Preview by Joseph P. Tartaro
Executive Editor
LONE SURVIVOR: © 2014 Universal Studios. Running Time: 2 hours, 2 minutes. Rating: R for strong, bloody war violence and pervasive language. The Digtal HD version was scheduled for release on May 20, with the BlueRay™ going on sale on June 3. The Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, includes Bluray™, DVD and Digital HD with UltraViolet™, plus many additional features.
Here’s a story that bears repeating.
First there was an actual combat mission. Then the No. 1 best-selling book “Lone Survivor” by Marcus Luttrell with Patrick Robinson, a first person tell-all account of four Navy SEALs on a covert mission to neutralize a high-level al-Qaeda operative in Afghanistan. The SEALs who faced impossible odds.
Then came the movie version of “Lone Survivor,” as an intense, actionpacked story of heroism, courage and survival, based on Marcus Luttrell’s New York Timesbestselling memoir of the actual Operation Red Wings. Wall Street Journalreviewer Joe Mongenstern termed the film, “A celebration of courage and the brotherhood of warriors.”
And now the film version is being made available in various homeviewing formats.
“Lone Survivor” tells the incredible tale of Operation Red Wings, a mission involving four Navy SEALs who were ambushed by the enemy deep in the mountains of Afghanistan. As the soldiers are confronted by unthinkable odds they must find reserves of strength and resilience in order to fight to the finish. It is an inspiring story based on true acts of courage.
The film/Blu-ray™, HD disk version stars Wahlberg (The Fighter, Contraband), Taylor Kitsch (Savages, “Friday Night Lights”), Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild, “Bonnie and Clyde”), Ben Foster (3:10 to Yuma, Kill Your Darlings), Eric Bana (Star Trek, Hanna), Ali Suliman (The Kingdom), Alexander Ludwig (The Hunger Games), Yousuf Azami (Brothers) and Sammy Sheik (Transformers: Dark of the Moon).
Both the Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD include bonus features that shed new light on the valiant real-life soldiers of Operation Red Wings, including interviews with the film’s cast and creators, as well as actionpacked behind-the-scenes features, and an in-depth look at Luttrell, the real-life Navy SEAL who received the Navy Cross and Purple Heart for his actions in Operation Red Wings, and lived to tell the story of what he and his Team 10 mates faced in Afghanistan.
Additional features on the disks also reveal how Lone Survivor’s actionpacked stunts were choreographed and shot, plus interviews with Director Peter Berg, Actors Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Ben Foster and Emile Hirsch and stunt coordinator and 2nd unit director Kevin Scott.
Along with Luttrell, script-writer/ director Peter Berg enlisted the help of active Navy SEALS to help the actors accurately portray the fallen soldiers of Operation Red Wings.
If you haven’t read Luttrell’s book, or seen “Lone Survivor” on a big movie screen, the Blu-Ray™ or HD DVD will give you an opportunity to know the story of the ill-fated Operation Red Wings. If you have, chances are you’ll want to obtain a DVD version to see it once again.
