Rating: 
Summary: Intensity to the 10th Power!
Review: Though I thought it impossible, this movie's intensity out does that displayed in Saving Private Ryan. Both are remarkable films in their own right, but this movie takes battle intensity (for the viewer) to an entirely new and prolonged level. One thing I have noticed with other reviews, that many complained that it was too much for them, too intense, not enough character development. What you as the viewer have to remember is that this is their story, the Rangers, Delta and Night Stalkers. It is, in many ways, more for them than for us. It's probably as clear and realistic a depiction of the nightmare these men suffered and fought through as any that has ever been brought to film before. What they experienced, I'm sorry to say was - more likely than not - a lot worse, more horrifying and more intense than anything we witnessed in this film. This film left me drained. Emotionally and physically. I was, and still am, shocked by what I've seen. However, the bottom line for me is that this movie left me with an even greater degree of respect and pride for those who serve in all our military services, but even more so for those who volunteer for service in these elite units. If these men can deal with the real horrors of combat, then I figure that the least I can do is to sit through their story and take away from it all that I can.
Rating:
Summary: experience the horror and realism of war.
Review: They were sent in to arrest two generals.
It was planned to spend an hour there.
They spent a long night there.L e a v e N o M a n B e h i n d Ridley Scoot did an excellent job wih "BHD" and it is one of the best done war films ever. Josh Hartnett delivers and excellent performance that will keep your heart racing. Even if you thought war was cool after brave-heart or saving private ryan... you WILL NOT after this film. The conent is extremely bad and it is so volent that it makes "saving private ryan" and "braveheart" look like childrens' movies. "BHD" is one of the best war movies ever and definetly the most realistic. I would have at least nominated this movie for best picture at the academy awards. If you are a teenage girl that likes josh hartnett and wanna see his movies... do not watch this. They show men torn in half and squirting blood realisticly scene after scene. You can experience the horrors and realism of war by watching this movie. "BHD" is a wonderfull movie that i would recommend to many people, but be prepared for a blood-bath, and you may even close your eyes. I hope my review was helpful to you.
Rating: 
Summary: Too Real, and too long
Review: I am a fan of war movies and this I wouldnt call a war. A mere skurmish. You cant help but fell patriotic as you watch this movie and want to squash the villans and enemies, but his movie just doesnt end. The action doesnt start until you are about 45-60 minutes into the movie. It good too much hype, and it was a total let down for me.
Rating: 
Summary: Production values the only bright star
Review: Heard a quote recently, from a young woman enlisted in the U.S. armed forces. "I didn't join the army thinking I'd go to war." And that sums up the subject matter of BLACK HAWK DOWN perfectly. These are not soldiers, not as so recently portrayed in SAVING PRIVATE RYAN or BAND OF BROTHERS. For the most part they stand around as targets, awaiting rescue (refreshingly; this sort of inaction is usually reserved for women's roles) or instructions from on-high before taking a step, preferring having body parts pureéd to thinking or taking responsibility for their own survival. Foul-up compounds foul-up. And for what? Sympathy for most of the characters is hard to come by. Maybe they're doing time in lieu of paying for college or simply have no clue of their life's direction. That's not uncommon and no condemnation, truly. But it's surely a disclaimer anyone considering the armed forces should heed: We reserve the right to fold, spindle, and mutilate your very flesh; no glorious or noble sacrifice assured. Again, this is a sparkling production, lovely to behold were it more fictitious. The challenge of criticizing a film like this are thoughts for those who survived or survived those who didn't. The only hope in this film is that maybe -- maybe -- their horror and their loss won't be repeated.
Rating:
Summary: only movie this film student ever HATED
Review: This was the worst film I have ever seen. Not only did the absence of plot and character depth fail to involve me in the action, I became so bored that I actually started daydreaming about other things to entertain myself while I was sitting in the theater. I almost fell asleep becasue the sound of bullets was so rhythmic as to become soothing. The film shows no concern for non-Americans, and the whole thing plays like a shooting gallery game at the state fair: set 'em up and knock 'em down. It was the most shallow, degrading thing I have ever put myself through, and I caution anyone but the most carnage-loving fan to stay as far away from this film as possible.
Rating:
Summary: horrible distortion of history
Review: Anyone who seriously followed (or still follows) the events in Somalia is going to be seriously disappointed with the whitewash of history. Any person of color, or of foreign heritage should be especially insulted ... The Somalians of the movie are crazy murder-loving lunatics, deaths of Americans are lengthened and very emotional ... deaths of Somalians are unimportant ... they drop like flies ... painless of course ... Unfortunately, the real story in Somalia would have included the fact that these American troops were put into a situation they didn't understand. Their leaders back home were attempting to manipulate the political situation in Somalia ... and also ended up blowing up a peaceful meeting of various Somalian leaders (some were even US allies) ... another US mistake the US is too proud to account for ... Black Hawk Down is jingoist rhetoric; propaganda for Bush and his handlers to create a neverending war that only empowers warmongers like Osama bin Laden and John Aschcroft, and not to mention corporations and the best government money can buy. Vote with your dollar and buy a different movie ...
