dvdjunkie32

Well this is kind of a bummer. Yesterday I caught a bit on the Joe Rogan podcast where he interviewed Andy Stumpf, a retired Navy Seal. The discussion was on the topic of military movies. I was a bit surprised when this guy could not come up with a single military movie that was realistic or technically accurate in comparison to a real life experience. One of the first films he put down was Sicario. One of the things I loved about Sicario is I felt like it was giving me a window into a world of law enforcement that I've never seen before. Turns out it is just Hollywood BS.

A scene where a CIA op has his gun in the wrong firing position was so bad that Andy couldn't watch anymore. All the movies that were sold to us as true accurate stories. BS. Lone Survivor, American Sniper, Zero Dark Thirty, Black Hawk Down and of course the ridiculous Navy Seals movie. The only movie he really praised was Saving Private Ryan's opening scene. Even that scene was technically inaccurate, but it did capture the essence of chaos and terror.

Andy pointed out that being a Navy Seal is like 80% training and op preparation and in the real world, grenades don't go off with a bang or explosion. He didn't really fault Hollywood because a movie needs to be entertaining with lots of action and tension. We would like to think these movies are also paying tribute to the real life soldiers by giving us a taste of their experience, but is it really if we have to be entertained as well?

dex14

Draven

This is surprising? I've worked in television and video production for 30+ years and I've never once seen a movie or show that was accurate about that world. I'm sure doctors and lawyers and cops would say the same thing.

RichC2

The film makers set out to make cinematic experiences, real war isn't that.

Bluelitespecial

I watch a lot of those Joe Rogan clips, there's nothing really newsworthy about what he said if every movie centered around the military was true to life it would be more of a documentary and boring for a movie that's supposed to be entertaining.

E Unit

Dale Dye would beg to differ, especially with the movies he's worked on.

Nick Danger

Detective movies don't show genuine techniques on how to get away with murder, for obvious reasons. It only makes sense that military movies don't show genuine techniques on how to defeat US forces.

TomOpus

Sicario is a military movie???

melasnus

Although Sicario isn't a "military movie," I would agree about Sicario being VERY unrealistic (I turned it off fairly quickly), but so is just about any shoot-'em-up movie.
To be fair, movies are not meant to be a slice of reality.
By nature, there is fantasy mixed in.
Documentaries are about as close as we get.

Groucho

This is true of anything. Have you ever watched a movie that features your profession that was accurate? Yet we assume they are getting it right for other professions.

fujishig

Yeah, I was about to say this. Like watch any "hacker" movie when you have any kind of knowledge of computers or networking and your brain is going to hurt.

Groucho

Wait, so you are saying when I use a computer the monitor doesn't project code onto my face?

DaveNinja

turn up your brightness to 11

Rob V

Zack and Miri Make a Porno was pretty accurate

dvdjunkie32

Do you honestly think a movie like American Sniper would have been as popular as it was if the audience went in knowing that what they are seeing is mostly fiction and not grounded in reality? Part of the appeal of these movies is making the viewer feel like we are experiencing what they did. Maybe the guy is just being too nit picky. I won't think any less of these films if the actors don't throw a grenade right or use the right formation. Most of the actors go through a couple of weeks of pseudo boot camp from an advisor.

dex14

Yes.

stvn1974

All of the ribbons and insignia worn by actors in movies when playing military officers is also wrong because it is a crime to impersonate and officer.

Bluelitespecial

I'd say the guy is too nit picky.

gmanca

inri222

Let's not even discuss religious epics.

d2cheer

Agree, the movie he praises SPR he wasn't even alive for when the real events took place so he has no basis to say it was "technically incorrect" unless he studied the battle plans. I was in the military as well and you learn to ignore the technical aspects of the movies. I will admit it was hard at first however. But not watching a movie because someone holds a handgun or rifle wrong? Please. That still does drive me nuts however....


Correct.

Nick Danger

My favorite part of the video was when the guy said that a prop error with a gun in Siccario (the gun wasn't loaded) was enough to make him turn off the movie. Snowflake.

dvdjunkie32

Why the hell was my thread title changed? Just to be a dick to me? I was only looking for some discussion here, but thanks for reminding me why I stopped creating threads on this forum.

mattysemo247

I've been watching episodes of Burn Notice recently while at the gym since it's streaming on Prime and often thought, "how true is any of this?" when Michael talks about fighting, explosives, training and tactics, etc. I kinda don't want to Google it because it will take the fun out of watching the show

davidh777