Act of Valor
Those real characters of Navy SEALS famous for their shock and awe actions are appearing in a theater near you. The “Act of Valor” started showing on theaters on February 17, 2012. It made $24.7 million on its debut weekend and was on the top of the box office charts. This is a phenomenal movie premiere for a non-Hollywood film. The movie uses real life, active duty U.S. Navy SEALS and live ammunition. The “Act of Valor” is now playing over 3,000 theaters in the U.S. and Canada.
The movie follows real life U.S. Navy SEALS as they embark on a fictional covert mission to rescue a kidnapped CIA operative. Navy veteran Captain Duncan Smith developed the story and the production company Relativity Media made the movie.
It is not without controversy. Some say it glorifies the actions of Navy SEALS. After the shock and awe of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, SEALS may deserve the honor. But the real criticism may come from other countries especially from Middle East when it goes on worldwide release later.
The shock and awe here is the U.S. Navy agreeing to make the movie with active duty personal.
Earthquake in Central Philippines Claims 88 Lives and More
An earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale has hit Central Philippines, leaving almost 88 people dead or missing. Local government officials have claimed that at least 15 people have been killed, due to this latest attack that occurred at noon between the Negros and Cebu islands.
Describing the wide-spread panic that ensued as the earthquake hit the region, Mark Garcia, the director of information and publications at Siliman University explains, “A few minutes before wrapping up a regular meeting, we felt a strong tremor lasting for about 16 to 30 seconds and we hid under a table. People in the coastal areas are panicking, and we are still nervous of the tsunami warning even though it was canceled.”
The earthquake managed to bury at least 30 houses while also causing damage to eight bridges, which has resulted in the complication of rescue efforts as well as bringing the agriculture-based economy in the region to a grinding halt. People living in Cebu City also responded to the earthquake in a state of panic.
The archipelago of Philippines lies within the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire” region, one that is known for repeated earthquakes and volcanoes. While the country tries to beef up its disaster-response capabilities, these efforts are often inhibited by regular disasters and the fact that most of its population (almost 100 million) lives in sub-standard homes.
In addition, the country of Philippines also has to contend with around 20 typhoons a year, making it one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world.