This is a film that bombed at the UK box office, not because it is a bad movie by any means, but because it is very much a tale of heroics by elite American serviceman in a seemingly hopeless situation - a true and truly sad tale of doing the right thing and paying dearly for it.

The movie begins with shots of the incredibly tough and demanding training undergone by US Navy S.E.A.L. recruits. You become uncomfortably aware that only the very hardiest, toughest and most resilient will graduate, and that is the premise that sets the scene for all that follows.

Be aware that this is not an easy film to watch, because it shows how brutal modern warfare can be, and Marl Wahlberg, as Marcus Luttrell leads an elite team of crack Navy S.E.A.L's as they are sent out, their objective to penetrate a Taliban stronghold, deep inside enemy territory, and either capture or kill Taliban leader Ahmad Shah. …show more content…
After confirming the presence of the enemy leader, they settle in a few hours to await nightfall. Of course it all goes wrong when they are found by a group of mountain Shepherds.

The team bind the afghans, and an argument ensues about what to do, but the determined Luttrell refuse to kill the shepherds, demanding instead that they be released and the mission aborted. Of course, one of the prisoners rushes to tell the Tailban, who soon appear in numbers, determined to kill the American intruders.

What follows is a genuinely harrowing and awfully realistic depiction of what it is to battle against overwhelming odds, and the actors playing these elite troops all give commanding performances, especially Wahlberg, who appears to be in his element. Naturally, the odds are far too heavily stacked in favour of the hundreds of Taliban fighters, and one by one, the Americans meet their deaths, until only Wahlberg is