Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

13 hours is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a long time and definitely stands as the THE BEST movie Michael Bey has ever directed. It tells the story of a group of former SEALs, Rangers and Marines contracted to provide security to the CIA and various government officials in Benghazi Libya, and their desperate battle to save the life of Ambassador Chris Steven and other others at the U.S. diplomatic outpost and at the nearby CIA compound. The story takes place in the aftermath of the ousting of the Khadafy regime by a loose coalition of insurgent groups and US military air power. Soon after the government collapses, these groups begin fighting between themselves for control of Libya. To make matters worse, Khadafy’s massive stockpile of weapons is soon in the hands of groups ranging from local militias to international terrorist organizations. AK-47s and RPGs are being sold at flea markets and a lot of bigger and scarier stuff is being sold to the worst terrorists in the world. The situation makes Libya one of the most dangerous countries in the world. And Benghazi, long the capitol of Islamic extremist opposition to Khadafy, the most dangerous place in Libya. It’s also where the U.S. government set up a diplomatic mission and a CIA outpost. Just to be clear up front, while the main characters are private soldiers, don’t expect a rollicking adventure like The Expendables. The main characters are not bloodthirsty killing machines or merciless corporate trigger men. They’re a group of professional soldiers who learned their skills in the U.S. military and eventually returned to the private sector to be insurance adjusters, real estate salesmen, husbands and fathers. But because of economic necessity, they felt compelled to take the well-paying position of private security in one of the most dangerous cities in the world, usually to pay their mortgages or for their kid’s tuition. They accompany diplomats and CIA agents as they go about their business in Benghazi. On the anniversary of 9-11, U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens arrives in Benghazi with 2 State Department security guards. Unfortunately, Ansar al-Sharia had their own plans for the anniversary, first attacking the embassy and eventually the CIA compound. Thus a handful of over-the-hill but still highly skilled soldiers must attempt to rescue Ambassador Stevens and defend the CIA Annex from an army of terrorists ranging in size from 125 to 150 gunmen. The violence of the day, brutal as it was, is depicted matter of factly…but not gratuitously. The writing, casting, acting and directing is superb. Anyone who wants to know what went wrong that fateful day in Libya should see this movie.