Black Hawk Down (2001)
Also known as "Black Hawk Down Special Edition DVD"
Leave No Man Behind
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Jason Isaacs, Tom Sizemore, William Fichtner, Eric Bana, Sam Shepard, Ewen Bremner, Tom Hardy, Ron Eldard, Charlie Hofheimer, Hugh Dancy, Tom Guiry, Brian Van Holt, Steven Ford, Matthew Marsden, Jeremy Piven, Orlando Bloom
Director: Ridley Scott
Running Time: 144 minutes
US MPAA rating: RUK BBFC rating: 15
Action, Drama, War
On DVD War movie buffs should rest assured 'Black Hawk Down' contains the vitals of the genre in spades. Rapid gunfire, exploding limbs, blokes with dirty faces spouting cheesy lines at each other - it's all here. The presence of Ridley Scott in the director's chair should also help to move it up the credibility ladder in the eyes of fans of the genre. After all, Ridders has been around the block - and if he can bring the likes of Alien and Gladiator to the big screen so convincingly, surely a flick that boils down to little more than a bunch of soldiers running about shooting at each other should be a doddle, right?
Unfortunately, there's one overwhelming problem with 'Black Hawk Down' - it's really, really boring. Now, when I'm watching a movie, I'm really not all that bothered about whether or not it gets its history right. The fact that this one opens with the line "Based on an actual event" didn't even worry me too much (even though such a message can practically always be replaced more than comfortably with "the following story should be taken with an extra-large spoonful of salt"). But what I can't abide is any film that just doesn't seem to give a brown one about the basics of engaging story-telling.
Set in 1993 amid the Somalian Civil War, it's the tale of American UN peacekeeping soldiers who wind up in a spot of soapy-bubble whilst trying to get their hands on two of the country's leading ne'er-do-wells. Two helicopters (or "Black Hawks", though I've always preferred the term "choppers") get shot down slap-bang in the middle of the trouble-spot, and the whole thing turns into one giant messy rescue mission.
Aesthetically, this is perhaps the most striking war movie ever made. The use of colour, along with the camerawork itself, make this an incredible piece of work to look at. As far as the plot goes, however, it is just a complete mess. You can't tell one character from the next, the closeness to the action makes it practically impossible to get any real grasp of what's going on, and the whole thing is just one big drawn-out battle scene. Suffice to say, it swiftly grows tiresome, and in the end the same techniques that make the film so visually stunning are also the reason why it fails.
DVD Extras: This brand-spanking new 2-disc Special Edition contains a choice of three audio commentaries, full detailed filmographies, eight deleted/alternate scenes, six (count 'em!) featurettes on the 'Essence of Combat', seven (count these ones too!!) 'Image & Design' featurettes, and some web stuff.
It's Got: That bloke Matthew Marsden, who used to play a mechanic in 'Coronation Street'. Y'know, the one who had nookie with Sally Webster.
It Needs: Jack and Vera Duckworth.
Alternatives: Saving Private Ryan, Platoon
Summary: A triumph of technique, a failure of storytelling.
Review by Gary Panton
External Links
Official Web Site
Black Hawk Down at the IMDB
Comments2 Comments |
| Alright I will agree with why the movie is amazing, but highly disagree with Panton's reasons as to why the movie fails. If you had really been watching the movie you would have picked up on the story. As far as the characters go, and whose who, theres only like 10-12 main characters. It's not hard to tell who they are if you look at their faces. I thought black hawk down was an astonishing film, visually and mentally. The movie had a purpose and that was to show you story of troops that went in for a quick mission, that was suppossed to last what an hour or something, and turns into a few days. The personalities of the characters is well done. YOu have young guys who joke around when the time calls for it, and who become serious and scared when the situation arrives. I really enjoyed the part where one of the men tells Exan McGregor's character your not going to need that everytime he goes to put some more equipment in his pack, such as the night vision goggles. If your not familiar with the story then you really think its going to be a quick mission, but it turns out otherwise. Finally I loved Eric Bana's character. He was hardcore, and had a gameface the whole time, and at the end of the movie, when its all said and done and everyone seems done fighting...he gets prepared to go back in. He doesn't act like a pansy soldier that thinks the war is over when everyone gets home. The war is still going on even though the movie is ending, and that was a great attribute to the film. This movies is up there with Saving Private Ryan and is a MUST see. |
| Comment by:- ina | | 25 October 2004 | ip: logged |
| This movie is amazing its the best movie out there |
| Comment by:- Noah Kail | | 12 December 2004 | ip: logged |
