Entertainment

Michael Moore clarifies sniper tweets, Seth Rogen chimes in on "American Sniper"

By Lauren Moraski

Updated on: January 19, 2015 / 6:26 PM EST / CBS News

"American Sniper" scored six Oscar nominations, topped the weekend box office -- and now the war movie is sparking talk in Hollywood.

Filmmaker Michael Moore created a lot of buzz over the weekend with these two tweets:

My uncle killed by sniper in WW2. We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot u in the back. Snipers aren't heroes. And invaders r worse
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 18, 2015

But if you're on the roof of your home defending it from invaders who've come 7K miles, you are not a sniper, u are brave, u are a neighbor.
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 19, 2015

After his comments gained traction online Moore wrote a length Facebook post clarifying what he meant and noting how he didn't "say a word" about the movie "American Sniper" in his tweets. Moore said some media outlets turned his comments "into stories about how I don't like Clint Eastwood's new film, 'American Sniper.'"

So ppl want me 2tweet something bout American Sniper? Great acting! Powerful message. Sad ending. There. My FB post: https://t.co/By4leT6b67
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 19, 2015

"Lots of talk about snipers this weekend (the holiday weekend of a great man, killed by a sniper), so I thought I'd weigh in with what I was raised to believe about snipers. My dad was in the First Marine Division in the South Pacific in World War II," Moore wrote. "His brother, my uncle, Lawrence Moore, was an Army paratrooper and was killed by a Japanese sniper 70 years ago next month. My dad always said, 'Snipers are cowards. They don't believe in a fair fight. Like someone coming up from behind you and coldcocking you. Just isn't right. It's cowardly to shoot a person in the back. Only a coward will shoot someone who can't shoot back.'"

Seth Rogen, meanwhile, chimed in directly about the movie, making a joke in reference to the Nazi propaganda film shown in Quentin Tarantino's 2009 film, "Inglourious Basterds."

American Sniper kind of reminds me of the movie that's showing in the third act of Inglorious Basterds.
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) January 18, 2015

He later followed up with the following tweets:

I wasn't comparing the two. Big difference between comparing and reminding. Apples remind me of oranges. Can't compare them, though.
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) January 19, 2015

But if you were having a slow news day, you're welcome for me giving you the opportunity to blow something completely out of proportion.
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) January 19, 2015

Clint Eastwood's "American Sniper" follows Bradley Cooper portraying real-life Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle.

"American Sniper": Bradley Cooper on playing lethal sharpshooter 01:13

Cooper, who received a best actor at last week's Oscar nominations, told CBS News, "I never saw it as a war movie, I saw it as a character study. So, I never even contemplated anything other than someone would get to know this man and his family."

Sienna Miller, who portrays Kyle's wife Taya, said her role gave her more appreciation for families of military members.

"The people who are the spouses of military servicemen and women are sacrificing a huge amount as well, and it was a really interesting thing to explore."

Tell us: Have you seen "American Sniper" yet? What do you think about the movie?

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