Off Topic: American Sniper Movie,

Went & saw it Saturday Night. Didn't sleep worth a darn after it. I didn't know it was about the most lethal Navy Seal ever in Military History. I just thought it would be about the average sniper. Then was stunned to learn at the end He was killed in Feb 2013 trying to help a fellow vet beat, or cope with PTSD. Movie broke the all time sales record by 3 times over this weekend, & tonight being a holiday its expected to make around $105 million for the weekend. Already passed $90 million. It certainly was a movie worth seeing!

My wife and I saw it last night. First time I ever walked out of a packed theatre and there was absolute silence. As a director Eastwood was the best ever.

IMHO it's sad that a POLITICIAN won a $1.8 M settlement from Chris Kyle's estate. Chris Kyle lived about 30 minutes east of me and was killed about 30 west of me.

Tx Jim,
Can you elaborate on the 1.8 mil settlemaen, I don't remember hearing about that

Haven't seen American Sniper yet, but I experienced the "total silence" several years ago when Passion of Christ came out. Got out of the movie, headed to the restroom (as always!), there wasn't a word spoken, everyone just stunned, teeried eyed.

JV should have kept his mouth shut.Now more people know about him getting his butt kicked. Than they did before.But I guess he needed the money.

Kyle said he kicked Jessie Ventura's butt in a bar in his book. Ventura didn't like that so he sued. I heard he got $1.00 in the settlement tho. Or is there another suit as well.

Are you sure he got the money? I know he asked, but I thought he only got a dollar.

Ok, looked it up and your right he got 1.8 mil. Sad

I read the book, haven't been to movie yet. Kyle had a big advantage over other snipers numbers wise, because of the rate at which the Iraqis came. The Russian and German snipers in Stalingrad during WW II could shoot only a couple times a day because the other side had snipers too along with very good spotters. They could never take a second shot without taking hours to move to another location. Though the top ones never met they they new all about each other.

I read the book when it came out. The book was one of them that I couldn't pull myself away from. I read it in a couple days.
Looking forward to going to the movie. I'm going to until things settle down when its not so crowed at the theater.

work part time as assistant manager at the local theater. Sold it out 3 of 4 shows sat, and the 2 shows I worked Sunday. Not sure about Friday night, but am sure if it didn't sell out, it was close.

I'm not a big movie goer but I want to see that tonight.

Saw it Saturday night. WAY to close to home for me. Wish I could "un-see" it. I do think that our politicians who send us should be required to see movies like that.

Always thought Ventura was a sorry excuse for a human being, but that lawsuit is a new low, even for him.

Fox news and Glenn Beck have been following his story closely since he and the other fellow were murdered by the guy they were trying to help.

Haven't seen it yet, but everyone I know who has seen it tells me it is a must see, and one of the most powerful movies they have ever seen.

Michael Moore doesn't like it, so that should tell you it's a great movie.

I'm currently in Afghanistan on my sixth tour to this part of the world.
It does hit close to home! I think the directors done a wonderful job portraying the environment and dangers experience by all the veterans.

My son went to see it Saturday. He went for the afternoon show but had to wait for the late show because all were sold out. The theater even canceled another movie so they could show it on that screen. He said when the movie was over no one moved for several seconds and there was complete silence as everyone left.

I'm in no way trying to diminish what Chris Kyle did, but I'm suggesting that if you like him you should also read about Carlos Hathcock. He's the guy who actually did the through-the-scope shot.

I read the book when it came out. And I have read about every book that has been written about snipers, LPPS's, etc.
There have been some very good snipers in the past.

Their score all depends on a good source of targets.

And depending on the situations, lot of kills dont get counted.

When I read his book he was alive. I remember hearing on the news when the scumbag he was trying to help killed him. As for Jesse Ventura, he still needs to have his a$$ kicked.

Gene

I haven't seen it, and I probably won't.

I'm not sure I could take out someone 500 or more yards away just going about his business.

When someone is 50-100 yards in front of you and shooting at you, it's a whole different ballgame and easy to return fire.

I read the book about the time he died and also read "Marine Sniper", Carlos Hathcock's story. I've got a hard copy of "Marine Sniper" that Sgt. Hathcock signed for for my father-in-law at a local bookstore years ago!! Snipers have a hell of a job and don't let anyone tell you they "enjoy" it!! If they do, they don't last long from what I've read/heard. Got the DVD "Lone Survivor" for Christmas and watched it last week! Another fine example of what our service people go through in bad places!! We need to thank all of our servicemen/women overseas in some of those hostile environments every day for what they do!!

Haven't seen the movie yet but have seen the trailer and heard it is a good one. Plus, I found out Clint Eastwood was the director, most every movie he has a connection to is well done. I also want to see Fury but will probably wait until both come out on DVD.

