Rating: 
Summary: Gut Wrenching Movie
Review: This was an incredible movie. However, Black Hawk Down is a very difficult film to watch primarily because you can relate to the guys so well. My wife actually stopped watching halfway through because it was so tough to watch. It is not sensationalistic in its portrayal of guys getting shot and/or killed, but it is very realistic.My only complaint with the DVD is there is no director's narrative to go with the movie. I don't need it to appreciate the film, but I love the insights those commentaries provide.
Rating: 
Summary: awesome movie
Review: One of the best way movies ever. Great depiction of the situation our troops went through in Somalia. The acting is fantastic and real. You want to see it over and over again.
Rating:
Summary: Very good movie = watch it and thank our armed forces
Review: Having not read the book, I watched the movie in hopes to learn more about this conflict and the ensuing nightmare for the U.S. forces engaged in the operation. Wether you agree or disagree as to the U.S. involvement in this struggle, the loss of 300,000+ lives due to starvation would make any red blooded American's blood boil and demand U.S. assistance in this ordeal. A lot of people say that we (U.S.) gets involved in issues that aren't any of our business, but I differ in this regard. If we (Americans) sat silent while a country is obliterated so violently then we would not be the America that our soul foundation is based upon. I view this movie from two fronts (1) its a movie about the U.S involvement in Mogadishu and (2) the tale of the heroic soldiers of Delta Force and the Rangers. These men go into the most dangerous conflicts in the world without question, they defend our (U.S.) interets and do it with honor. This movie delivers in both regards, it justifies our involvement at a high level and then depicts the heroisim of Delta and the Rangers in "arguably" the most intense fire fight since the vietnam war.
This movie provides a very emotional roller coaster. I had a lump in my throat the size of a baseball when two Delta Force Snipers MSGT Gary I. Gordon and SFC Randall D. Shughart injected themselves at the second Black Hawk crash site to provide protection to the wounded in what was surley a no win situation. They gave their lives defending their brothers in what has to be a most selfless act I have witnessed. They both received the medal of honor posthumeously.I am now going go read the book which I hope goes into greater detail than that movie could. I would suggest watching this movie with your children (appropriate age) because of the graphic nature. But our children need to understand how important our country is and why men and women defend our country.
Rating:
Summary: Eric Bana is a Stud!
Review: I am a historical drama fan! So, when this movie came out I went to see it right away eventhough I do not like Josh Hartnett and Ewan McGregor. This movie had completely blown me away! There were several faces that was alien to me but their performace were so good that gave a lasting impression. Most notable were Eric Bana and William Fichtner.Bana is gorgeous and his portrayal of a brave, manly and mucho delta force solider was right on.
The action is amazing and accurate. One must note that there are a lot of gut ranching and bloody scenes, from this I must conclude that BHD has captured the intensity of the terrors and violence of war.
Special features included the making of BHD. It is only after watching it I realize that Bana is Australian(his accent). There is some footage of the actors going to boot camp before shooting and you can tell they had bonded and had a lot of fun.One should never miss a movie like this!
There is one more thing, this is an entertaining film, do not treat it like a documantary because it tend to be one-sided and overly exaggerated the American heroism. If you want to know more about the what really happen, I recommend you to pay attention to the history channel, they have a special documentary about the truE story of BHD!
Rating:
Summary: Forrest McSweeney and Black Hawk Down
Review: Action, Action, and more great action is what this movie's forte is.This is the most realistic military action I have ever seen in a movie. From helicopters to M16's and Ak-47's to RPG launchers this movie is definately one of, if not the premiere action movie of the last few to several years. I'll be quick on the plot. Of course it's the Somalia accident of 1992 (I figured you knew that) and the U.S.A. is trying to stop a madman from destroying an entire nation by starving its people. The U.S. Rangers are working with Delta force on certain fast-strike, in and out missions to take care of business.yadda yadda yadda. Now on to the review. The movie is based on realism. No added drama, no cheesy lines. The names are not changed to protect the innocent and nothing is sacred. Why? Because the whole ordeal already had enough drama in real life to make a fantastic movie. Everything is accurate, even most of the dialoge. Except for a couple of the Delta Force agents, none of the individual characters are very good like in a fiction book or anything. However, none..NONE..of the characters are bad by any means. Everything is summed up in one word. Cool. The Delta Force Agents were really cool. Some of the weapons and equipment they carry, and most of the situations they get themselves in and out of so easily are just neat. Now I have to address the issue of the slow death. Many older military movies over-dramatize their death sequences. Saving Private Ryan sought to eliminate that by blasting their unfortunate victims into oblivion and making up for the drama in-between. However, S.P.R. was a more dramatic movie than B.H.D. (I love acronyms). In this movie all the cards are finally dropped and whatever the men saw out there that day was incorporated, regardless of these ongoing issues. Directing: Superior, Action: Superior (almost exactly realistic),Character Development: Not too shabby, Drama: Even though this was a completely realistic movie, the drama still was more than a match for much anything out there (I mean it's not A Beautiful Mind or anything, but its still great). I love the action and the plot and just about everything else but I can't give it five stars only..ONLY..because I rate movies that high only if they are border lining on true excellence.This is a great movie. Make sure you turn the lights off and crank up the sound!
