Rating: 
Summary: For once, Hollywood got it right
Review: Instead of the typical gung-ho, high-fiving, politically correct, technically innacurate rubbish that comes with most Hollywood war movies, this movie was a breath of fresh air.Finally, somebody has created a film that captures the horror, chaos, confusion, comradeship, and individual bravery of soldiers caught up in a war zone. Moreover, the film is technically accurate. (A colleague of mine is a ex-Ranger company commander. He said it was so true to life, right down to the operating procedures and tactics.) I would also recommend reading the book by Mark Bowden. Like the movie, this will also keep you on the edge of your seat.
Rating: 
Summary: THE BEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR
Review: This movie shows the truth about our military, I thought that this was one of the most moving and life impacting movies I have seen. I thought the actors in this movie made it seem very realistic and true to the way it really did happen. I give this excellent portrail fo true events to thumbs up!
Rating:
Summary: Very Real
Review: As a military member, I felt intense anger and frustration with the enemy and our own leadership. This movie shows the selfless heroism of real Americans caught up in an impossible situation. Yet, they went forth and fought and a "populace enemy" that outnumbered the GI's 50 to 1. I sweat and trembled while I watched this movie. The viewer will hear bullets whizzing like bumble bees and explosions so real that the audience winced around me as if waiting for shrapnel and debris to shower the theater. There was complete silence in the theater after the movie finished, and then intense clapping and cheering for a great tribute to common soldiers and uncommon valor.
Rating:
Summary: Gripping depiction of heroism amid disaster
Review: I just saw a phenomenal movie last night: Black Hawk Down. For those of you unfamiliar with the story behind the movie, it tells the story of an event that occurred during the 1992-93 United Nations/United States police action in Somalia to protect the innocent people of that country from the terror and famine wrought by tribal Warlord Mohammed Aidid. During one specific action on October 3rd, 1993, a squad of Delta Force and Army Rangers swooped in on a meeting of top Aidid aides held in the middle of hostile, Aidid-controlled territory. While the actual capture of Aidid's men went off with out a hitch, the escape was something far less than successful. Two of the Black Hawk helicopters that were used to transport the Rangers and Delta Force into the middle of the market place where the meeting was held were shot down by Aidid's militiamen. During the rescue attempt of the helicopter survivors, the Army's ground forces (inserted to provided the means to transport the prisoners from Aidid's territory to U.S. Base Camp) came under heavy fire as well. In the end, an operation that was to take no more than 30 minutes was not completed until well into the next day. 19 American soldiers lost their lives in this action and it was widely considered to be a huge fiasco by the general public and Clinton Administration (Clinton pulled U.S. Military forces out of Somalia 11 days later). The movie "Black Hawk Down" takes a different approach the events of that day. While initially dealing with the political events and motivations behind actions in Somalia, this movie subsequently focuses on the actions and decisions of the soldiers who fought (and died) that day. Faced with a situation that had terribly wrong when nearly every Somali in that market place seemed to be a member of Aidid's forces and pinned the Americans down, the Army training and discipline came to the forefront. The stellar actions by these men kept the death toll at 'only' 19 when it could have ended up with more than 100. The bravery of two men to preserve the lives of the crew of one of the downed helicopters at the expense of their own lives earned them posthumous Medals of Honor (Master Sergeant Gary Gordon and Sergeant First Class Randall Shughart). The criticisms that this movie merely skimmed over the politics of these event the character development of the soldiers are hardly relevant. One must look at the intent and message the movie's director, Ridley Scott. The ferocious intensity of the fighting and the rapid-fire actions and decisions required of the soldiers are what Scott is trying trying to convey. He does so in a way that puts the viewer at the same ground-level view as the soldiers. The emotions and fears of the soldiers (some no more than 18-19 years old) trapped by the Somali attackers are felt by the audience. One empathizes with the plight and determination of the soldiers. For me personally, watching a movie like this makes me even more committed to serving my country. Not because I enjoy fighting or have any desire to shoot or be shot at, but because of the determination and dedication these men demonstrate every moment of their lives doing their duty and serving their country in the finest manner possible.
Rating:
Summary: "Black Hawk Down" one of the best
Review: Being in the military and having read the book several times, I was extremely pleased at how closely Scott followed the actual events. This is truly one of the best war films ever produced and should be viewed by everyone. This movie is a testament to all those who fought and died in Somalia in 1993 and should not be overlooked. Due to time compression in telling the story, one character sometimes did what three different individuals did in actuality. However, this certainly does not detract from the overall main point of the movie: that American servicemen bravely fought and died for their country. I have pre-ordered my DVD and strongly recommend this movie to any one.
Rating:
Summary: The (mostly) good and bad...
Review: To start this off, I'd like to say that in general this was an excellent movie. The only people that have given this movie 1 star was because they were anti-war fanatics and just want to downgrade war in general. This movie is very realistic for the most part, absolutely action-packed, and will have you sitting on the edge of your seat from the second that the fighting begins. On the other hand, like a lot of American war films...this movie is extremely biased towards the American side of the story, not to mention the fact that it also only focuses on the American troops fighting...and not the Pakistani and other troops helping the UN side. It also portrays the Somalis as heartless people, when they were no more heartless then the Americans fighting. All in all, it is still a great movie, I'd recommend it to anyone that isn't weak of the heart.
Rating:
Summary: Awsome. A Welcome Change in Hollywood War Movies.
Review: For many years, it seemed as though Hollywood's obsession with Hitler would never end. Schindler's list and Saving Private Ryan are the only wothwhile examples the industry's fixation with WWII in Europe. Thankfully, Bruckheimer and Scott have brought us into a different war in a more modern age. The battle scenes are gut-wrenchingly real. What I liked best was Scott's ability to make a film which can be patiotic without being unrealistic. The only downside is the omission of any discussion of Bill Clinton's foreign policy, which played a part in this disaster. Otherwise, a great film.
Rating:
Summary: A brilliantly made movie.
Review: I have to admit. When I heard they were making the book (by Mark Bowden) into a movie I was scared. I'm well aware of Hollywood messing up films by making them unrealistic (Pearl Harbor, Vertical Limit, etc...). However, I was very (VERY) surprised with the accuracy of this movie! I haven't seen a movie follow a book this well since A Bridge too Far, and I haven't seen a realistic movie like this since Saving Pvt. Ryan. It is definetly going to be going down as being one of the greatest war films of all times, and one of my all time favorites as well.
Rating:
Summary: Superb Movie
Review: This movie rocks. A movie that will stick with you and to feel proud to be an American. The special affects and cinemetagraphy was awesome. This movie was the best of the best.
Rating:
Summary: The film must be seen, the book must be read.
Review: EMOTIONAL is the only word that comes to mind. We seldom learn from films but learn from this one I did. The film was so engrossing that when it was over I let out a sigh of relief. Relief in that I was exhausted watching these guys getting pummeled without let up. Our politicians in Washington must be forced to see this film and read the book. Perhaps then will they better understand what out men & women in uniform are faced with. I was happy to see that this film was not only true to the book but also to history. I feel anger and extreme sadness that our guys were killed and mutilated. But they fought with honor and dignity. If only the Commander in Chief at that time could have done the same.
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