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“The Covenant Review: A War Film Struggles to Balance Message and Action”

The Covenant Review is a popular website that offers comprehensive reviews of the latest games, movies, and TV shows. With a team of knowledgeable and passionate writers, The Covenant Review provides readers with insightful analysis and in-depth coverage of the entertainment industry. From blockbuster hits to indie gems, The Covenant Review has something for everyone. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what makes The Covenant Review such a revered source of information for both casual fans and avid enthusiasts.


The Covenant, directed by Guy Ritchie, is a film that tackles the complex themes of America’s occupation in Afghanistan after 9/11. Unlike other films that have dealt with this topic, such as American Sniper and Lone Survivor, which are often accused of promoting jingoism, The Covenant tries hard not to become pro-military propaganda. Ritchie and his co-writers, Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davies, focus on revealing the consequences of the U.S.’s Afghanistan operations now that the troops have been pulled out of the country.

Jake Gyllenhaal plays Sergeant John Kinley, the leader of an elite squad that tracks down and destroys Taliban weapons outposts. While the film does have its fair share of action sequences, it is not always a rousing action spectacle about gunfire and explosions. Instead, it tries to explore the relationships between the American soldiers and the Afghan people. Dar Salim plays Ahmed, Sergeant Kinley’s interpreter, a position that employs multilingual locals with the promise of travel visas out of Afghanistan. The chemistry between Gyllenhaal and Salim is a highlight of the film as they try to connect cultures and overcome barriers that have been created by war.

The Covenant is a film that tries to showcase the efforts of Afghanis who denounce the Taliban in their own country. It tries to be a story about interpreters who were promised protection by American forces but were abandoned after the troops left in 2021, leaving the Taliban to take back national control. The focus of the film is on Ahmed and other Afghanis like him, and it tries to portray their struggles and the sacrifices they made for the American forces.

However, the film suffers from too much runtime, clocking in just over two hours, and the story becomes tangled in a tired arc that still feels like a story told by Uncle Sam. Ritchie jams two objectives into the span of one movie, and by the time we’ve journeyed alongside Ahmed’s valiant heroism dragging an injured Kinley over blistering Afghan deserts, and Kinley’s PTSD mixes with survivor’s guilt back on his California home turf, there’s still too much movie left because there’s another whole rescue mission to go on.

It’s hard to argue that Ritchie’s cause for The Covenant isn’t noble. The film does a good job of humanizing both sides of the conflict and showcasing the impact of war on ordinary people. However, the film’s focus on Kinley’s personal struggles feels misguided and belabors the sergeant’s misplaced guilt. The movie spends too much time establishing elements that lack intended payoffs in later scenes, and it ultimately tries to do too much.

Despite its flaws, The Covenant is best whenever Kinley and Ahmed are together, weathering insurmountable odds, fleeing from Taliban hunters with weapons free. The camaraderie between Gyllenhaal and Salim transcends cultures, taking a stance on war stories that don’t peg entire countries as enemies. They’re the reason The Covenant doesn’t capsize by the end, even if Ritchie eventually indulges bad habits learned from other contemporary American war stories that make it all about glory.

In conclusion, The Covenant is a film that tries to do justice to the complexity of America’s operations in Afghanistan, but it ultimately falls short. The film suffers from a runtime that is too long and a storyline that tries to do too much. However, the film’s focus on humanizing both sides of the conflict is admirable, and the chemistry between Gyllenhaal and Salim is a highlight of the film. While the movie does have its share of flaws, it’s worth watching for anyone interested in the impact of war on ordinary people.


In conclusion, The Covenant is a shining gem in the world of gaming news and reviews. IGN’s talented team of writers and editors bring insightful analysis and honest opinions to the forefront, making it an essential resource for any gamer. It’s clear that IGN places a strong emphasis on producing quality content, and The Covenant is no exception. If you’re looking for a reliable source for unbiased game reviews, in-depth coverage of the latest events and trends in the industry, and insightful editorial pieces, then The Covenant is definitely worth checking out. We highly recommend giving it a read, and we’re certain you won’t be disappointed.

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