Sheep Movie Review: Lone Survivor

Lone Survivor 
Directed By: Peter Berg

Staring: Mark Wahlberg, Ben Foster, Emile Hirsch, Taylor Kitsch and Eric Bana 

Rated R

Plot: 

LONE SURVIVOR, tells the story of four Navy SEALs on an ill-fated covert mission to neutralize a high-level Taliban operative who are ambushed by enemy forces in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan. Based on The New York Times bestseller, this is a story of heroism, courage and survival. 

As the title of the film states, this is really a tale of the lone survivor. Watching this heart wrenching film, you're truly hopeful that maybe, just maybe, the story will have a different ending. I was! It sadly does not and even though you know only one man makes it out alive, you're no less hurt by the loss of each. 

The movie starts out with some interesting moments taken from real Navy SEAL bootcamp footage. I had a GI Jane flashback for a second (Suck my dic@!), but after that passed I was watching first hand what these men, and hopefully soon women, have to go through. It's rigorous and physically demanding. Many wash out, but those that push through find themselves in an elite group of bad asses. 

The story moves along to show free time before they deploy for a hush-hush mission in Afghanistan. Some rowdy banter, male posturing and crap talking snark take place, while also giving a glimpse into their personal lives back home. I would have liked a bit more time in this area of the film. More chances to know the faces that this film revolves around. However, all to soon the action kicks in. 

Once it does, it's game over. 

The amount of hits these guys took was staggering. Not just the stunt doubles in the film, but thinking about the real life men. I stub my toe and I want to ball my eyes out. These guys got injured many, many times, and kept going. Good to go sir! Just walk it off. Phhft, not me. I would call time out, wave the white flag and get the hell out of dodge. But, this is why (among many reasons) a Navy SEAL I am not. 

Major kudos to the stunt team that took this one on. Being thrown off a cliff, rolling down a hill over and over, hitting rock after rock, then trees! My word, it was so gnarly! It almost seems unreal, but truth is in the story and I was trapped in the moment with them. 

Overall, this is one to watch for those that enjoy a drama about real-life heroes. They come in all shapes and sizes, but heroes they are. 

Just be prepared for some major gore and nail bitting situations. You've been warned. 

Getting 4 'Hooyah' Sheep 

KD

Hanna, adapt or die...

Hanna, directed by Joe Wright, stars Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, and Cate Blanchett. For those of you who may not have known what Hanna was going to bring, this movie will come as a pleasant surprise. For the Sheep peeps, we were at WonderCon so we got a first hand look of Hanna. This film is a must see in my opinion and here is my reasoning why...

Storyline:

Hanna (Ronan) is a teenage girl. Uniquely, she has the strength, the stamina, and the smarts of a soldier; these come from being raised by her father (Bana), an ex-CIA man, in the wilds of Finland. Living a life unlike any other teenager, her upbringing and training have been one and the same, all geared to making her the perfect assassin. The turning point in her adolescence is a sharp one; sent into the world by her father on a mission, Hanna journeys stealthily across Europe while eluding agents dispatched after her by a ruthless intelligence operative with secrets of her own (Ms. Blanchett). As she nears her ultimate target, Hanna faces startling revelations about her existence and unexpected questions about her humanity.

Director Wright does a great job of giving the audience time to get to know the main characters, especially Hanna. Little snips from the past are incorporated that build until the end of film when the story comes together. Beauty in details, artfully done as is to be expected if you are familiar with any of Wright's work. (Pride and Prejudice, Atonement) A few too many-round-and-round-we-go shoots in the film for my taste, but I get why they were added. Sometimes life just makes you feel like you're going in a crazy never ending circle. Hanna brings a dramatic story to the screen while not bring over the top with the action as you might expect from the trailers. Saoirse does a brilliant job of playing a young girl discovering the wonders of a world so foreign to her with such authenticity, I loved it.

With stunt coordination done by the Jeff Imada (Bourne series) you are both blown away when the action does hit but at the same time thankful that it's not an exact copy of that style. When The Chemical Brothers music starts to kick in you know something is about to go down, and you're not disappointed. :) Creepy side characters have you rooting for young Hanna as she makes her way across the globe. Go Hanna Go!

Only a few places in the film that drag here and there, and a few of the stunts involving Hanna with Cate's character did seemed a bit over the top. I know they wanted to stick with what seemed possible for a 16 year old girl and for the most part they did. There were just a couple spots that made me wanna roll the ole eyeballs. Amber wanted me to add that she had hoped for a different plot ending, and without giving away anything to those of you who have yet to see it I kind of agree. Yes it's been done, but I felt it was done well in this film. I knew "something" was going to be exposed and didn't feel the high disappointment she did.

So over all, Hanna is well worth the ticket price. For those that like action movies with an independent flavor you will enjoy this film. :)

Getting 4 Genome Sheep

KD