Read Mixed User Reviews for 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi

6

Jack97May 6, 2016

The first third is a bit boring, but when the bullets start flying and bodies start dropping then it gets entertaining. This being a Michael Bay movie that's all I wanted.

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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4

andrewtheunbeliMay 9, 2016

For me this movie commit the worst crime that a movie can commit: it's boring and the marketing to american conservatives doesn't any favor to this movie.

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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4

VinandNeeJun 21, 2016

Too much Hollywood, too little Realism. Lots of attention to action, frightening terrorist types, battle scenes, and hard body Special Forces dudes. Perhaps reason to watch. Little attention, to my disappointment, to being educational andToo much Hollywood, too little Realism. Lots of attention to action, frightening terrorist types, battle scenes, and hard body Special Forces dudes. Perhaps reason to watch. Little attention, to my disappointment, to being educational and true to this historically important event, and even realistic relative to quality wartime productions like Zero Dark Thirty, Hurt Locker and Blackhawk Down.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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4

imthenoobMay 30, 2016

Over acted, Poorly written, and very hard to take seriously. They overly dramatize every single scene so it's hard to take something serious when something serious actually happens. The action scenes were alright but nothing worth while,Over acted, Poorly written, and very hard to take seriously. They overly dramatize every single scene so it's hard to take something serious when something serious actually happens. The action scenes were alright but nothing worth while, Which is odd considering this is coming from Michael Bay. Overall, It's pretty much what you expect from a military action movie. It's not good but it's not terrible either. I think the overly long run time didn't help things either.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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6

TVJerryJan 22, 2016

This fact-based telling of the attack on 2 U.S. compounds in the titular city gives director Michael Bay a chance to use his big-budget action chops in a “war” picture. Even though the scope is smaller, It’s still bears his high-end HollywoodThis fact-based telling of the attack on 2 U.S. compounds in the titular city gives director Michael Bay a chance to use his big-budget action chops in a “war” picture. Even though the scope is smaller, It’s still bears his high-end Hollywood signature with a grand scale and trademark cinematic flourishes. The story starts by attempting to create personalities for the security team, but even with snappy macho posturing, it takes too long and never establishes much individuality. The Embassy takeover is confusing, which may be intentional, but doesn’t make for good storytelling. The second confrontation carries more weight and provides the film’s most effective firepower. After the dust settles, this 2.5 hour ordeal comes to an end several times. The paranoia and brutality of the clashes are effectively staged, but the overall effect is too unfocused and less powerful than it might have been.… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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5

tjman09Jan 15, 2016

Michael Bay in every film he’s done has shown that he bleeds red, white, and blue, so go into this film knowing it’s very patriotic. For those who want a war film that is patriotic, action-packed, and honors its heroes stop reading, becauseMichael Bay in every film he’s done has shown that he bleeds red, white, and blue, so go into this film knowing it’s very patriotic. For those who want a war film that is patriotic, action-packed, and honors its heroes stop reading, because this is the film you want to see. For those looking for a great war film, 13 Hours is an action packed film, that offers little clarity on the complex subject, and is filled with cliches. My opinion is this film came way too early, and if this film had been made in 5 to 10 years, the story would have been more fleshed out.
Michael Bay is a great director when it comes to framing and shooting action sequences, this film showcases that. The film is loaded with action and uses very effective practical effects, making every explosion feel and look real. For a war film, it has a pretty good sense of humor, which helps lighten up the mood at times, and the performances are spot on. As well the film does a great job honoring the heroes of that day, in essence, it’s a very patriotic film.
However, for those looking for a film that was going to delve into the controversial story of what happened on September 11th, 2012, and give clarity, this film doesn’t do that. In fact, the storytelling in this film is quite weak. The first act of the plot focuses too much on irrelevant subplots that dilute the film, and glosses over crucial moments, like for instance why the fighter jets in Italy didn’t come for assistance. The film ends up being, even more, confusing because the filmmakers were too afraid to offend either political party that is eagerly watching the impact of this film.
Another problem the film suffers, independent from the fear of political ramifications is the fact that the film is loaded with cliches. On top of that many of the characters, are either cliched stereotypes or underdeveloped. Even more disappointing is that the terrorist characters are weak, as the film doesn’t go in depth on who they are, or why they attack the consulate in the first place. So the true story of 6 brave heroes, becomes more of a shallow action/war film, and less a true story about these heroes.
In the end, for those who want to see this movie because it’s a true story about 6 soldiers who courageously fought to protect American lives, in hostile Libya, this film won’t disappoint. For those who want a film that tells a story that is well-crafted and easy to follow, while delving into the ever complex details, this isn’t that. This film is still very patriotic, and it seems as though that’s the biggest reason to see this movie, not to politicize, but to honor heroes, both fallen and alive. It’s truly a discretionary call on whether or not to see this film.… Expand

2 of 15 users found this helpful213

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4

TrojanHuskerJan 22, 2016

Michael Bay needs to stick to fiction. Perhaps it's the script along with the poor Direction, but the movie comes off as self-serving and a plea for vindication from the men this story is supposed to be about. Great action scenes raise theMichael Bay needs to stick to fiction. Perhaps it's the script along with the poor Direction, but the movie comes off as self-serving and a plea for vindication from the men this story is supposed to be about. Great action scenes raise the movie out of the negative column, but the whole effort seems forced.… Expand

1 of 9 users found this helpful18

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4

EpicLadySpongeJan 15, 2016

I checked that Michael Bay directed this film. A little predictable too, don't you think? His hidden explosion easter eggs are at it again when it comes to this movie.

