Director Peter Burg portrays the story of Marcus Luttrell, Navy Seal played by Mark Walhnburg, and his brothers in the American Navy as they take on the mission of apprehending or terminating al Qaeda leader Ahmad Shahd in the film version of “Lone Survivor.” The SAG award winning film has captured the hearts of many Americans and earned $84,857 opening weekend.

The film follows the storyline of the book written by Luttrell himself. His character is outstandingly played by Wahlberg, who is not only faced with critical decisions that affect the outcome of the mission but also with the kind hearted villagers who save his life by sheltering him from the enemy. The dynamics of war are displayed extravagantly throughout this movie. It shows the bad guys who we fight against, but also shows the ones who aren’t. Luttrell has to decide if he trusts these villagers and though he can’t understand them or their motives, puts his life in their hands anyway.

The supporting cast gives emotional depth to the film by introducing them at the opening of the film talking with their loved ones back home and showing that even overseas, they normalize by making decisions about tile and horses as wedding presents. Heartbreakingly so, the audience views pictures of the mission’s team Michael Murphy played by Taylor Kitsch, Danny Dietz played by Emile Hirsch, Matt “Axe” Axelson played by Ben Foster, and others that died during the mission.

Though parts of the film were graphic and gruesome, they couldn’t have been made any better. The audience was able to see the extreme extent to which the four me went to survive and exactly how their injuries effected them. War is something that most Americans only see through movies and short clips on a newscast. They hear stories from war veterans, but this movie displays not only the bloody side of war, but also compassion and passion the men had for our country and each other.

This movie not only showcased extreme heroism, bravery and willpower to survive but also encompassed the moral dilemmas that one would face in a place of war. As one who has never been on the front lines of war or had life or death decisions dangling at my fingertips, I am not only thankful that I was exposed to his experience but also proud to share the home state of Texas with such an admirable man.