Review of 12 Strong (2018) by Jaime L — 28 Jan 2018

I feel like this could have been so much better but instead what I saw was a mass of cliches. The dialogue was often terrible with standard lines given. "I will return to you wife!" and "I would follow you anywhere my brother soldier!" "My ally, we had differences at first but now we are great friends!" I couldn't help but groan inside.

Plus I felt no real connection to the characters so when the action scenes occur I felt no concern for the those concern. The Afghans were just extras and the Horse Soldiers themselves were shallow or total enigmas.

Then we have the villain, the Al Qaeda commander, the perfect representation of a mustache twirling baddie. He is introduced in such a hamfisted and brutal way that what was supposed to be a powerful appearance went over flatly.

I wasn't angered or frightened by his actions, just irritated at how the scene was executed. With such great source material its a shame to be let down here.