Fox news has aired interviews with all involved including the family. A very fitting "prelude" to seeing the movie. Truth is pretty much always followed by silence and because of family cooperation the creators had access to info and video and e-mails etc that made this movie as close to an "autobiography" as it could be. A "true" movie will always be followed by silent people walking out of the theater. I'm surprised it was allowed to be aired since there are so many in power that are not served well by the "truth". Anyone who hasn't been over there to witness it needs to see it. "Candycoating" the truth just gets the country right where it is now. (opinion of '70 Vet.)

Goose- in the movie, he was protecting ground troops from being sniped or ambushed. It only showed him taking shots at the enemy setting IED's, ambush attacks, etc. Never showed him shooting someone just ambling around minding their own business.

I was referring to sniping in general, not this specific movie.

One of the best movies I have ever seen. On the same level as Saving Private Ryan. And everyone left in silence. I have never seen that before. Most people had tears in their eyes including me. I didn't sleep well after I saw it or the next day. I am still in shock over it all.

(quoted from post at 15:11:42 01/19/15) I was referring to sniping in general, not this specific movie.

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Snipers have rules of engagement, they dont just shoot people 500 yards away "just going about his business", unless his business is being an enemy combatant. If a sniper (or anyone else for that matter) shoots somebody that is not a combatant or even if they are a combatant but outside the rules of engagement, he can and will get charged with murder. You can do simple google searches and fine evidence of that.

Even "free-fire zones" in Vietnam had rules of engagement for snipers, Carlos Hathcock talked about it and I believe it was in his book.

Kyle in KY,

THANK YOU for your service to our Country!

Guys I am not a Jesse Ventura fan but Chris Kyle is not all snow white clean either. IF you research the suit you will fine out it was more over the statement he said Jesse Ventura said about the seals. The statement that was not true was "The SEALs deserved to lose some". This caused Jesse Ventura to lose sponsors, endorsement deals and actual work. It was proven in court that Jesse Ventura NEVER Said the statement. The long and short of it was Chris Kyle made it up. Jesse Ventura was a Seal and has always supported the Seals.

Chris Kyle also told many people, and some reporters, that just after his return from Iraq in 2009, he was carjacked by two men at a gas station on a remote Texas highway. Chris asked the men if he could reach into his truck to get his keys, and as he did he pulled a pistol from his waistband and shot both men in the chest from under his armpit. The two men were killed instantly. Chris called the police and waited for them while leaning against his truck. The police came, Chris handed them a phone number to call at the Pentagon. The cops called the number, and the people at the Pentagon told the cops that Chris Kyle was a war hero and a Navy SEAL. The police also went inside and watched the gas station surveillance video of the incident. The cops then let Chris go on his way. Chris claimed he got emails from cops all across the country after the incident thanking him for "keeping the streets clean". Great story. Except none of it is true. Not a single word.



Chris Kyle also made the statement "That I fired on looters in Katrina". That never happened either.

Now Chris Kyle was a great Seal. HE also had an ENORMUS EGO!!!! This is part of what got him killed. Yes he was trying to help a fellow but put himself in a no win situation. It was like he did not think he could be shot/killed.

I hate to see a movie made about a person that has such a spotty history. The reason being is that too many people will believe EVERYTHING they see in this movie whether it is true or not. Watching this movie will be the only "version" of the time frame that will actually be believed form now on.



I will not go to the movie. Period!!! I do not trust Hollywood to get anything right about anyone that served in modern times. Mr. Eastwood is far from a angle either. So I am sure that things were made to make the movie bigger than life. No one ever will actually know what is true or what is fiction.

Just saw "Lone Survivor" for the 2nd time on DVD. Don't know how they could make a movie so realistic?! I felt those landings when they fell off cliffs. Read the book; it's even better than the movie.

Last few times I've heard him I wanted to ask if his brain was hearing what his mouth was saying.

most lethal is a matter of opinion , he served in a very target rich environment. I would also suggest you become more educated about Carlos Hathcock and others that served in Vietnam and Korea . Carlos was being actively hunted by the enemy while he was in camp and out in the bush . He never sought fame and probably had more kills but many could not be verified due to where they happened . Read about him , it would make a better movie but all of those guys deserve our respect , they do a very tough job that very few can do.

You make some valid points JD. When we really look into nearly every famous figure in history, we find they were human with all the shortcomings and problems the rest of us live with every day.

The movie, like the book is not about whether every sentence Chris Kyle ever uttered was 100% accurate, it is about the politically correct environment in which our current military personnel have to operate and the unnecessary hazards those policies expose them to. Mr. Kyle was a true American Patriot who understood what it takes to defeat an enemy, for starters, their can be no doubt who and what the enemy is, sounds simple but is a concept sorely missing from the official approach. As for dubious tales, there have been a lot of lies told on this forum about Vietnam service and other subjects so I don't think Mr. Kyle cornered the market.

Fat Slob Michael Moore the film maker, says snipers are cowards and invaders are worse!

I just Googled the alleged attempted Chris Kyle carjacking and it allegedly happened in my hometown of Cleburne. If the Pentagon was contacted I think the carjacking incident could have been covered up very similar to UFO sighting incidents.