This glass was half empty

Rating: 5/10 (27 February 2018)

Perhaps this movie is more personal if you're from the USA, but I found the story empty and unmoving. There is little character placement, little story and the general message seems confusing. In addition, the realism in pulling this of and the politics behind each decision seems very unlikely to me.
The actors put down a solid performance, but the story behind each character is missing. There was no sense in what drives or motivates them in doing what they do or why they want to follow their captain in battle. Sure, you have the 9/11 attack as a "drive", but I could not shake of the feeling they were more playing "cowboy" than taking revenge on the attack. The dread of having an all out war if they would not take the city also felt like missing the mark. The idea is there, but it does not deliver.
On visuals this movie is excellent: the scenery is very nice and the action takes you right on the spot in the battle field, yet again I felt like, as is the case in may more movies, that understanding in being a "warrior" instead of a "soldier" has more to do with running stupidly and blindly across the battle field all hero-like, than with common sense.
12 Strong failed in delivering and if you want to see a good movie of a war against all odds, go see 300.