12 Strong: The Declassified True Story of the Horse Soldiers
Review: A Routine but Effective War Film
The Guardian
A formulaic but well-crafted war movie that will appeal to fans of the genre
12 Strong is a war drama film directed by Nicolai Fuglsig and written by Ted Tally and Peter Craig. The film is based on the book "Horse Soldiers: The Extraordinary Story of a Band of U.S. Soldiers Who Rode into Afghanistan after 9/11 and Defeated the Taliban" by Doug Stanton.
The film tells the story of a team of 12 U.S. Army Special Forces operatives who are sent to Afghanistan in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. Led by Captain Mitch Nelson (Chris Hemsworth), the team must work with the Northern Alliance to take down the Taliban and their Al-Qaeda allies.
A familiar but well-executed story
The film's storyline is familiar and predictable, following the typical template of a war movie. The characters are also somewhat one-dimensional, with Hemsworth's Captain Nelson being the only one who gets any significant development. However, the film's execution is where it shines.
The action scenes are intense and well-choreographed, with a strong focus on practical effects. The film's cinematography is also noteworthy, capturing the harsh beauty of the Afghan landscape.
A strong cast but little character development
The cast of the film is impressive, with Hemsworth being supported by Michael Shannon, Michael Peña, and Trevante Rhodes. However, with the exception of Hemsworth's Captain Nelson, the characters are given little depth or development.
A formulaic but effective war film
12 Strong is a routine but effective war film that will appeal to fans of the genre. While it doesn't bring anything new to the table, it tells a compelling true story with strong action sequences and a talented cast.
Rating: 3/5 stars
Positives:
- Intense and well-choreographed action scenes
- Strong cinematography
- A talented cast
Negatives:
- Familiar and predictable storyline
- Little character development
- One-dimensional characters
