No. 84 12 Strong (2018) 80/100

 

I thought I’d seen this one before but having sat through it I don’t think I have, but I’m not sure. There was something similar to this that I watched on Netflix but there is so little to distinguish this film from many others in the genre that I can’t be sure. It was decent enough though, although I doubt I’ll remember it when it next appears on my watchlist.

 

The film opens with a montage of various terrorist atrocities committed against the USA by Bin Laden, culminating in the 9/11 attacks. The military has had quite enough and decides to send troops to Afghanistan. Rather than use current soldiers they get recent retirees Chris Hemsworth and our friend, Michael Shannon to head a team being sent to support the Northern Alliance. The Alliance is ostensibly the good guys and the Americans need to assist them in stopping the Taliban and Al Qaeda taking over the country before the Americans can gain a foothold.

 

They get to base and boss William Fichtner, who is strangely bald, tells them they have six weeks to complete the mission. Hemsworth, obviously not keen on the extra hazard pay, says they’ll do it in three as the snow is coming and they’ve not packed their woollies.

 

The team is dropped off and after a few missteps they team up with the local militia. Our guys only have horses whilst the baddies have tanks, but the Americans also have the slight advantage of the carpet-bombing capabilities provided by their B52 bombers.

 

Our heroes split into two groups and set up a choke point where they can hope to wipe out the baddies. Minor troubles to surface such as squabbles between the Afghan warlords but it’s generally straightforward. After many battles the battle is won, but who’s left standing and what consequences will these initial engagements have on the overall War of Terror?

 

The best thing about this film was the battle sequences and explosions. It was a Jerry Bruckheimer production so that shouldn’t be a surprise. Hemsworth is a big plank of wood by the gets decent support from Shannon and Michael Pena.

Shannon is a bit of a sicknote however; first hurting his back and then getting caught up in a s*icide bomber explosion. He spends the last twenty minutes on a stretcher, and we only hear that he’s survived in a passing comment.

 

The film is ‘Based on a True Story’ but a lot of elements seems quite unbelievable. It is true that all 12 survived but the number of black shirts that they wipe out is massive and I can’t believe that they can bomb with the seen accuracy from high altitude.

 

Still, I won’t nitpick – this was a worthy tribute to some brave men and although the film was a bit light on the politics of the matter, there is plenty of bang for your buck. 

 

When is Shannon-On? – 04.01

Outcome? Airlifted to Germany to be patched up. 

Film 3/5

Shannon Stars 3/5