The Patrol (2013)

Ex Brit Army Vet Tom Petch wrote and directed this competent low budget drama about a Brit troop serving in Afghanistan's dangerous Hermann Province fighting an 'invisible' army, the Teliban. Gritty and hard hitting this is a warts and all view of life on the front line, and certainly no advert for the M.O.D. The troop constantly complain about the poor equipment (armour, guns, radio etc) compared to that used by the US Forces" ("Why are our guns and radio's so crap Sarge?" "Because they never expected us to go to War")

A solid, and bleak drama looking at one of the most unenviable 'jobs' on earth.

*****

Lone Survivor (2014)

 

 

Four US Navy SEALS are sent on a covert mission in Afghanistan to kill a high level Taliban leader, they are ambushed in the unforgiving terrain of the Hindu Kush region, soon it becomes a terrifying fight for survival against a ferocious unrelenting enemy.

 

2014 blasts into action with this Peter Berg movie based on true events back in 2005, the moment the SEAL's are ambushed you feel like you are in the thick of the action, panic, bullets flying inches from your head, the assault is relentless, soldiers dive from RPG attacks, falling and crashing from rock to rock, great film-making and utterly riveting stuff, with another good stint from Messrs Wahlberg, Ben Foster and Eric Bana.

 

*****