The Dirty Angels
                                                                                                                     
Director: Martin Campbelll
Year: 2024
Rating: 6.0
After our withdrawal from Vietnam, there were numerous films about American soldiers going back in for various reasons and kicking ass. Killing lots of Vietnamese. Very flag waving films to make us feel better about the war and its outcome. Now of course we are friends with Vietnam and I think most of those films have stopped. So perhaps it is time to move on to Afghanistan, another war that ended with us leaving and the Taliban taking over. A new set of bad guys to kill. In this truly absurd film, a group of American female soldiers go in to save school girls and kick ass. And kill loads of bad guys. And yes, it works to some degree. Who doesn't like terrorists being killed. A shitload of action and heroics. Interesting that they made it female; a sign of the times. Directed by Martin Campbell who has made some fine movies; two Bond films, two Zorro films and two female action films; The Cleaner and the Protégé. This female Delta Force type of film feels like a step down into video rental trash territory. But brainless rah-rah entertaining trash.



Islamic terrorists attack a girl's school in Pakistan; throw a bunch off the roof - thud - and kidnap a handful for ransom. Americans among them. The leader of the terrorists is suitable slime Amir (George Iskandar) who we met earlier when he executed a group of American soldiers and stoned the lone female. That female is Jake (Eva Green) and she is back to save the girls and kill as many Taliban/ISIS as she can by cutting their throats,, a knife through the skull, breaking their necks and so on. A number of female soldiers are selected for their skills - explosives, mechanic, medic (Ruby Rose), marksman - and are disguised as humanitarian workers to get into Afghanistan. No time is spent developing the characters of any of these women besides Jake and Jake is as likeable as New Coke. Green plays her with zero sex appeal, just a mean spirited killing machine. It is all very Dirty Dozenish with this small group of women wiping out the bad guys and making America proud. Pretty much goes as expected. Shot in Morocco.