Before I say something about the movie let me start by saying I am neither questioning the message nor the motive. I am well aware of the BS that is happening it parts of the world. But there were some things I didn't like in this movie. I've watched the Directors Cut this time which runs about 20 mins longer. I had seen the theatrical version before but it was long ago and I can't regognize what was added. Although I have an idea about which scenes.
It is a good, indeed a very good, action/war movie. But it tries to hard to sell the message. It uses clichèd characters - the hard nosed soldier who knows only duty and orders, the young and beautiful humanitarian doctor who needs to be rescued. It is predictable from start to finish. Every character does what you expect him/her to do. They say exactly what they have to say at every point in the story. It's ticking of all the nessessary boxes at the right time. And then there is the logical back breaker of the movie for me. Let me explain.
[spoiler] The SEALs are flying into Nigeria through Cameroon and are parachuting in the middle of the night about 7 miles away from the misson. All fine and well here. Then they have to travel 12 clicks to their LZ. Again, fine and well. Here comes the flaw. After being lift of by the helicopters they fly straight back over the mission, in bright daylight, to witness the atrocities commited. Now why would they do that ? If it was possible to fly there, then why not do so in the first place ? Why fly back there at all and not back again over Cameroon ? This is the essential moment of the movie and the turning point for Waters. And it is highly illogical and constructed only to move the story along. There were some other minor things that didn't add up but that was the worst one. If you take into further consideration that all of this only comes to fruition because of the irritating and constantly complaning of the one they were supposed to rescue, while at the same time not being completely honest herself, it makes you wonder why Waters not just knocked her out cold and got out. [/spoiler]
It tarnishes an otherwise really good movie that doesn't shy away from looking where others don't want to look. The action sequences are very good, the final battle is intense. The ending is emotinal but overall I couldn't overcome the errors in the story.