i saw this in theatres and liked it. i just saw it again for a second time and it was much better than remembered. it was tense, well staged, action heavy and a really great story. the opening 10 minutes are absolutely riveting. as director, peter berg takes the psuedo-shaky cam (and what feels like some of the score) from his previous film, friday night lights, and uses it here to create some stellar set pieces and intense drama. if memory serves correct he will use this visual sensibility over and over in what seems to me now as his signature style. he also has assembled a great cast that all deliver and a terrific performance from ashraf barhom who steals the picture. this is a great action/war/thriller/drama that moves at a breakneck pace and tells a very modern (even still) story. what hold it back from being a 4 and half star film, for me, is the american patriotism that is on display in the film. not only do the americans come in and show what an excellent job they can do compared to anyone else but they are better gunmen then everyone else and of course they all survive while not everyone else does. this overt 'patriotism' could ruin a film but here it is at least handled well enough to not really notice it. otherwise this was aces. *so after 4 films, of 12, in the peter berg marathon i have begun to see the seeds of both a visual style and certain very american mindset. although all 4 films have been completely different in tone and theme you can see that 'american the great' angle popping up in the last 3 films an the shaky-yet-not-cam style that is (and would be used again) to great effect. i gotta say, after 4 films so far, this berg fellow has done a great job entertaining me...*