13 Hours: Review

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, the battle fought by six men who decided to do the right thing. In 2012 the threat level in Benghazi is deemed critical, Libya is seen as a failed state. With the fall of Gaddafi, armed militants now fight on the streets. International consulates are closed. All except the USA, who keeps their ambassador and his staff in the country. Just one mile up the road, the CIA has a secret facility, where it hires private contractors as it’s security, men with the necessary skills and backgrounds, to survive in such a worn torn state.

Based on the actual events of the time, 13 Hours is brought to life on screen by director Michael Bay, better known for films such as Armageddon and Transformers. However, 13 Hours does not take the usual route favoured by Bay, but instead ops for a lot more realistic action scenes, placing the viewer in the midst of the chaos, and keeping things extremely realistic.

While 13 Hours may be lacking in a few areas, such as some character development and drama, not to mention perhaps a bit more background on the historic facts of the day, it is certainly a ride for any fan of the action genre. The story kicks off rather quickly, as we are introduced to the main characters, a bit of exposition on their various skills, and then on to the crux of the matter to cover the attack.

To the credit of the cast and filmmakers, they have most certainly had the requisite training and advising to have each character look the part, and feel as if they could indeed have had the talked-about military background. As the first shot rings out, the tension mounts, and the viewer is drawn yet further into the story.

13 Hours, while packed full of action, does not do anything over the time, nor does it dwell on the cruelties of war. It tells its story in an efficient manner, and then moves on, as would be the case in a country so used to conflict.

A fun action film, a shot of adrenaline and some history, this is one for anyone looking for action, war or just a plain escape. The film opens 19 February 2016 in South Africa.

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb