Hollywood has immortalised for post-Christmas release one of the deadliest incidents of the Afghan war: a Navy SEAL operation targeting an Islamist fighter that left 19 American soldiers dead.
"Lone Survivor", starring Mark Wahlberg and portraying one of the worst military disasters of the 12-year war, is based on a book written by the only Navy SEAL commando to survive the raid.
Marcus Luttrell was the medic assigned to SEAL Team 10 that took part in the June 28 2005 mission in the treacherous mountains of northeastern Kunar province near the Pakistani border.
Directed by Peter Berg, it is a patriotic, fast-action tribute to the bravery of the commandos who took part in Operation Red Wings designed to "neutralize" fighter Ahmad Shah.
It never once challenges the merits of the war, which has killed thousands of soldiers and Afghan civilians, and closes with photographs and home movies of the SEALs who died.
Observers have questioned the veracity of some details, taking issue for example with Shah being called a "high-level Al-Qaeda operative" and "key Taliban leader," but Berg said he was proud.
"I wanted to look those parents in the eyes," he told a news conference after a film preview in New York. "I wanted to make Marcus proud and make the family members proud."
Luttrell, played by Wahlberg, was one of four Navy SEALs ordered on the fatal mission. They decided to abort when their hiding spot was inadvertently discovered by three Afghan goat herders.
The Americans allowed the shepherds to get away and set off on an arduous climb to what they hoped would be safety. Except they walked into a massive bombardment from insurgents.
Three of the SEALs perished on the mountain and Luttrell was badly wounded. Sixteen other Special Forces, including eight SEALs, were killed when their rescue helicopter was shot down.
The injured Luttrell, who managed to escape, was eventually found by an Afghan villager, who at great personal danger took him in until he could be recovered by US troops.
A war movie that doesn't shy away from the brutality of conflict, "Lone Survivor" focuses on the heroism, comradeship and sense of duty that binds SEALs together on the battlefield.
Shot on location in New Mexico, the film was supported by the US military, which provided two MH-47 Chinooks and two AH-64 Apaches that were used for scenes at the SEALS' base camp.
It also shows the training and daily regimen of what are some of America's most elite commandos who took part in the daring raid to kill Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011.
American public support for the war in Afghanistan has steadily declined, but Berg said he wanted to focus on the soldiers and not the politics.
The film, he said, "gives an audience the chance to acknowledge what these guys are doing" and "divorce themselves from these politicians who are deciding where these guys go".
Luttrell, who forged a close relationship with both the director and Wahlberg, said he was delighted with the result.
"I'm absolutely overjoyed for what he did. He did a great job," Luttrell told reporters. "It's a movie, it's entertainment. In real life it's war and there's not entertainment," he said.
The Navy SEAL spirit is "forged in chaos, that is how you create a brotherhood through blood, pain and sweat," he said.
The actors, including Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Eric Bana and Emile Hirsch, speak of the privilege of playing the fallen troops.
They prepared for their roles by spending time with the men's surviving friends and family. "I don't like war, but I love soldiers," said Wahlberg, who is also a producer of the film.
He described Luttrell as a "very, very special individual" who had "inspired me to be a better man".
Asked if he could ever be a SEAL the 42-year-old, who has forged a solidly successful Hollywood career as both an actor and a producer, was honest.
"I don't want to sit on the bench, I want to be in the game. But I don't know, I have no idea," he said, referring to the highly selective training and psychological fitness of the commandos.
"Lone Survivor" is released by Universal Pictures at selected cinemas on December 27 and goes on general US release January 10.
AFP
Mon Dec 09 2013
Perkhidmatan komuter percuma sempena Program MADANI Rakyat Zon Utara
Langkah itu bagi memudahkan pengunjung di utara tanah air untuk datang memeriahkan program yang berlangsung tiga hari bermula Jumaat itu.
Nur Shazrin masih plilhan utama ke Paris - MSA
MSA tidak mahu menekan 'butang panik' selepas atletnya Nur Shazrin berdepan kemungkinan terlepas aksi di Sukan Olimpik Paris 2024 berikutan kecederaan berulang pada tangan kanannya.
PRK KKB: Jangan mengundi ikut emosi - Azalina
Sebaliknya, beliau berkata, pengundi perlu melihat kepada rekod perkhidmatan penyandangnya yang telah melaksanakan tugasnya dengan baik.
Microsoft labur AS1.7b di Indonesia untuk teknologi awan dan AI
Microsoft bakal melabur AS$1.7 bilion dalam tempoh empat tahun akan datang bagi pembangunan infrastruktur awan dan kecerdasan buatan di Indonesia, kata Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya Satya Nadella
Nadella sebagai berkata, pelaburan itu merupakan yang terbesar dalam sejarah 29 tahun Microsoft di negara itu.
