13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi looks and sounds stunning on this new 4k set. For fans of the film or first time viewers, this is one to check out.
“When everything went wrong, six men had the courage to do what was right. Visionary director MICHAEL BAY delivers a “ROCK SOLID ACTION DRAMA” you won’t see forget in 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi. Follow the elite ex-military operators who fought back against overwhelming odds to save American lives in this “VISCERAL, POWERFUL, PULSE-POUNDING” portrayal of true heroism.”
13 Hours tells the story of the attack on a United States diplomatic site and a nearby CIA base in Benghazi, Libya on September 11th, 2012. A tragic event based on misinformation, confusion, and overall incompetence kept the American people guessing as they were told different scenarios on what caused this attack.
Michael Bay is hit or miss with me. His films usually gravitate toward the mindless action, but he does it so well that sometimes it’s just a lot of fun to turn your brain off for two hours and enjoy the ride. In 13 Hours, however, the film is anything but mindless, as the audience is subjected to a brutal attack in which we see first-hand the confusion that was rampant during the entire ordeal. Michael Bay explores the humanity of these men who have all voluntarily come back into harms way in order to protect Americans stationed in Benghazi. The conflict many of them feel, especially Jack Silva (John Krasinski), who has every reason to stay home with his family but continues to take assignments that bring him back into the thick of things. Many of the men with families and children, all struggling at being so far away from home and not knowing if their most recent conversations with their families could be their last.
Bay’s style of exposition is usually a bit jarring, with a lot of quick cuts and bits of information here and there while speedily moving to the next sequence. While this can work to hasten the pacing of the film, I felt as though there was too much happening too quickly, and when you are only given a few seconds of screen time with any given character before it cuts away, there is zero room for development, and that’s what happens in this film. Although the exploration of these men’s relationship with their families is heartwarming, it’s a blanketed trait given to almost every one of them. By the end of the film, I probably could have only told you the names of just a few of the characters, as they blend together so easily it’s hard to distinguish them. Despite the fast-moving sequences, the lack of substance kills the pacing of the film during the first half, but quickly finds its footing once the action starts. This all being said, being based on true events and real people, you can’t go changing people’s characteristics or personalities just to make a film more entertaining. Yes, it does happen, but in a film based on a terrorist attack against Americans I give the film a bit more leeway on being true than I would a fictional story.
The acting is all top-notch, with John Krasinski being top billed but definitely feeling more along the lines of an ensemble piece with everyone having equal focus. I didn’t catch this one in theatres when it came out in 2016, but it seems to be one of the first films that sets him on a path to distance himself from his sarcastic/comedic side, eventually leading him to A Quiet Place and Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan.
The action in 13 Hours is definitely the highlight of the film, telling a heroic tale of these men who fought to protect the lives of their fellow Americans. What struck me most about this film was how Michael Bay was able to capture the utter confusion of what was going on. Was this an organized attack? Riots over an anti-Islamic video? The people on the ground didn’t know who their enemies were while being constantly surrounded. It’s a feeling of frustration and panic that stays with you throughout the film and one of its better qualities.
Video
13 Hours is presented in 4k 2160p Ultra High Definition Widescreen 2.40:1 featuring Dolby Vision. I was absolutely blown away at how gorgeous this film looks all around. With the dynamic meta data of the Dolby Vision providing amazing levels that ensure the best possible look depending on the scene. As the film begins during the daytime and gradually runs into the night, the film dramatically shifts from one of bright, detailed scenes to ones that are much darker. The deep darks of this 4k set make everything look incredible during the night sequences, an overall stellar transfer to 4k.
Audio
The audio is presented in Dolby Atmos. The action-intense second half of this film benefits amazingly by the Atmos track. The sound is so powerful, the explosions, the gunfire, you’ll feel as you’re right in the center of all the action. Balance is good on the surrounds and center channel, with dialogue coming in clear and concise despite the intense action.
Special Features
The extras are located on the Blu-Ray disc, which include the extras only, no Blu-Ray copy of the film. They tout over an hour of behind-the-scenes content and look to be the same as the original release a few years ago which include:
- For the Record: Finding the Truth Amid the Noise
- Uncovering Benghazi’s Secret Soldiers
- Operation: 13 Hours Premiere
- In Memoriam
- Preparing for Battle: Behind the Scenes of 13 Hours
This film does much more than simply inform the audience about the events of September 11th, 2012. It tells the story of heroic operators who saved a lot of lives despite one of the most tense and confusing situations they could have been in. With a stellar upgrade for audio and video, this is one to check out if you didn’t the first time around.
