12 Strong

Do you remember where you were on September 11, 2001? 

Well, this story comes after. 

12 Strong had an early Digital release on April 10. The Blu-ray combo pack and DVD debuts on May 1. 

The movie tells the declassified true story of the first American soldiers sent into Afghanistan. 

They were the first boots on the ground after 9/11. Except horses were required.

HORSE SOLDIERS

The story gained traction from the popular book by Doug Stanton. It was published in 2009 and went by the title of Horse Soldiers.

The movie premiered in January. It took the second slot at the box office and couldn’t quite beat the hit known as Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.

12 Strong finished with a $45 million domestic gross. The worldwide tally was over $62 million. 

(Yes, even Paddington 2 fared out better at the box office and with the critics.) 

On a brighter note, storywise anyway, the movie brought back attention to what Doug Stanton wrote. Readers pushed the book onto the New York Times (Paperback Nonfiction) Bestseller List. It stayed on that particular list for about 15 weeks this year.     

The R-rated war drama had Nicolai Fuglsig in the director’s chair. Jerry Bruckheimer shifted gears from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, and along with Alcon Entertainment and Black Label Media helped with production. Of course, with many in the behind-the-scenes team.  

Chris Hemsworth and Michael Shannon take charge of the cast. The ensemble includes Michael Peña, Trevante Rhodes, Geoff Stults, Thad Luckinbill, Austin Stowell, Ben O’Toole, Austin Hébert, Kenneth Miller, Kenny Sheard and Jack Kesy. Navid Negahban, Elsa Pataky, William Fichtner and Rob Riggle round things out.

A small band of Special Forces soldiers were sent into Afghanistan in October 2001. Their mission was to convince members of the Northern Alliance - led by a warlord - named General Abdul Rashid Dostum. 

The soldiers wanted to fight alongside them against the Taliban. To overcome the mountainous terrain though, horses were needed and even necessary for battle. 

VERDICT

Would I buy this film? Yes. 

Is it the greatest war movie ever? I wouldn’t go that far. (Don’t think it tops Saving Private Ryan or an oldie like Kelly’s Heroes.)

12 Strong is a solid flick though. I was entertained and never felt bored. 

This is probably the strongest performance - outside of the Marvel Universe - I have seen yet of Chris Hemsworth. There are very few scenes he is not featured.   

I did read the book. I try not to be one of those tough book-to-movie critics - ‘Well, that scene wasn’t in the book OR they didn’t put that scene in the movie.’ 

Sure, the story is changed in some aspects of the screen. But the general rundown of what happened is still there.  

Chris Hemsworth’s character is Captain Mitch Nelson. The inspiration for Captain Nelson is Major (Ret.) Mark Nutsch. Michael Shannon’s Hal Spencer is really Chief Warrant Officer (Ret.) Bob Pennington. 

(My impression is the two soldiers preferred some anonymity when the book was initially published.)

These soldiers went into harsh, rugged and unpredictable terrain. They left their families behind. They had to adapt the tactics of the Afghans and basically go back-in-time.

The people willing to serve and their families willing to sacrifice, it is quite amazing.          

12 Strong may not be the greatest war movie ever. The fact it’s based on truth is what makes it more impactful.     

SPECIAL FEATURES OVERVIEW

It’s only two segments. I found them interesting. 

12 Strong: The Making of an Impossible Mission (22 minutes, 5 seconds)

- Major Mark Nutsch and Chief Warrant Officer Bob Pennington talk the movie and some about the actual mission they were on. The cast and crew also discuss the training, shoot and being involved in the film which is on a true story, of course. The usual behind-the-scenes spiel. The input from the actual soldiers is what makes this appealing. 

Monumental Effort: Building America’s Response Monument (10 minutes, 13 seconds)   

- There is a monument found by One World Trade Center in New York City. This is the story of how it got there. 
Sculptor Douwe Blumberg discusses the creation of the bronze statue of a soldier on a horse. It looks like it makes an impression on the people who see it. 

Warner Brothers Home Entertainment