13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi Review - Rotten Tomatoes
Introduction
"13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi" is a 2016 American action-thriller film directed by Michael Bay and written by Chuck Hogan. The film is based on the 2013 non-fiction book "13 Hours" by Mitchell Zuckoff, which tells the story of the 2012 Benghazi attack. The movie stars John Krasinski, James Badge Dale, and Pablo Schreiber as three members of the Annex Security Team, a group of CIA contractors who fought to defend the US diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya.
Rotten Tomatoes Review
The film has received mixed reviews from critics, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 51% based on 204 reviews, with an average rating of 5.8/10. The critical consensus on the site reads: "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi is a well-made and intense action-thriller, but it's also overly simplistic and lacking in nuance."
Some of the positive reviews include:
- Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: "Michael Bay's most coherent and effectively violent film in years, 13 Hours is a tribute to the bravery of the men who fought to protect the Benghazi consulate." (3.5/4 stars)
- Todd McCarthy, The Hollywood Reporter: "A gripping and expertly mounted action film that follows a heroic true story with unflinching attention to detail." (Positive review)
On the other hand, some of the negative reviews include:
- A.O. Scott, The New York Times: "The movie is a mess, but it's a fascinating mess, a disaster movie that also happens to be a disaster as a movie." (Negative review)
- David Fear, Rolling Stone: "13 Hours is a jingoistic, simplistic and more-than-a-little exploitative take on a real-life tragedy." (2/5 stars)
Critics' Common Complaints
One of the common complaints among critics is that the film oversimplifies the complexities of the Benghazi attack and reduces it to a simplistic action-thriller. Some critics also felt that the film was overly patriotic and jingoistic, with some even accusing it of being Islamophobic.
Positive Aspects
Despite the mixed reviews, many critics praised the film's intense action sequences and the strong performances of the cast, particularly John Krasinski, James Badge Dale, and Pablo Schreiber. The film's technical aspects, including its cinematography and sound design, were also praised.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi" is a film that has received mixed reviews from critics. While some praised its intense action sequences and strong performances, others felt that it oversimplified the complexities of the Benghazi attack and was overly simplistic and jingoistic. Despite this, the film is still worth watching for fans of action-thrillers and those interested in the true story behind the Benghazi attack.
