Director Michael Bay has built a name for himself making mᴀssive, big-budget, action-packed spectacles, which, despite some extraordinary technical achievements, are often critically panned and forgettable for audiences. From his outstanding debut with the fan favorite Bad Boys through the divisive Transformers franchise, Bay never lost his touch for fast-paced action and heart-racing set-piece sequences. With releases that often hit big at the box office, for better or worse, Bay is often spoken of as a director of popcorn movies rather than truly esteemed works of art.

One release that showcased Bay’s more mature side was 2016’s 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, which starred John Krasinski as a member of the Annex Security Team who fought to defend the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, after a wave of militant attacks. Based on the non-fiction book by Mitchell Zuckoff, 13 Hours was an action-packed look at the conflict between the U.S. and the Al-Qaeda-aligned Islamic militant group Ansar al-Sharia. While 13 Hours was dismissed by many as style over substance, there was one truly outstanding battle scene that saved this mostly forgettable film.

13 Hours’ Insurgent Attack Scene Is Stunning

There Was An Immediacy To The First Attack That Was Truly Intense

13 Hours explored the circumstances of life in Benghazi following the overthrow of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, which meant it was named as one of the most dangerous places on Earth. With soldiers on edge and a chance that violence could break out at any moment, Bay showcased himself as a master of suspense as the film built toward its stunning first attack from the insurgents. As Islamic militants enact their ᴀssault on the U.S. compound under the shadow of night, Bay’s use of shaky camera techniques and rapid cuts conveyed an incredible sense of terrifying immediacy and uncertainty.

While U.S. personnel struggled to react to the attack and bring in ᴀssistance from the nearby CIA annex, those in the compound were quickly engulfed in flames as the attackers set the building alight. Although the breach feels urgent and chaotic, it’s clear the insurgents have planned their attack in a manner to absolutely overwhelm the defenders. This conflict would go on nonstop for the next 13 hours as the U.S. officials struggled with how to retaliate and avoid casualties, setting the stage for the intense shootouts, chases, and acts of heroism that were to follow.

13 Hours’ Amazing Battle Scene Is Michael Bay At His Best

Michael Bay Used Lessons Learned From Previous Action Movies For 13 Hours’ Battles

It’s always been clear that Bay can depict an action sequence better than almost any other director in Hollywood, and 13 Hours’ first battle scene showcased him at his best. Through a mix of technical skills and intense visuals, the conflict had an urgency and grandeur that’s often missing from slower-paced war movies. As a director who crafted his skills with big-budget action movies, it was clear that Bay took the lessons he’s learned from films like The Rock and Armageddon and translated them into a more realistic environment with 13 Hours.

Having previously laid out the geography of the compound in earlier scenes, it was possible for us viewers to follow the chaos that unfolded onscreen without feeling overwhelmed or confused. The action in 13 Hours felt grounded in a way that was less cartoonish than the battle sequences in his Transformers movies, and it was clear Bay had given great thought to how insurgents and defenders moved, communicated, and protected themselves in this high-stakes situation. While this was a firm showcase of Bay at his best, it was sadly not enough to ensure 13 Hours ranked among his greatest works.

13 Hours Is Otherwise A Largely Forgettable War Movie

Sheer Spectacle Could Not Make Up For 13 Hours’ Lack Of Political Insight

Although the insurgent attack scene and some spectacular action sequences later in the film stand out as examples of Bay’s directorial brilliance, 13 Hours unfortunately lacked the depth needed to truly connect with audiences and critics. While there were some attempts to put the political circumstances of Benghazi in 2012 into context, Bay was more concerned with keeping viewers on the edge of their seats than crafting a narrative that would stick with us long after the credits had rolled. The action scenes were thrilling as they occurred, but 13 Hours avoided engaging meaningfully with its geopolitical circumstances.

This was unfortunate because if 13 Hours was able to pack its incredible battle scenes with more depth, character complexity, or narrative substance, it would stand as a truly compelling piece of cinema. Instead, 13 Hours felt underdeveloped, and the generic heroism of the U.S. soldiers was harder to invest in emotionally. 13 Hours was definitely a step in the right direction for Michael Bay and showcased him trying to broaden his horizons beyond disposable, blockbuster action movies, but if he truly wants to make memorable films, then he’s going to have to dig deeper into character and themes.