Based on the bestselling non-fiction book "Horse Soldiers" by Doug Stanton, "12 Strong" tells a true story about the titular U.S. Special Forces team assigned to Afghanistan to fight the Taliban after the events of 9/11.
With familiar faces such as Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shannon, Michael Pena and William Fichtner, need we say more? The cast lineup itself should make this movie an interesting watch when it comes to their chemistry with each other.
The name Jerry Bruckheimer is no stranger to most mainstream audiences, having produced some of the biggest and high-profile Hollywood movies for decades. In fact, he also known for real-life military thrillers including "Pearl Harbor" and "Black Hawk Down".
Ted Tally and Peter Craig might not be familiar names, but they are responsible for writing some of the more recognisable Hollywood movies of the past. Tally is, of course, best known for penning the Oscar-winning adapted screenplay, "The Silence Of The Lambs". Peter Craig, in the meantime, has written for "The Town" as well as the two-part "Hunger Games: Mockingjay" movies.
The production team behind "12 Strong" has vowed to make the movie as authentic as possible. For instance, they insist on using real tanks from the White Sands Missile Range.
It's not every day that we get to see a high-profile studio movie about U.S. Special Forces. "12 Strong" is thankfully one of them, which will mark a fresh departure from the usual U.S. Marines-fronted military movies.
Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky both tied the knot in December 2010, but surprisingly, the happily-married Hollywood couple have yet to star in a same project together. In "12 Strong", Pataky carries the role of Captain Mitch Nelson's (Hemsworth) wife, Jean.
"12 Strong" may have been Nicolai Fuglsig's feature-length directorial debut, but the Danish director has already made his mark helming a Sony Bravia commercial, which won the prestigious Gold Lion at the Cannes Lion International Festival of Creativity in 2006.
A military movie like "12 Strong" tends to be physically demanding. Thankfully, the movie enlists the help of Mic Rodgers, the veteran stunt coordinator known for movies like the "Lethal Weapon" series, "Rambo III" and most recently, "Hacksaw Ridge".
What makes "12 Strong" different than your usual post-9/11 war movies is how the U.S. military chooses to fight the Talibans. The answer: on horseback.
No doubt Chris Hemsworth is synonymous with his iconic Thor character, but the Australian hunk proved his acting prowess in the past, playing real-life characters in Ron Howard's "Rush" and "In The Heart Of The Sea". "12 Strong" is yet another ideal platform to stretch his acting muscles.
Instead of focusing solely on the American point-of-view, "12 Strong" will be a story of two sides that includes the perspective of the Afghan people, who also join forces to fight the Taliban.
We have seen Chris Hemsworth performing various stunts in the past, but watching him do most of the riding on a horseback while battling the Taliban? Nope. Fans of the actor are likely to enjoy this movie. "12 Strong" is now showing in cinemas.