2 of 19 users found this helpful217

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6

NickLikesMoviesMar 3, 2016

Michael Bay has actually made a fairly decent, coherent film?!?!?! Wow.
While it is way too long and features very bland characters, there are some very intense and compelling action scenes. The story itself is incredibly interesting and BayMichael Bay has actually made a fairly decent, coherent film?!?!?! Wow.
While it is way too long and features very bland characters, there are some very intense and compelling action scenes. The story itself is incredibly interesting and Bay is much less abrasive than I expected, by not mentioning Hillary Clinton or any politics involved. The writing and dialogue is awful, as expected, and the performances aren't that good. John Krasinski, James Badge Dale, and Pablo Schreiber are easily the best in the cast and shine in a slew of amateur, weak actors. Of course, there are explosions everywhere and while most of them are the same, basic Bay explosions, he does use some new, inventive tricks (i.e. the mortar tracking shot).

Congrats Michael Bay on making a decent, forgettable film rather than an excruciating, terrible one.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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6

Compi24Feb 14, 2016

An interesting change of pace for Michael Bay, "13 Hours" is a sobering, carefully-made story with an endearing amount of respect for its real-life subjects.

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

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5

MattBrady99Feb 25, 2016

I was just as surprise as everyone else when this movie didn't turn out to be terrible as we expected it to be, because when you hear a movie that's directed by Michael Bay and being released in January, you would expect it to be bad. TheI was just as surprise as everyone else when this movie didn't turn out to be terrible as we expected it to be, because when you hear a movie that's directed by Michael Bay and being released in January, you would expect it to be bad. The movie itself isn't good, but it is better than most January movies that we've had.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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5

DirigiblePulpJan 5, 2017

A good story reduced to its simplest terms but Bay stills find a way to reduce it even more, mostly through its lack of subtlety and its cacophonous and interminable battle scenes that lose their tension from sheer force of gluttonous will.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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5

kman5473Apr 19, 2018

A movie that is over 2 hours, yet feels incomplete and not well-thought-out. When I started watching, I did not realize Michael Bay was director--but was not at all surprised when that information came to light. Every decision made to showA movie that is over 2 hours, yet feels incomplete and not well-thought-out. When I started watching, I did not realize Michael Bay was director--but was not at all surprised when that information came to light. Every decision made to show any kind of background story or character development felt so forced, foreign, and obscured because, well, Michael Bay doesn't do emotions that well. John Krasinski did a great job, it's only that the dialogue and direction he was given felt so alienating because it was given by a director that is more emotionally immature than a 13 year old boy. The action sequences were great, but the pacing just felt off outside of the action sequences. It was hyped-up action, followed immediately by a false calm that just kept revving and revving suspense...followed by a false peace, and then the action comes in again, of course. The scenes that are supposed to be the heightened emotional outbursts just don't land. It's only because of Krasinski's acting chops that a few of them actually kind of work, not because of Michael Bay's directing or choice of cinematic depiction.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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6

Voodoo123Jun 22, 2019

+Great UHD / HDR visuals
+Excellent cast
+Strong surround effects +Fascinating premise (based on real life events) -Confusing action set pieces -Typical 'Bay' over saturated zoomed in shaky panning -OTT direction took me out of the story at+Great UHD / HDR visuals
+Excellent cast
+Strong surround effects
+Fascinating premise (based on real life events)
-Confusing action set pieces
-Typical 'Bay' over saturated zoomed in shaky panning
-OTT direction took me out of the story at times

I was totally drawn in up until the first major action sequence afterwhich the illusion kind of broke for me revealing the usual OTT bay style (gunfights that resemble sparklers!?) and so I found this really broke the tone and took away from the dramatic potential of the movie. I WANTED to like this more than I could. While certainly entertaining as an 'action film', the near constant 2-3 second cuts and tonal shifts are too jarring and serve as an unwelcome reminder that bay simply hasnt got the cinematic chops required to allow an audience to connect to the (much needed!) dramatic scenes as well.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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5

badgerryan19May 19, 2017

Decent film. Pretty good action scenes. This is definitely Michael Bay's most mature movie I've seen in a while. But that isn't saying much with his track record. The movie had some good moments, but ultimately was meh at the end.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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5

yosemiteJul 4, 2016

Without knowing the back story, director doesn't explain the difference and relationships between the contractors, the CIA and the State Dep't people. All the guys have somewhat similar frames and beards. Its confusing. The action scenes areWithout knowing the back story, director doesn't explain the difference and relationships between the contractors, the CIA and the State Dep't people. All the guys have somewhat similar frames and beards. Its confusing. The action scenes are also confusing as to locations and personnel. The story could have been directed better. The actors themselves were all John Wayne types and were good. Good job of showing us in a lawless foreign country with all the dangers around each corner. To sum it up, the story was there for a good film but the director fell short in telling it. Its also a long movie… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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6

