Surprisingly sober for a war-movie

Rating: 7/10 (6 June 2016)

What to expect from a Michael Bay movie about a highly publicized and politicized violent event? I don't think that question even needs an answer.
The result is surprising though.
Throughout, it doesn't attempt to glorify violence and American power, except for the very end (which is why it doesn't get a higher score from me).
To me this story, while not perfect, is much more digestible than for example American Sniper. Why? First of all it stays pretty close to actual events and there's a real sense of realism in the danger and mortality of war.
Secondly it has believable characters and interesting personal conflicts. Of course it helps that these were taken from the actual history, but it's a point that most films of this genre take very lightly ("People just want to see people killed, bullets fired and fiery explosions").
Thirdly it doesn't portray the non-Americans as a homogeneous, evil group. Sure, we didn't get too deep into the dynamics of the Second Libyan Civil War, but when portrayals of the locals are usually infantile caricatures it has to be commended that this movie at least takes a step above that.
Now, I wouldn't call it a game changer, because besides the realism, it doesn't bring much new. But if you are interested in the event and/or Libya it's a good, sober look at the factual events. Just don't expect any intellectual or cinematographic revelation.