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The blockbuster American Sniper has opened up another front in the culture war, triggering a media firefight between liberals who have denounced the film as glorifying killing or whitewashing the Iraq war and conservatives who have embraced its patriotic hero.

Despite taking heavy flak from some critics, led by left-wing director Michael Moore, the film earned a jaw-dropping $247 million in its first two weeks, exposing a chasm between the Hollywood and political elite and moviegoing public not seen since the release of The Passion of the Christ in 2004.

Bloomberg Politics called American Sniper the official Oscar nominee of the culture wars.

SEE ALSO: Congressional veterans: American Sniper a realistic portrait of sacrifice, wars toll

Youre seeing the same kind of astonishment that Hollywood reacted with when Passion of Christ went well, said Los Angeles talk-radio host Larry Elder. The fact is, most Americans feel pretty good about their country, most Americans are very patriotic about their country, most Americans support the military, and even if they feel the mission may not be a good mission, they still support the military. And I just dont think Hollywood gets that.

The latest high-profile skirmish came Monday when actor Gary Sinise blasted former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Deans declaration that ticket-buyers flocking to see the film are very angry tea party types.

I bet you if you looked at a cross-section of the tea party and the people who go see this movie, theres a lot of intersection, said Mr. Dean on HBOs Real Time with Bill Maher.

SEE ALSO: Gary Sinise to Howard Dean on American Sniper diss: What the hell are you talking about?

Mr. Sinise, an active supporter of veterans, swung back with a post on WhoSay informing Mr. Dean that he had seen the movie and would not consider myself to be an angry person.

You certainly have a right to make stupid blanket statements, suggesting that all people who see this film are angry, but how is that helpful sir? said Mr. Sinise, who stars in CSI: New York.

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'American Sniper' smashes box office records, ignites culture war