CarFan1999Aug 13, 2016

The action scenes are amazing, suspense & camerawork are both well done, and I liked how this tried to remain neutral- both culturally and politically. However, it was hard for me to care for the characters because there's little characterThe action scenes are amazing, suspense & camerawork are both well done, and I liked how this tried to remain neutral- both culturally and politically. However, it was hard for me to care for the characters because there's little character development and there are simply too many characters. The 1/3 of the story could have been shortened as it contributes little to the main plot. Overall, it's a good film with fine acting, but could have been much, much better.… Expand

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5

BiasSep 10, 2016

Jim got hard and went to Benghazi. War stuff happened. It was scary. Finally, we were introduced to some good old 'Murican propaganda. Most of the beardy guys looked the same.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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5

KaptenVideoDec 28, 2017

If you were surprised by the recent news that NBC’s „The Office’s“ pretty boy John Krasinski is gonna be the next Jack Ryan, then you haven’t possible seen his against-typecasting projects such as „13 Hours“ or, say, „Promised Land“.

ThisIf you were surprised by the recent news that NBC’s „The Office’s“ pretty boy John Krasinski is gonna be the next Jack Ryan, then you haven’t possible seen his against-typecasting projects such as „13 Hours“ or, say, „Promised Land“.

This one is a modern war movie about American elite soldiers in Libya at its most dangerous times, defending unofficial CIA base from local militants.

Krasinski doesn’t kick ass here yet – as Jack Ryan, he has to, surely – but he can shoot bad guys from afar as well as the next guy. Also, tallness and beard help to make a real man out of boyish-looking man, no?

Kidding aside, he looks the part – which is good because this is mostly what the screenplay expects from the stars here. This, and couple of video calls to families, to show their human side.

It’s directed by Michael Bay, so you can expect two things: a lot of explosive action and the movie being longer than needed.

At 144 minutes, the never ending war porn does get tiring, especially as the story stays on the shallow side. We don't get to see anything from Libyan side. Maybe the original cut lasting four hours would be deeper and richer content-wise.

So it gets too monotonous for my taste – all shooting and no strong story – but I am not particularly interested in modern war movies, so I may not the best judge of „13 Hours“ and its qualities.

But the other critics don’t seem to like it much either (50/100 from Rotten Tomatoes, 48/100 from Metacritic), so this does say something. Probably. The site users are kinder: 7.3/10 from IMDb, 82/100 from Rotten Tomatoes, 6.8/10 from Metacritic.

What is surprising, is that Bay managed to pull all this off for paltry 50 million USD budget. These days, he’s more used to directing movies three-four times more expensive, due to the man devoting his life for „Transformers“ franchise.

By the way, „13 Hours“ is based on a true story, and a book that was written about it. Filmed in Malta and Morocco.… Expand

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6

AmadouIraklidisOct 25, 2022

Really not a good movie. Decent enough to pass the time. It's a classic Michael Bay movie that is able to entertain enough to make it worthwhile to finish the movie.

What the movie is bad at, though, is a laundry list. The dialogue wasReally not a good movie. Decent enough to pass the time. It's a classic Michael Bay movie that is able to entertain enough to make it worthwhile to finish the movie.

What the movie is bad at, though, is a laundry list. The dialogue was terrible, another movie falls victim to the director trying to make every character sound cool and just being a superficial douche after it. There are far too few, if any, likeable characters, largely because we get almost no proximity to any of them. Every scene that was used to develop the characters and their relations was split between all of the soldiers, making it cookie cutter and pointless. Also it was like everyone exclusively spoke in one liners. Finally, as someone who recently watched Black Hawk Down and still remembers Saving Private Ryan and a whole host of other war movies, this one fails at making the battles comprehensible, with a sense of seriousness, and timely. The defense and exfil of the ambassadors compound was nauseatingly confusing. None of the characters actions made sense due to the poor explanation of the layout of the compound and of the characters. Somehow, the 8 people in the compound were split up almost to the number, and no one protected themselves. Movie... just explain it! Have someone giving clear orders or use the drone for exposition by being monitored by AFRICOM or something. Establish the scene so there is meaning and I'm not just watching people run through bushes for half an hour and I still have no idea where they are going and for what purpose.

Anyways, I could go on, there was a lot wrong with the movie. In the end though, it's a military movie based on a true story which always bring a positive element, and it showed what the American government often tries to do in other countries (help support, develop, and maintain stability) along with the difficulties that entails, which is something I appreciate.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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