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When discussing “American Sniper and War as Entertainment,” Susan Reimer uses language that is passionate and emotional. With phrases like “have the nerve to,” “squeamish,” and “personal hell” her passion for what she thinks of using “contemporary war” for movies radiates throughout the entire article. The readers can understand Reimer’s fervor due to her emotional attachment to the topic. Her son did three tours in Afghanistan and in college she faced the fear of her boyfriend being drafted into the war with his “lottery number of something like 11.” She realizes the feeling of being that mother at home while her son is away at war, so movies like American Sniper do affect her emotionally and become a topic she is passionate about. Reimer’s tone is thoughtful, and she shows that in her word choice with phrases like “I can’t really say” or “I knew it was an important movie.” The columnist considers others’ opinions, but she is also aware of how certain things, like contemporary war films, make her feel. The readers are able to ponder Susan Reimer’s point of view and realize how the topic makes her feel compared to their own opinions.
As soon as I saw the trailer for American Sniper I knew that I wanted to go see it. The trailer tugged at my heart strings causing my eyes to immediately tear up, and with one of my favorite actors, Bradley Cooper, as the main character I needed to see it. However, after reading this fervent article written by Susan Reimer I am reconsidering my enthusiasm. I still want to see my movie, but I never considered the point of view of people who have fought in Afghanistan or Iraq. The immediate reaction for most people with movies like this is that it is a movie. Not many people take in the reality of it all, especially if they have no personal connection to the war. Reimer allowed me to realize that this real life situation involved real life people, and I need to take that into consideration whenever I do see the movie. |