Lone Survivor

gut wrenching true account of 4 brave seals . Remarkable heros well worth watching.

I rated "Lone Survivor" 5-stars because it was an engaging and thought-provoking film done with great attention to detail. This is not a movie-star kind of movie, it's not a John Wayne, Leonardo DeCaprio or Bruce Willis movie, it's a movie about an actual event as portrayed by a solid group of competent actors. The movie was less about individual valor (though there was plenty of that) than it was about the team and how they maintain their coherence under the most hellish conditions; if the bad guys didn't kill you, the terrain certainly would. Never the less, I had trouble with a number of technical / military issues. I'm not trying to play armchair general or Monday morning quarterback here, but there were a bunch of things that just struck me as being unprofessional if not outright careless.1) Under-manned: You're going after a major Taliban leader and assign just four men to do the job? This guy is going to be protected to the max, the film led me to believe the mission was to engage the hostiles straight on and take out the leader. At first, I thought it was going to be a sniper plus support team, but it seemed like they were planning an assault right from the start; if that were the case, there should have been another team right behind them ready to provide security and cover-fire in the event of a rapid retreat. I thought a typical Seal Team full complement was comprised of seven men.2) Wrong Armament: There was a scene early on when they were scoping out this village and spot their target; one of the guys was asked if he could "make the shot" and he indicated negative. So why didn't they bring a 50-cal sniper rifle or similar weapon capable of making a long-range shot? In Vietnam, two-man sniper teams ran missions like this all the time, often staying out in the bush for days waiting for the right moment and conditions to make that one shot then melt away undetected into the jungle.3) Mission Prep: Related to #1 & #4 . If you're sending out only four guys and it's likely they're going to encounter hostiles, provide them with extra ammo, food and water to make supply caches at one or more defensible fall-back points. They'll have the ability to hold off a larger force long enough for a rescue. If you can't spare the manpower for the mission, at least provide the maximum amount of material support to ensure extended survival.4) Communications: There were known problems -- serious problems -- involving poor communications before the mission even started. Why wasn't this addressed? These missions are dangerous enough when everything is working, but no reliable communications? An AC-130 gunship stayed on station during the first six hours of the mission, could it not have refueled and returned or been replaced by another aircraft that could loiter for a while and serve as a communications platform? The radio equipment provided seemed to lack the necessary power to ensure the signal got through. As an amateur radio operator, I have to ask why couldn't they have set up a portable high-powered 25-watt repeater station using a high-gain directional antenna at an elevated site immediately upon landing and while they still had air cover?5) The Goat Herders: They had this long existential philosophical debate over what to do with the goat herders in the middle of a now-compromised mission? WTF!!!!!!! I'm not a military guy, but sweet mother of Jesus, couldn't they have sorted this stuff out BEFORE the mission? I mean, it ain't like this kind of thing hasn't happened before, set up some bloody protocols! Once they discovered the old man carrying a two-way radio of the type known to be used by the Taliban, end of discussion -- you quietly waste them all and get out. The commanding officer or senior NCO on the scene makes the call and does the deed; there's no discussion before, during and especially afterwards -- it never happened, it's doesn't show up anyone's after-action report.6) Rules Of Engagement: This is war, there are no "rules of engagement". Did the Taliban have rules of engagement? Not much the military could have done about it, but glad the movie pointed out this absurd practice that got a lot of our people needlessly killed. Just a sore point with me, nothing to do with the movie.

It’s just another great movie from Hollywood. However the Dolby Atmos mixing in this movie is excellent. It’s as you know is true to the bone.

Wow, what an awesome movie! Everyone did an amazing performance in their role and the scenes are as real as it gets.

This is a good movie, but an extremely sad one. It is also MORE than a Movie. This is as real as it gets. The decision these 4 heroic men chose was the most moral, Christian, courageous and sacrificial one that they shouldn't have had to vote on. They have their codes and are the most honorable men in every day life, this is above and beyond. This is also very personal to me, because I know a man just like them.They had a mission, and it was for our country and the 20 Marines murdered the week before ~ something that has been left out of all of the many reviews I've read thus far. If the Americans would stand behind them And Not Forget everybody wanted us over there IMMEDIATELY after 911 ~ they'd have been able to do what they knew should be done to begin with. They Shouldn't have let them live and didn't have to, but our Sick Media and all of the Ignorant Americans were the cause of their decision. They knew making it out was slim to known. It WASN'T 40 Tali's, it was closer to 150 to 200 of them and they would've cut their heads off if they had the opportunity. Americans would have been outraged with them, but had they killed them and saved their own lives ~ they'd have been CRUCIFIED BY THIS COUNTRY. They were basically "Lambs Led to Slaughter," for a lack of a better way to put it.Marcus Luttrell was a hero then, and he is a hero every time he wakes up. He tells this story over and over to Honor his Lost Brothers. And he re-lives it everyday. He went to see all of their family members as soon as he was able to ~ look their mothers and wives in the eye to tell them they didn't suffer. He couldn't tell them everything that went on up there on that mountain. My heart aches for him and always will.The movie is Authentic because he was involved with the making of it, as it should have been. He's in more than one scene in the movie too. He also had real SEALS come on the set to make sure it was real. The movie was long, but for those who haven't read the book and doesn't know anyone involved in actual parts of this will never be able to fathom the length it would've been, nor how much worse it truly was for them. Everyone that watches this, definitely needs to read the book. And for those who have compared this movie to Platoon is living in La La Land. If it were to be compared to any movie, it would be Black Hawk Down and the 160th SOAR helicopter pilot Michael Durant who wrote the book about it. And the 2 Delta Force men who gave their lives to save him (and acknowledged that was probably going to happen).EVERYONE needs to remember this is REAL LIFE NOT JUST AN AWESOME MOVIE.I have a to say my heart and prayers go out to all of them everyday. Also, after seeing the movie, Axes mother went up to the actor and thanked him for giving her a couple of more hours with her son & I've seen an interview with Her & listened to it come out of her mouth with tears running down her face. I cannot put my name on this, but I would if it were possible.Thank you Marcus for showing us what is Real Honor, what a Real Man is, what a SEAL is and what Our Country Means to You. And I thank the village for standing up for him,as well as saving him. That is Real a Honor and Courage that most people Do Not Have.Think about these things as you watch his movie and read his book. My thanks goes to the actors for doing such a great job, and it shows it wasn't all about the money they made to do the film.***By the way, he wasn't in the village when the Rangers got to him ~ Read the book***

Based on a true story. Acting is excellent.