Movie review: 13 Hours

content/reviews/movies/13-hours.md

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+title = "13 Hours (2016)"
+date = 2021-03-25
+
+[taxonomies]
+tags = ["movies", "reviews", "michael bay", "benghazi", "stars:1", "movies:2021"]
++++
+
+[Wikipedia Summary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13_Hours:_The_Secret_Soldiers_of_Benghazi):
+The film follows six members of Annex Security Team who fought to defend the
+American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya after waves of attacks by
+militants on September 11, 2012.
+
+<!-- more -->
+
+{{ stars(stars=1) }}
+
+For some weird reason, I thought the movie was directed by Scorcese: Long
+explanations, long dialogues, almost like some chess match in which players just
+keep moving one peon at the time...
+
+... and then the explosions started.
+
+"Scorcese went full Michael Bay", I though. Lo and behold, this is a Michael Bay
+movie.
+
+And, as any Michael Bay movie, you can't expect that it was two actual players
+just moving peons in a board. No no, it was just two pigeons pecking the peons
+thinking it was food.
+
+As any war movie of this kind, there is the obvious camaraderie between
+soldiers, in which you actually know one of them will die; as any war movie of
+this kind, one of the soldiers is about to become a parent; as any war movie of
+this kind, the enemy is just bad and have no reason besides "kill the
+protagonists".
+
+But it is based on real facts, but the movie seems to have ignored the *why* it
+reached that situation. History tells us that Gaddafi was taken out of power and
+that created a power vacuum, which led to extremists taking control. That's
+bad. And that is portrayed as the only reason everyone hates the American
+ambassador.
+
+Actually, no. That isn't portrayed. The Libyans simply *hate* Americans and
+want to kill Americans. No, it is not because everybody drives their beaten up
+cars while the Americans have brand new -- and, weirdly enough, never truly
+covered in dust -- cars. No, it is not because everywhere is a desert, except in
+the ambassador house and the annex compound. No, it is not because it seems
+Americans have turned their life pretty comfortable and doesn't seem any bit
+interested in helping the country they are in. Nope, it is pure hate for
+Americans.
+
+Again, as any war movie of this kind, there is the obvious "6 guys can hold up a
+horde of 300". No, it is fine, really. You see, Americans are way superior than
+any other country, so they can easily hold against that many. Bullets? Oh, no
+worries, bullets materialize up in thin air to keep the blood of the enemies of
+the greatest nation flowing.
+
+In the end, the movie is only worth for the [Michael Bay
+Explosions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7ssUivM-eM). 
+
+(Actually, fun fact: There is a scene when a bus coming with a large bomb and
+the Americans manage to hit it while it is inside the bus, which explodes like
+some sort of fire works factory going nuts.)
+
+PS: Heck, I understand that I tried to stay away from showing any signs of
+taking sides, but I guess I'm still pissed with
+[Greenland](@/reviews/movies/greenland.md).