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What Is Wrong In 12 Strong?

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What went wrong in 12 Strong
Underwhelming. That is the best way to describe the movie 12 Strong. It is loosely based on the experiences of 12 American soldiers who venture into Afghanistan after 9/11 to coordinate drone strikes on Taliban strongholds. They are guided through the unfamiliar terrain by a warlord, General Dostum (played by Navid Negahban). Mitch Nelson, the unit leader (played by Chris Hemsworth), has no combat experience yet shows immense bravery and wisdom in the field. Nelson is told at the start of the movie that he does not have killing eyes, alluding to his naiveté. But at the film’s conclusion, he is told that he now has killing eyes because he has completed his mission. Shocker. His characterization falls into the clichéd hero typecast, causing his character development to be painfully predictable. …show more content…

The soldiers ride horses provided by Dostum because driving through the inhospitable terrain would slow their progress. This highly unusual practice distinguishes this movie from others in the 9/11 genre. However, the lackluster introduction of this crucial detail devalues its significance to the entire narrative. The scene when the horses are introduced has a panning shot of Dostum and his men riding towards where the Americans are temporarily stationed. The emerge from behind a sand dune and ride into the center of the frame. There is no music, no dialogue, or close shots to establish any kind of atmosphere. The audience is unaware of that this is an important moment, thus normalizing the appearance of the horses in this setting. Eventually, they blend into the film’s

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