in town so will check it out.
"Fury" good but a bit gungho.

Blasted bugler

PS The Valkyrie Interstate has gone & I have moved on.
Now with 3 bikes.
2014 Suzuki Boulevard, 1973 Honda CB750, 1955 Adler.
My first bike in the 50's was a Adler.
Then it was bare feet, no helmet, impress the girls.
Oh how we change.

[musclehead]

that's the same thing I heard from a co-worker this morning. sounds like this movie puts things in perspective

[Popeye]

Saw it last night with youngest son who had already viewed it once.

Jack, read your post before I went, thanks for the info.

Very powerful movie.  Very quiet in theatre after if was over.