Rating:
Summary: Skip All The Reviews Here Except Those From Rangers
Review: You'll see a lot of comments here about character development or storyline flaws, even a few gripes about the film being too loud, violent, and confusing... There are even critiques regarding how Ridley Scott could have done a better job as director ---mostly from people who can barely hold a steady picture for home video. These reviews might make sense if your biggest adventure in life lies somewhere between teletubbies and a trip to Burger King, but they won't help if you're really interested in this film, and more importantly, the story behind it. Some fitting dialogue from the screenplay is where SFC Hooten says "....They won't understand. They won't understand why we do it. They won't understand that it's about the men next to you, and that's it. That's all it is." Call me biased as a former Ranger, but for the best assessment of Black Hawk Down, skim through the reviews and look for what the Rangers have to say. The rest is mostly chaff. The only comments I have to make are that this movie had a powerful impact on me, the kind that burns in a permanent impression; it also conveyed the extremes of pride, pain, professionalism, and amazingly hard work that comes with duty in Special Ops.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful filmmaking
Review: I think it's safe to say that very few movies compare with Black Hawk Down in its ability to place you right in the middle of war. The battle scenes are ferocious, bloody, and devastating, making sure this is an experience you won't easily forget. On that basis alone, Black Hawk Down ranks as one of the best war films ever. But even better, despite what many have said, the characters are not forgotten. The set-up may seem too brief for a cast that includes forty principal characters (with about eight or so getting the most focus), but director Ridley Scott brilliantly decides to let the characterization reveal itself in the heat of combat. Perhaps the best performance of the large cast is William Fichtner's, in the role of Sgt. Jeff Sanderson. Fichtner's portrayal is that of a take-charge, courageous leader willing to take risks and disobey orders to save as many lives as possible. Fichtner has always been a superb character actor who's delivered many memorable performances (particularly in Contact), and this is his best to date, which is ironic as it comes right after his worst (a very short and pretty embarrassing stint as a drunken farmer in the underrated Pearl Harbor). Fichtner's Sanderson reminded me a bit of Mel Gibson's portrayal Lt. Colonel Hal Moore, but without the overdone righteousness Randall Wallace infused into GIbson's role in We Were Soldiers. The rest of the cast is still very noteworthy, and there's not a bad performance in the bunch. Josh Hartnett, Tom Sizemore, Jason Isaacs, Ewen Bremner, Ron Eldard, Eric Bana, and Kim Coates all register quite well. Hans Zimmer's score accentuates the horror and the tragedy of the disastrous event, and while there are times his score too closely resembles his work in Gladiator, this is still one of his better compositions (which says a lot, considering his previous work in Pearl Harbor was 2001's best soundtrack). Personally, I felt Black Hawk Down was 2001's best film, and that the only reason it had been left out of the best picture race was because it was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. Let's face it, the Academy probably couldn't stomach having to hand an Oscar trophy to Bruckheimer.
Rating:
Summary: great action
Review: This movie was great. I loved the role of Josh Hartnett. Alot of action it did not drag like other war movies it was great.
Rating:
Summary: Realism and Realpolitik
Review: I am not an effusive reviewer, but I cannot help but award this movie 5 stars. The exacting detail of the execution of the mission and the horrific hour after hour conflict of America's Elite versus a veritable mob of forces with superior firepower does nothing but inspire respect for the men who wear our uniform. The pace of the movie is frenetic and unlike most hyberbolic reviews, you will be on the edge of your seat the entire movie. Given our politically correct atmosphere, it may be hard for some to watch. Somali followers of Adid are depicted as they truly were: grasping killers, who would use food as means to obtain power. It also makes you realize that as much as we would like, the US military is not there to help Third World nations who do not wish our help. There are some conflicts, as much as it may hurt our sensibilities, that we must let run their course. If you are a fan of Bill Clinton, this film does not do much to instill confidence in his leadership or international/military decision making. In fact, it shows why we probably should not have elected a man who 'loathed' the military. At the end, you will feel hatred for the Somalis and perhaps for the administration that allowed this debacle to occur. You may not like that fact, but in reality it is good. It is important for those of us who are not in the military nor will ever be, to understand the effective use of force and its limitations. We must also be reminded that even in a post-communist world, we still need grown ups at the helm in the White House.
Rating:
Summary: Better than "Saving Private Ryan" is this possible?
Review: God! I thought Saving Private Ryan was the best, most realistic war movie . . .ever (D-day part), but I guess I was wrong.
This movie is an account on modern warfare, you know, RPGs, gattling guns on helicopters,. . .and helicopters.
Starring "Pretty boy" Josh Hartnett (Pearl Harbor, 40 Days 40 nights) and Tom Sizemore (Saving Private Ryan) Black Hawk down is one of the most realistic, shocking accounts of war. And it's based on true events. Yes, I read the book; Blackburn really does fall out of a helicopter, there is a Sergeant Eversmann, and this raid DID happen. Enraged Somalies, a.k.a. Sammies or Skinnies with AK47s and about twenty soldiers WERE wounded.
The movie is disturbing, but not as much as it would be if they added in all the stuff AFTER the raid, you know, the Skinnies dragging (I think it was Bill Clevelands?) body around after the raid.
At the end, they tell what happens in the days after the raid, you know those two Delta snipers that come to rescue Mike Durrant and died? They were awarded Medal of Honors.
This is a masterpeice war movie directed by a great director (Ridely Scott) and it is realistic and gorey as a true war movie.
|
