12 Strong – Movie Review

12 Strong 

By: Howie Chan

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

WARNING! THIS MOVIE MAY BE VIOLENT 

This movie is based on a true story where 12 American soldiers infiltrate Afghanistan to help position air strikes on multiple terrorist bases in the country. The soldiers are dispatched for a counterattack for the 9/11 attacks. Each of the soldiers are determined to fight back, satisfied that they are going to be the first ones to do so. The movie sustains a grim mood where the casualties and extreme danger of a war are represented clearly, but the characters persists. They team up with a warlord that hate the terrorists, the Taliban, as much as they hate him. He accepts the request, and along with the 12 soldiers with their air support, take out many Taliban bases and support stations.

The vehicles the soldiers use for transport was none other than horses, contrary to the modern armour and guns each of the soldiers carried. Many of the soldiers aren’t experienced with riding. Nearing the end of the movie, the soldiers are faced with their final task, flush the Taliban out of a city they control. One of the soldier’s back is damaged after a long period of riding, and so he was not included in the main force.

The soldiers struggle with the enemy army for a while but prevail, defeating the Taliban by taking out their greatest weapon, a rocket launcher that had 40 salvos. Taliban’s leader is killed by the warlord they have sided with, while the rest of the terrorists are bombed upon by the air support. Having finished their mission, the 12 soldiers return to America, their families overjoy to see them having returned safely.

Overall, both the action and dialogue were excellent; the exciting parts giving me a feeling like I was with the soldiers and how thin line between life and death was. The warlord had given many lectures on the main character, talking about being a true warrior and how none of the people in his army were forced to fight. Each of the troops in the warlord’s army had come by their own choice, and they were free to leave as they wished.

The once hidden story of how 12 soldiers ventured into enemy territory with no one to fend for but themselves, with a equal determination and bravery that led to the success of this mission, has a much more real experience than a made up war story. Later on, the warlord and the soldiers maintain their friendship, and a statue was also built near the World Trade in memory of their mission. If you like action and war movies, then this is the perfect fit for you.