Don't think the Taliban have landed a single round so far. If you wish to see how great and good the Americans are you will also not be disappointed. Obviously the movie makes some artistic, social and political changes but it seems like a mostly faithful retelling of the story. However I am really weary of seeing Captain America type of movies where only the Americans know how to shoot, kill, jump, ride and have emotions. So to me, watching this movie was a waste of my time and money. Like any Hollywood depictions of based on true stories movies there are always additional materials to keep the story interesting, and I believe they did a good job in showing what these true American hero's do on a daily basis.
But it is true, this really did happen. Again the movie pulls no Hollywood bombast in depicting this. At best it is an ok movie. It's a ride, on horseback. But many would have lost interest in the drama. The heroism is off the charts as everything changed the minute the 12 dropped in.
Much like Lone Survivor it's a pretty decent depiction of a true story for a film production, but also much like Lone Survivor, I wish it had taken the source material a tad more seriously, and attached much more telling and brutal realism like Saving Private Ryan and The Hurt Locker in terms of mood and dialog and acting, and even equipment and battle scenes. . The one star reviews are simply ridiculous. It's a ride, on horseback. The bottom line is this is a good homage based on real events and that always hovers large. If it could have been better depicted I'm certainly not sure exactly how as the victory was near impossible and that is captured on film quite realistically. I can honestly not believe that these kind of movies are still being made.
It's all 'good guy, bad guy'; The Americans are the saints, the heros; The Al Qaida the bastards. It's been dumbed down, and 90% of the audience will have no idea. So I guess there's no real hard done, right? While the events may have been true we certainly do not know for a fact how it really went down. We won in real life too. The one star reviews are simply ridiculous. I'm more into realistic war-movies, with depth-characters.
Did I fail to mention are invincible as well. Importantly the movie gets this point across. Its a typical movie of the type where all Americans are so great and good and can just walk through an army of men without anything happening to them. Talk to some Afghani people who know a bit about their own country and the Taliban. This is a story based on actual accounts. Enjoy it for what it is. It is on around 90 minutes too long too.
It's about the journey not the well known destination. On that accord this movie excelled. Somewhere between a 6-8 is reasonable and rationale. Enjoy it for what it is. The Afghans who incidentally historically have fought and mind you defeated many empires were once again portrayed and fumbling buffoons. More realistic tactics, weapons that fire and report realistically, bombs that aren't full of fireballs all the time, etc.
See the film and don't pick it apart, rather, be proud there is another great generation and just be glad we have soldiers like these 12. Not sure I can watch the entire flick. Read the book Horse Soldiers. Somewhere between a 6-8 is reasonable and rationale. It seems like even our supposed allies are so distrustful the operation is doomed. I feel like our veterans deserve better. If it often seems like a lunatic's gamble as the small group of 12 immediately were split due the lack of trust by the Northern Alliance's war lord.
The movie is a fairly standard Hollywood-version military exercise, and I can't fully fault the production team or actors because they have to tell a big story in 2 hours about a major event that should be well known to Americans and Afghans alike, let alone the rest of the world. If you like your war films to be one round short of decent, this could be your flick! I want something that transports us there. Quite simply it deserves the big screen treatment as it was a first victory in a war which goes on as I write this. To sum it up, its boring Hollywood propaganda. Plus, no one behind the special effects or acting or script or direction were there. Department of Propaganda has excelled on this 'true story.
An hour in before any action takes place. Might have been an all-time great. I don't want a Tears Of The Sun fairy tale with my war movies. A soldier is asked; 'Will you do this dangerous job? I have nothing but praise for these fearless 12 warriors and I'm proud their story is now displayed for all of us who they put it over the line for. I know for a lot of people from the other side of the pond, anything that their govt and army says is the gospel.
The acting is bad, whole story unbelievabke, the acting and script is a joke. Doesn't matter what your politics are. It's about the journey not the well known destination. We won in real life too. Some other reviews here are saying that they are disappointed that it is predictable story. My advice is to watch if you like good positive ending movies, unlike some reviewers who care to watch chaos endings and continue to live in that type of world. The book and story upon which this Hollywood flock is based is awesome, and even important.