Nadella sebagai berkata, pelaburan itu merupakan yang terbesar dalam sejarah 29 tahun Microsoft di negara itu.
Haiwan turut berisiko hadapi 'strok haba'
Gelombang haba yang melanda seluruh dunia memperlihatkan kesan jelas terhadap alam serta hidupan di muka bumi ini. Di Bangladesh misalnya, pengusaha-pengusaha kedai haiwan mencuba sedaya upaya untuk memastikan haiwan peliharaan di kedai mereka tidak mati dalam cuaca ekstrem ini.
Malaysia tewas 2-3 kepada Denmark pada aksi akhir kumpulan D
Malaysia dan Denmark masing-masing sudah pun melayakkan diri ke suku akhir selepas mencatat kemenangan 5-0 ke atas Hong Kong dan Algeria.
Fungsi JAKIM, Kementerian Perpaduan Negara berbeza - mohd na'im
Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (Hal Ehwal Agama) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar menegaskan fungsi Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) adalah berbeza dengan Kementerian Perpaduan Negara (KPN).
Sultan Nazrin dilantik pengerusi bagi tempoh dua tahun
Sultan Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah dilantik sebagai Pengerusi Majlis Kebangsaan Bagi Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Malaysia (MKI) bagi tempoh dua tahun berkuat kuasa 9 Mac 2024 hingga 8 Mac 2026.
JKN Terengganu siasat dakwaan kes keracunan makanan
Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri Terengganu sedang menyiasat dakwaan kes keracunan makanan selepas dipercayai menjamah sejenis kuih membabitkan beberapa individu termasuk kanak-kanak.
Remaja warga asing samun, menyamar pegawai polis ditahan
Polis menahan remaja lelaki pemegang kad Suruhanjaya Tinggi Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu bagi Pelarian (UNHCR) kerana disyaki terbabit dengan kegiatan samun dan menyamar sebagai anggota polis.
‘Surat kepada Amerika’ tulisan Osama Bin Laden tular di TikTok
Kalangan masyarakat global di media sosial menyifatkan peranan Amerika sebagai hero dalam konflik Asia Barat sebagai satu pembohongan.
Al-Qaeda ancam serang kementerian Perancis, kedutaan Sweden susulan insiden bakar al-Quran
Anggota kumpulan al-Qaeda (yang diharamkan di Rusia) dilaporkan telah mengancam untuk menyerang sebuah kementerian di Perancis dan kedutaan Sweden, menurut Sputnik.
Serangan 9/11: AS tidak akan berhenti memerangi keganasan - Biden
Biden berkata walaupun AS telah meninggalkan Afghanistan, petadbirannya akan terus memburu mereka yang mendalangi serangan berkenaan.
Pemimpin Al-Qaeda Al-Zawahiri terbunuh dalam serangan dron AS - Biden
Presiden Amerika Syarikat (AS) Joe Biden mengumumkan bahawa pemimpin al-Qaeda Ayman al-Zawahiri terbunuh dalam satu serangan dron di Kabul.
Pemimpin al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri dilapor terbunuh dalam serangan dron CIA
Perkembangan itu memberi tamparan besar kepada kumpulan Al-Qaeda sejak pengasasnya Osama Laden terbunuh pada 2011.
Kesederhanaan Islam lengkapi keperluan keamanan bersama - Prof Mohammad Hashim
Ancaman terhadap keamanan akan sentiasa wujud dan semakin meningkat memandangkan golongan pelampau sentiasa ada di mana-mana.
Sisi luka perang di Afghanistan tinggalan Amerika
Sorotan kesan misi hampir dua dekad tentera Amerika Syarikat di Afghanistan ke atas generasi kanak-kanak, yang paling terdera disebabkan perang. Nasib mereka terus tidak menentu di tangan Taliban
Operasi risikan halang perkembangan ideologi pengganas - Penganalisis
Operasi risikan dan tangkapan dari pihak berkuasa yang proaktif telah berjaya menghalang perkembangan ideologi pengganas.
'Jangan tunggu serangan berlaku, baru nak tangkap' - Ayob Khan kongsi isu ancaman keganasan di Malaysia
Jelas beliau, jika perkara tersebut dipandang remeh, Malaysia juga berisiko untuk diserang.
Tentera AS akan masih berada di Afghanistan selepas 31 Ogos
Ini bagi membantu proses pemindahan keluar warga Amerika Syarikat dari negara Asia Selatan itu.