Rating:
Summary: War isn't supposed to be enjoyable
Review: This isn't a movie to show the children, and isn't a movie that one would throw in the player for a quick mindless romp.
This movie is more along the lines of a Saving Private Ryan. But unlike Ryan, the horror doesn't end after 15 minutes. It's a gut-wrenching view of warfare. It doesn't pull the punches of John Wayne classics, or have the nobility of the old black and white war films. It's brutal and horrible.
The characters are not developed, because their past does not matter. Their motivations, outside that of living and protecting their buddies, do not matter. All that matters is what they did during 16 hours of hell worse than most of us can imagine, and few of us would want to experience. It doesn't matter what 1 man did, but what they did as Rangers and as Deltas. It will take several watchings before a person can track particular characters paths (and wonder why Ewan McGregor is the RPG magnet of all time).
If one would like to watch a movie about unconventional heroism, this is the movie though, even Hollywoodized as it is. It serves as an incredible reminder of the sacrifices men make for each other.
Rating:
Summary: Don't forget
Review: Don't forget what those skinies did to us! We should go back and finish the job. This movie was one of the most accurate war movies ever made! Depicts what happened and tells the story. But one thing left out in the end is that Muhamed Farrah Aidid's son who was one of the U.S. Marines sent to restore order, returned to take his fathers place when he dies. This was one of the best movies made.
Rating: 
Summary: Postmodern War Still Sucks
Review: Blackhawk Down is a truly jarring film, more jarring than other contenders in the field, Saving Private Ryan, and Enemy at the Gates. I kept thinking as I watched this movie how all our good intentions and high technology could not prevent this disaster from happening. This film shook me in that regard; Ridley Scott depicts a fast, hopeless battle against a foe armed less with high-tech weapons than hate and courage. Mark Bowden's excellent book makes a good transition, but the necessary filmic needs of recognizable characters leaves us with little to hang on to; too many faces look alike, talk alike. Die alike. Some reviewers have called this war pornography, but there is too much pain, at least for me, to enjoy the violence. This is not Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. If this were War Porn, Ridley Scott would have shown the massive numbers of Somali dead and hideously wounded our forces caused. The kill ratio was at least 10 to 1 or higher. This film also made me ask questions so I ended up reading the book, thus learning more than I intended. For me, at least, this makes Blackhawk Down worth seeing. By the way, this is a landmark historical film: For the first time actual videotapes of a battle in progress were availible for the filmmakers to use, creating a record of words and wounds, unlike say Saving Private Ryan, which is an unlikely concoction of wishful thinking and cgi.
Rating:
Summary: An engrossing war movie...
Review: Ridley Scott followed his great success in "Gladiator" with this gripping war film about a "small-scale" US military and humanitarian mission which went horribly wrong. In 1993 the East African nation of Somalia was falling apart - a drought had caused a massive famine, and the situation was made worse by the fact that there was no "national", or central government in Somalia. Instead, the nation was divided up among various warlords, most of whom were little more than bloodthirsty thugs who employed "militias" (little more than heavily-armed street gangs) to terrorize the population. The Red Cross tried to send food to the starving populace, but it was intercepted by the warlords, who doled out the food to increase their power. A force of US Army Rangers and Delta Force was sent to Somalia to "keep the peace" and ensure that the food reached the Somalian people. In a raid to seize the most powerful warlord - a raid which wasn't supposed to take over an hour - the US troops were pinned down by thousands of "militia" in a brutal street fight which went on for hours. As in "Gladiator", Ridley Scott gives a realistic view of battle - and as a result it's sometimes difficult to tell what is going on, as the battle scenes are often confused, with lots of screaming and running and the camera jerking awkwardly as you follow the soldiers. But that only adds to the realism, as (like the American soldiers), you never know who or what might be around the next street corner. ... I thought that "Black Hawk Down" simply showed America's soldiers in a VERY realistic light - they were simply trying to rescue their wounded, save themselves and their fellow soldiers, and get out of a nasty situation. I never saw a soldier "wave the flag", and given the way the warlords were treating their own people, they were hardly "victims" of American aggression in any sense of the word! ... Again, I thought Ridley Scott was simply trying to give moviegoers the "feel" of what it was like to be in the streets of Somalia's capital city during the fight. If you've got a strong stomach and wish to see a realistic film that will give you a much greater appreciation of America's "fighting men", then "Black Hawk Down" will not be a disappointment!
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