Intense battle violence of the kind rarely seen

Rating: 6/10 (9 September 2016)

LONE SURVIVOR is a solid war film that tells a true story in a fresh way that gets you straight into the heart of the action. I thought after watching it that it might be a little overrated, because I was expecting something truly epic along the lines of BLACK HAWK DOWN, but what I got was instead was a rather simplistic tale with very little story behind it.
There's a definite whiff of American jingoism in this, something that'll no doubt make non-American viewers a little uncomfortable given all the flag-waving going on constantly. The opening half hour which introduces the characters is a bit dull as these fellows are too ordinary to really hold the attention. However, once the action gets out into the field, it becomes rather good.
Actor turned director Peter Berg previously helmed THE KINGDOM, a very good bomb thriller set in Saudi Arabia. He seems to have some affinity for the Middle East. Once the battle begins this film doesn't let up until the very end, and the cinematography of the fight scenes is excellent. There are stunts, gore, sniper action, and intense fire fights that have you on the edge of your seat. It's hard to remember a film so gritty and authentic that you wince every time a bullet hits or a character thumps down a cliffside. All of the actors give suitably convincing turns and LONE SURVIVOR is never dull for a second - once it gets going.