I guess this film just resonated with me more than its detractors. I'm perfectly fine with a no thrills, realistic representation of Kyle's life; I saw something in it I recognized and I realized that most people wouldn't. I get that people want to find a bigger meaning, that they want the movie to take a stance to support their views. Those people generally do that from the comfort of a home far away from the front lines, entirely disconnected from the lives of people who deploy. For those of us who have served, we wanted a little less out of life. We'd take a hot shower, somewhere it isn't 120 f***ing degrees in the shade. A package of Skittles. Anything to cut through the boredom of being on watch for twelve hours. The promise of coming home. I think the movie did a good job at showing the little things that make up a soldier' (seamen, airmen, marines)s life. You ever heard an air raid siren in your neighborhood? Ever had to find hard cover in less than 30 seconds? You ever lost somebody you see every day in a matter of seconds? Most people haven't and wouldn't understand that life. I thought the movie did a good job of showing an unknowing (and apparently uncaring) public a glimpse of what life is like. War, as experienced by soldiers is apolitical. It's a job. You do it well and you get to come home maybe. The people back home that sent you there, the people back home who don't want you there, they fight (or more accurately shout) to find meaning and morality in a war they are not experiencing. The whole old men send young men to die thing. I think certain people just don't "get" a war movie, wouldn't recognize the genuine article from Hollywood schmaltz. Eastwood's film gave me flashbacks. I didn't necessarily enjoy it, but like I said earlier it resonated with me. In my opinion, it's the genuine article.