Review of Lone Survivor (2013) by Prodigy2013 — 19 Jan 2014
Peter Berg is no stranger to directing tense action sequences, but when it comes to story and characters, he's lost in the fray. 'Lone Survivor' is an Afghanistan-set war film about a special-ops mission, that goes horribly wrong, and it features one of the years finest sound mixes and some gritty scene to get the blood pumping.
Where I can give the film applause for these visceral technical aspects, I can't give such praise to the things that matters most. Its funny that a movie so firmly built on comradery, features a hokey group dynamic between these imperiled soldiers.
Everything in this relationship felt cliched; without being true and moving. Undeveloped characterizations was the blame for this; but what would you expect when the movie cares more about thrilling audiences with action sequences rather than moving them with depth.
I also took issue with the film's heavy-handed delivery of its message of patriotism and courage; and how it paints its Middle Eastern villains with limited shades. They are simply relegated to being "the bad guys".
In the end 'Lone Survivor' was a feast for the eye and ears, but has little to offer for the brain.
This review of Lone Survivor (2013) was written by Prodigy2013 on 19 Jan 2014.
Lone Survivor has generally received positive reviews.
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