Black Hawk Down

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore, Eric Bana, William Fitchner, Sam Shepard, Orlando Bloom, Ioan Gruffudd
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Rating: R
Genre: War, Action
Box Office: $108,638,745
2001

Times Seen:
Tim: 2


Summary: Based on actual events that took place in Mogadishu in October 1993, tells the story of a routine military operation that met with disastrous results, including the deaths of American soldiers, downed army helicopters, and a firefight which resulted in enormous casualties for the Somalian militia, as well as dozens of injuries to American soldiers.

Review:

Tim: Any film from director Ridley Scott, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and stars like Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, and Tom Sizemore cannot be a bad film. Black Hawk Down takes a realistically vivid view of the confusing and terrifying fighting that took place in Somalia.

The film revels in its intense fighting scenes, most of which show American soldiers fighting against overwhelming odds (throughout most of the film, it is a handful of Americans fighting off an entire city). If you don't like gruesome bloodshed and violence, you might want to shy away from this film. Fortunately, Black Hawk Down doesn't center around violence, but uses it as a necessary means to tell a very exciting story. For a good while in the film, you'll wonder if any people are dying at all, or if all the gunfire is missing their targets. However, after a certain point, bullets start to connect, and the violence and bloodshed escalate from there. If after reading this, you're thinking twice about seeing this movie, then I want to take this opportunity to persuade you to stay away from war movies in general. If violence isn't your thing, go watch Bambi. Black Hawk Down is a war movie, and war is all about violence, bloodshed, and people dying. When I go see a war film, I want to see people die, and I want to see them die violently. It might sound a little sick, but I promise I am not as perverted as you might think.

The film centers more so on its plot than any single actor. Even Josh Hartnett, who gets the starring role has long spans of the film where he simply isn't on screen very much. The real leading actors in this movie are the violence and the suspense. If you are going to watch this film for Harnett, McGregor, or Sizemore, think again- this movie is not about them, its about a bad situation suddenly turning worse, and the U.S.'s army's desperate attempts to bring their men home.

As far as war movies go, Black Hawk Down ranks fairly highly up. While the plot doesn't hold up against some gigantic war films like Saving Private Ryan or Apocalypse Now, you really cannot find a better visual war movie. Perhaps even better than seeing the film is hearing the action. Bullets, explosions, the groans of the dying, and much, much more all come vividly to life. The sound for the film is so amazing that it won an Academy Award for its efforts.

Despite a number of flaws (the excessive violence throughout much of the film is one), Black Hawk Down is a war movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat and keep you entertained. Yes, the film has an occasional slow moment, but what film doesn't? You may also find yourself growing frustrated with the seemingly slow response time of the higher-up's in the military to rescue their men. Despite any shortcomings you may feel the film has, Black Hawk Down is a ride that you will not soon forget. Even better, the film is based on actual events, which many younger people today will not remember taking place (I am one of them). This film will not only entertain you, but educate you as to the truly horrifying side of war, and teach you a little bit about recent American history. All that rolled up into one film- you can't ask for much more than that.


Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Saving Private Ryan, Apocalypse Now, The Thin Red Line, Pearl Harbor