It’s always interesting to me how so many people, including critics, can see the same movie and leave with entirely different opinions about the film.  Still, I shouldn’t be surprised. After all, that’s been going on for a very long time. 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, based on the true story of what happened on the night of September 11, 2012, in Benghazi, Libya, has certainly drawn diverse comments.

Before watching this movie, I had the privilege of interviewing three of the American Security Contractors known as GRS (Global Response Staff) responsible for protecting Americans in terrorist countries. Sitting across from them and hearing their stories was somewhat chilling, especially when they spoke about the comrades they lost that night as well as U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens (Matt Letscher) and the State Department computer expert Sean Smith.

Michael Bay puts a lot of effort in keeping the film true to what happened. The film features six elite Security Contractors sent to  Benghazi. Assigned to the Annex, not too far from the U.S. Consulate, there’s little to do at first. They mingle in town among other races and try to keep a low profile.

A short segment of the film features the Ambassador and Smith (Christopher Dingli). Meanwhile, at the annex messages are coming from intelligence warning the Consulate will be attacked. The six GRS group of John “Tig” Tiegen (Dominic Fumusa), Kris Paronto “Tanto” (Pablo Schreiber), Mark “Oz” Geist (Max Martini), Jack Silva (John Krasinski), Dave “D.B.” Benton (David Denman), and Tyrone “Rone” Woods (James Badge Dale) gather their weapons and equipment ready to go when commanded to move in.

Several appeals for help come from the consulate as it’s being blown to pieces by enemy fire. The GRS guys beg the CIA chief (David Costabile) to let them go. Several times he demands they stand down. A final plea indicating that they will all die without help is enough for the contractors to disregard orders -- so they leave.

After fighting brutal attacks in a Compound now burning to the ground, the contractors head back to the Annex. Only a short time later it comes under heavy fire. It’s between these two locations that Bay unleashes a fire storm which -- at times -- is hard to figure out what’s happening and by whom.

We learn a little about the contractors as they talk about home, their wives and their kids, but basically know very little about their backgrounds. The nearly three-hour film is so intense there was a dead stillness in the theater I attended, and some grave conversations on the way out.

Some critics label 13 Hours as almost impossible to believe, and they chastise Bay for too much combat action and blowups. Perhaps some of those critics might have changed their opinions if they sat across the table from John Tiegen, Kris Paronto and Mark Geist hearing about their injuries, loss of their comrades, and so many stories about them that were not true. It drove them to tell Mitchell Zuckoff -- author and professor of Journalism at Boston University -- exactly what happened that night and then give Paramount the okay to make the film. Looking recovered from their injuries, the wounds of physical and emotional warfare were still clear in their comments and eyes.

That’s why I wholeheartedly recommend seeing this film.

(Released by Paramount Pictures and rated "R for strong combat violence throughout, bloody images, and language.)

Review also posted at www.reviewexpress.com.