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Movie Analysis: American Sniper

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The movie American Sniper follows the life and military career of one of the United States’ best snipers in history, Chris Kyle. Kyle grew up in Texas and joined the military as a young man, enlisting in the Navy SEALs. After the 9/11 attacks, Kyle served four tours in Iraq and amassed the most kills in U.S. military sniper history. After his tours, Kyle returned home to his wife and ran a program helping disabled veterans. In 2013, however, Kyle was shot by one of the veterans he was trying to help who was suffering from PTSD. The in 2014, a movie based on Kyle’s life was made. In telling Kyle’s story, the movie portrays him as an all American hero and purports traditional American values. The opening scenes of American Sniper (beginning to …show more content…

The American cultural values are highlighted through the depiction of the proud American way in the flashback narration, in which Kyle hunts, goes to church, and protects his brother. While establishing these values, this also helps characterize Kyle as a decent American, which is important later in the film when the audience sees what Kyle’s job as a sniper entails. The mise en scene also helps characterize Kyle and highlight the typical Americanness with reference to the human figure, the way the setting is portrayed, the lighting, and the composition of the shots. All these elements appear to make Kyle seem like the ultimate good guy/ patriot protecting his country. Additionally, the mise en scene depicts America in a bright way, with light colors and well put together, while the Middle East is depicted with dark colors and as run down, again depicting the cultural idea of the Middle East as broken and of America as a place of opportunity. With these characterizations and cultural ideals established in the first few scenes, the tone and message of the film is set up from the beginning. The audience is made aware of the message early in the film (that Kyle is a good guy who respects the traditional American values established in the film) to ensure that they root for the correct side (Kyle even though he was responsible for many deaths), which is why the elements of these opening scenes are vital to the

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Chris Kyle, U.S. Navy SEAL is known not only “The Legend” and “The devil” but the hero who had the most Sniper kills in United States military. The autobiography states Chris Kyle being the most lethal sniper in U.S. History. With over 100 recorded kills within the four tours in the Iraq War. The purpose of The autobiography of Chris Kyle is to acknowledge the dangerous, brave and crazy life of an American Sniper. From 1999 to 2009 Chris Kyle has come close to death various times but had also saved countless lives.

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He became a Navy SEAL and was assigned to SEAL Team 3. Chris Kyle was a US Navy SEAL in SEAL Team 3. Kyle is said to be the most lethal sniper in US military history and has 160 confirmed kills. Kyle served four tours in the Iraq War. He was awarded several awards and medals for the great things he did.

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In, book he claims, “The Navy credits me with more kills as a sniper than any other American service member, past or present” (Kyle 5). In other words, the Navy credits Chris as the deadliest sniper in American history. With “160 confirmed kills in Iraq” (Kyle 5). Chris didn’t give himself full credit.

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With four Bronze Star Valor medals and two Silver Star Medals, Navy Seal Chris Kyle is regarded to be one of the all time deadliest snipers in U.S Military history. Chris served four deployments to Iraq and had over one hundred and sixty confirmed kills (Greenblatt). Soon after his first tour of iraq, the enemy placed a $80,00 bounty on his head, yet he was able to survive all four deployments without any major harm (Perry). Sniper Chris kyle was a classic tragic hero. He was admired by all and a great leader in battle, but he allowed his love for America and the U.S troops to ultimately lead to his own destruction.

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In the film American Sniper directed by Clint Eastwood and the novel Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut, both works exhibit depiction of war through the protagonist. However, each work is portrayed differently as they each show a representation with opposite depiction of war. While one decides to promote war, the other diminish it. In Eastwood’s adaptation of American Sniper, his insight appears as a promotion for pro-war propaganda, in contrast, Slaughterhouse Five depicts ideas that portray the war in a poor light. American Sniper retells the story of Chris Kyle, a Navy Seal who was reported to have 160 confirmed kills.

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According to the film and book “American Sniper", Chris only felt bad about the lives he couldn 't save, not the ones he did. He had no problem killing the enemy but could not bear to see his fellow servicemen be killed. Many marines look up to him as a savior because he was their only protection when walking down hostile streets. Enemy soldiers would hide and ambush so Kyle would prevent them from ambushing.

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