Accurate, nothing woke

Good movie compared to the director's previous work, it portrays a real event so no forced diversity, it's based on real people.

Not leftist per se, but portrays US soldiers in a somewhat negative light. Whether this was due to the creator's incompetence or PC-ness, not easy to tell.

As real as it gets on the big screen

This movie depicts an engagement far from my time or place. Full disclosure, I never was with the US Marines or SEALs.

Still, most of the details ring true to me. Especially non-operational. What the blokes think, how they deal with the escalating situation, most of it.
Regarding tactics and procedure, well, it's still a movie. Proper distancing sometimes makes for poor cinematography, I guess. But it's mostly good, as far as I can tell. Which is not very far.
Square pins, UK sockets in Iraqi apartment, though, not so sure.


This movie does not have much a plot, beyond the pitch. In this case, it's a feature, not a bug. The plan is always the first victim of contact with the enemy.
Making good plans is a desirable quality. Making them fast is better. By the way, the movie feels real time. The vehicles ETA sure are.

I've seen criticism arguing the movie depicts the US military as incompetent. I'd argue to the opposite. The situation management depicted here is solid, at all levels. The men get showered in shite, and they push through. Might not be glorious, might not look good, but any combat you walk off from on your feet has a seed of victory.


The cast is solid, and have good, natural interactions. Natural in the context.
Jarvis from the Shogun series makes a comeback in this. Still excellent, but so are all the others, in admittedly not overly demanding roles, ie: ensemble cast and military operation context.
As an aside, one of the young actor is a D'Pharaoh McKay Woon-A-Tai. I'm not usually into taking the piss, but that is one hell of an unlikely name there. Could be a story behind it. Anyway, the guy is pretty good too.



This movie tells its story at the tactical level. It's about losing men, not troops. Time and place may have changed, but war remained the same for the muddies. Infantry's harsh.

Would you like to know more?

I appreciate this film for breaking all the rules of filmmaking. There is no plucky comic relief character. There is no hero who saves the day. There is a cavalry of sorts, but, well, you'll see.

Perhaps I am too jaded by older jingoistic war movies from the 40s and 50s, but I couldn't help wondering what was altered for public consumption. If I knew everything was legit, then I would give it 5/5, but doubt leaves me at 4/5.