Act of Valor, Starring Real U.S. Navy SEALs

Perhaps the unlikeliest action sequence in this film is based on a real-life event, in which Private Channing Moss survived the impact and injuries from an unexploded Taliban RPM that struck his abdomen with full force. It hardly needs to be said, but don’t try that at home. It also depicts the potentially catastrophic consequences when Islamist terrorists try to exploit the porous southern border, but surely we have fixed all those problems in the time since this film first released in 2012, right? Regardless, the courage and dedication of the U.S. Navy SEALs and Special Combat Crewmen remain a source of national pride. Many of the dedicated real-life Navy SEALs and Crewmen played fictionalized versions of themselves in Mouse McCoy & Scott Waugh’s Act of Valor, which makes fitting viewing for the Fourth of July weekend, when it airs on El Rey Rebel.

It starts in the Philippines, with the assassination of the American ambassador, who was instrumental in coordinating anti-terror alliances. It was perpetrated by the pro-terror alliance of Chechen Islamist terrorist Mohammad “Yuri” Abu Shabal and his old pal, “Christo” Troykovich, an international smuggler-money launderer. Operating out of failed states like Somalia, they are training suicide bombers to infiltrate the United States from Mexico, with specially designed vests would not set off metal detectors.

SEAL Team 7’s Bandito Platoon only learns of the evil plan from intel gathered after they rescue CIA Officer Lisa Morales from Christo’s thugs. Suddenly, their mission extends and expands. That is rather inconvenient for Chief Dave Nolan and his close friend, Lt. Rorke James Engel, who is due for leave in anticipation of his son’s birth. Yes, that kind of happy news never bodes well in movies, does it.

Since real deal SEAL were involved in Act of Valor right from its inception, the action sequences are highly realistic and consequently very intense. Rorke Denver and Dave Hansen develop some nice comradery as Engel and Nolan. Beyond them, the rest of the SEALs have little character development or even identifiable personality types. However, pro-thesps Roselyn Sanchez and Nestor Serrano look and sound smart and snappy together as Morales and her colleague, CIA Officer Walter Ross. Indeed, it is refreshing to watch a film that considers the CIA part of the good guys.

At the time of its release, Kurt Johnstad’s screenplay got justifiably slammed for pointedly identifying Troykovich as a Jewish character, helping a terrorist buddy out of friendship. Indeed, it is a highly questionable call, but hopefully not intentionally nefarious. Sadly, we have lately seen far worse antisemitism every day, on college campuses and the BBC. Frankly, it is also bizarre that the terrorists are also given Chechen origin, rather than Middle Eastern. In real-life, half the attacks blamed on Chechen separatists are more likely false flag operation orchestrated by Putin and Kadyrov.

Nevertheless, the heroes are always unambiguously red, white, and true blue. Indeed, the Navy SEALs’ real deal action chops are impressive and their service and sacrifice are inspiring. They just deserved a better script. (Still, the homage to Moss’s service is undeniably a dramatic high-point.) Recommended for the SEALs who are heroes on and off-camera (despite the geo-politically clueless script), Act of Valor airs this Sunday (7/6) on El Rey Rebel (the digital/DirecTV remnant of the now-defunct El Rey cable network). Happy Independence Day!