15 Incredible Films Based On Real-Life Tragedies

Based On: The unsuccessful Operation Red Wings during the Afghanistan War.

After the critical mauling and box office failure of Battleship, director Peter Berg bounced back in an impressive manner with Lone Survivor, a rare January release that actually didn't suck at all.

A gritty, intense and well-made action-war film that never lets up, Lone Survivor is a gruelling experience that puts viewers right in the centre of the Afghanistan War. It makes for a very good recreation of the conflict thanks to Peter Berg's skilled direction, a pleasingly realistic approach and, best of all, a general lack (for the most part) of the jingoism which has been a problem in other War on Terror dramatisations.

The film does spoil the ending in the title and it does favour action scenes over character development, but at the same time, the effective war sequences sell the substance and tragedy of the situation just fine. Lone Survivor is also anchored by one of Mark Wahlberg's better performances in the main role.

This works as both a gripping action film and a touching tribute to the fallen soldiers from the ill-fated mission, making this one of the best War on Terror films to date.