Dove Review

“13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi” is based on the true story that occurred in 2012 when C.I.A. agents were attacked in Benghazi. The film features various soldiers we get to know as civilians; for example, one soldier is married with a few daughters and then learns his wife is pregnant again. This news makes him want to return home even more. The scenes of him Skyping with his family are touching. The movie also incorporates a bit of comedy now and then, despite its serious nature. In one scene, the aforementioned soldier’s wife goes through a McDonald’s drive-through with her daughters and a few other girls. One girl tells the woman on the speaker to make 25 Happy Meals.

The movie is slow-moving for about the first half hour or so but then speeds up dramatically. Suddenly, the soldiers encounter ambushes and attacks. When a squad of Americans attempts to drive through an ambush while avoiding gunfire, the suspense and action sequence swells with intensity. Regrettably, the fighting sequences are quite long, at times, throughout the film and the violence is very graphic and bloody. In addition, the language is strong and constant. Although some soldiers survive, their lives will no longer be the same and they will never forget the ones who won’t get to return home. We are unable to award our Dove “Family-Approved’ Seal to this film due to the content as mentioned.

Dove Rating Details

0

Faith

None

0

Integrity

A lot of bloody violence, including missiles hitting targets and killing people; shooting; a few scenes of a "spray" of blood; blood spurts from wounds; man shot in head; vehicle crashes; a man's bloody arm barely hangs on; a man's stomach wound, which shows his innards for a moment; blood in other scenes and on people's faces; corpses strewn on the ground; burning buildings; guns held on people; video game violence with shooting; a comment about a "Holy War"; a car is riddled with bullets.

2

Sex

A man makes circles with his hands to indicate a woman's breasts; a video of dogs "humping."

4

Language

So much language throughout the film, I finally quit counting, but it includes "GD," "J" and "JC," "F," slang words including that of male genitalia, and about every curse word or profanity in existence.

5

Violence

A lot of bloody violence, including missiles hitting targets and killing people; shooting; a few scenes of a "spray" of blood; blood spurts from wounds; man shot in head; vehicle crashes; a man's bloody arm barely hangs on; a man's stomach wound, which shows his innards for a moment; blood in other scenes and on people's faces; corpses strewn on the ground; burning buildings; guns held on people; video game violence with shooting; a comment about a "Holy War"; a car is riddled with bullets.

2

Drugs

Beer drinking and drinking other alcoholic beverages in a few scenes; cigarette and cigar smoking; man learns his 15-year-old daughter has been drinking back home.

2

Nudity

Shirtless men; men in shorts; man in towel.

2

Other

Tension and arguments between characters; men spit; tattoos on characters; a comment is repeated a few times that "all the gods, heavens and hells are within you"; man spits up or vomits; death and grief.