A Symbol of America

Rating: 10/10 (19 March 2015)

On February 2nd, 2013, an American hero was lost in a traumatic shooting. American Sniper not only honors Chris Kyle, but also those valiant warriors who fight for our nation's security so you and I may sleep peacefully at night.
American Sniper places the viewer in the boots of Chris Kyle, a lethal Navy SEAL who served four years over seas in the deserts of Iraq. Kyle serves as an armament for his fellow soldiers, for his family, and for the United States of America as he puts them first above all else. This film exposes the hardships these warriors undergo from the first-hand experience of Chris Kyle. American Sniper illustrates how war is not the only battle these soldiers are fighting. Chris Kyle experiences internal conflict and family conflict, in addition to the four years of war over seas in Iraq. This movie depicts the family sacrifice these warriors experience as well as the greatest sacrifice an individual can make; an honorable death of dying for one's own country.
The movie industry often presents war movies as representations of the beauty of conflict. However, American Sniper provides another view of how war is not beautiful, but obligatory. Chris Kyle's remarkable stature and incredible skills as a sniper embody the professionalism of the United States Navy SEALS as well as his dedication to serve his people. However, his time as a warrior causes PTSD and tensions at home.
Kyle is not the only warrior presented in this movie, his wife, Sienna Miller, endures many difficulties as well. Sienna Miller is a loving wife and great support for Chris Kyle, however she undergoes numerous challenges due to Kyle's long absences in Iraq. This passionate excursion of not being able to see her husband for extended periods of time, knowing he could be killed at any point in time during deployment, and not being able to stay in constant communication reveals the life of all American soldiers' wives. American Sniper depicts this challenge that these women are facing today and their warrior-like attributes that they reveal on a day-to-day basis.
Clint Eastwood's American Sniper is a film that is able to relate to the men and women who give all for America and captures what conflicts they experience. This motion picture honors these courageous souls and brings to light their heroic stature as guardians and symbols of America.