By Robin E Simmons
13 HOURS: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi
The most impressive thing about Michael Bay’s new film 13 HOURS is the marketing. The movie is already branded a subject of controversy. Presidential candidate Donald J. Trump has bought out at least one showing and invited guests to see it for free, no doubt hoping the movie implicates his rival Hillary Clinton as failing to call for immediate action when the Libyan Embassy was under threat of attack. However, official investigations suggest that such an order was not actually given by a CIA superior who was in the region at the time of the attack. However, in the movie, a man identified only as “Bob” does indeed say, “stand down.” So is 13 HOURS a piece of blatantly biased political propaganda intentionally aimed to hurt former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton? Or was the movie simply designed to target the same right wing, faith-based demographics of AMERICAN SNIPER? One of the movie’s posters even has the tag line: “As long as I’m doing the right thing, God will take care of me.”
The movie itself is very much a Michael Bay film. The characters are superficially drawn but clearly heroic. The action brilliantly constructed. It’s loud and the explosions are cool. But it does not have the book-ended irony — or authenticity — of a movie like LONE SURVIVOR, though it cleverly aims for same jingoist embrace of its target audience. Bay does a great job of conveying the utter chaos and confusion of the events and showcasing the brave and loyal men who defy a command and just do “the right thing” at great risk to themselves. To hell with the actuality of circumstances. After all, it’s show business. Moviegoers are not so concerned with the reality portrayed as long as the big-screen story supports their preconceived notions about religion or politics. We love the idea of a group of Americans stepping up to save the day especially when their government fails to respond. True or not.
“I think all the evidence has been overwhelming that there was no stand-down order — everybody says that,” said Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), who serves as ranking member on the Benghazi committee. Can there be any doubt that producer Erwin Stoff and director Bay finessed 13 HOURS so that it will find the warmest of receptions with its simpleminded tale of brave men selflessly risking everything to do what must be done to help those in peril?
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said: “If the film portrays them as having ordered a stand-down, it’s clearly at odds with the facts. If the film portrays those who went to rescue people at the diplomatic facility as doing so in disregard of orders, that’s also plainly at odds with the facts. It may make for good entertainment; it doesn’t make for a well-informed public.” Schiff’s district includes Hollywood. He’s also ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee.
Is the movie any good? Yes, the story works in the same way that John Wayne’s 1968 THE GREEN BERETS worked. But it’s no FULL METAL JACKET, PATHS OF GLORY or even PLATOON. Now showing.
NEW FOR THE HOME THEATER:
HARLOCK SPACE PIRATE 3D
Far into the future mankind is dying and only Space Pirate Harlock can do anything about it. But the malevolent Gaia Coalition will stop at nothing to destroy him. It is the year 2977 and 500 billion displaced humans long to return to the planet they still refer to as home. Seeking revenge against those who wronged both mankind and himself, the mysterious Harlock roams the universe in his battle cruiser Arcadia seeking, attacking and pillaging enemy ships. Harlock pushes his loyal crew to the limit in his death-defying mission to undo the “Nodes of Time” and reverse the Earth to an age when it was still inhabited by humans.
This lavish reboot of the cult intergalactic comic saga, originally created by Leiji Matsumoto in 1977, the same year of Star Wars’ initial release, is stunning in both 2D and especially in 3D. The eye-popping action and production values are center stage from beginning to end in truly breathtaking, state of the art CGI and what must be motion capture. AVATAR director James Cameron said of HARLOCK: “It’s mythic, epic, and visually unprecedented, Harlock will take you to a whole new universe of ideas.”
Personally, I liked this Japanese 3D animation better than STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, which I thought was nice looking, but an unimaginative retread of the original release.
If futuristic, sci-fi epic adventure is your thing, don’t miss this gem from director Shinji Aramaki about an intergalactic war with Earth as the ultimate prize. It will dazzle your eyeballs and tickle your brain. The two-disc package includes the original Japanese Version (Disc 1) and International Cut (Disc 2) in both 3D and 2D. Fascinating extras round out this sweet set that is limited to only 3,500 units. Probably not in stores. Twilight Movies. Blu-ray.
For more info or ordering: www.screenarchives.com/title_detail.cfm/ID/30542/HARLOCK-SPACE-PIRATE-2013-2-DISC-2D-AND-3D/
EXTRAORDINARY TALES
Since I was a kid, my fondness for Edgar Allan Poe stories has not waned, whether in print or on film. Director Raul Garcia’s EXTRAORDINARY TALES offers distinctly unique artistic takes on five classic, heart-pounding Poe stories: “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Pit and the Pendulum,” “The Fall of the House of Usher,” “The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valedemar,” and “The Masque of the Red Death.” Confront the murderous madmen, sinister villains and cloaked ghouls who wander the dank corridors of Poe’s dark imagination. Each of the macabre stories is given a singular animated look, inspired by sources as diverse as classic Hollywood black-and-white monster films, or the pulpy look of vintage EC Comics. The cool narration is by new and classic recordings from legendary genre directors and actors: Sir Christopher Lee, Bela Lugosi (!), Julian Sands, Roger Corman and Guillermo Del Toro. Cinedigm. Blu-ray
TRUE DETECTIVE Season Two
Binge watching crime stories both fictional and true is perfect for cool winter evenings. TRUE DETECTIVE’S Second Season may be a lesser entry than its predecessor, but the 503 minutes on three discs will definitely engage from the start when a Highway Patrol motorcycle officer in the fictional city of Vinci, California, stumbles across the scene of a bizarre murder where the victim’s body has been ritually mutilated. Featuring an ensemble cast of Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn, Rachel McAdams, and Taylor Kitsch. TD’s second season stands on its own. It’s a smart, unpredictable police drama as challenging as it is chilling. HBO. Blu-ray.
robinesimmons@aol.com
