$2.50 Reviews: Black Hawk Down (2001)

[Marter]

$2.50 Reviews:
Black Hawk Down
<img height=400>http://img802.imageshack.us/img802/2172/blackhawkdownver1xlg.jpg

I was actually expecting something completely different going into Black Hawk Down. I expected it to be a character drama, one where there was a war going around, but we focused on the character involved in it, with action sequences dispersed just to give the audience the same sense of fear that the characters are supposed to have. I was wrong, dead wrong.

[Img_Inline width="275" Caption="Try telling these people apart..." Align="left"]http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/3577/g17126blackhawkdown2.jpg[/Img_Inline]

Black Hawk Down is actually almost exactly the opposite of that. After the first thirty minutes, we get almost non-stop action, only broken up for minutes at a time to give us the soldiers' current situation. Even this is done mostly through orders and simple commands; this is a war zone after all. In fact, characterization is so low in this film, that despite there being some recognizable actors, it has no bearing on whether or not the film works. They are all the same once things start going wrong, but in this case, it doesn't matter.

I think that Black Hawk Down works so well because it doesn't try to get us to care for each individual character. Like they are portrayed in the film, a tight-knit group, we care about them as a collective unit. No one character gets much more attention than another, meaning that we care for the situation the characters are in.

This situation ends up being a failed raid attempt in Somalia. The mission was to capture two high-ranking people and take them out of the war zone. It was to take no longer than thirty minutes, and would hopefully not result in any casualties. The latter two objectives were not met at all, and to find out if they manage to capture and escort the two people out, you'll have to watch the film.

After the raid goes wrong, the story more-or-less takes a turn into full-on survival mode for its characters. They still follow military standards, because breaking those means treason, but it's a fight to survive nonetheless. Characters are shot at, wounded and killed with great frequency over the next two hours, making it a difficult watch at times. These characters, despite not knowing much about them, are humans. It hurts to see people in this kind of situation, especially ones who act like I would imagine humans would act in those circumstances.

The setting, one of war, is portrayed rather beautifully, despite featuring a large number of explosions, gunshots and other things you would expect to find in a war zone. Almost all of the deaths are done with purpose, and this is including ones of the opposing forces. Characters don't just pick out random people to kill, they kill ones who pose direct threats, and nothing more. There are reasons for this, and most of them come from the need to conserve ammo, but there are also morals that come into play. Some of the characters are hesitant, to say the least, about going into the war zone, let alone killing another person.

This, and how deep a character's voice is, is about as much characterization as we get into the people within the film. If you were to replace everyone in it with a single actor, you wouldn't be able to tell much difference. Despite this, all of the actors did a good job. You could tell that they felt for their characters, and that their characters did all have personalities. Too many characters to keep track of all their separate personalities, but there were little nuances they all did which separated them. This comes out the most when a character is about to draw his last breath.

[Img_Inline width="275" Caption="The film does show a good sense of teamwork" Align="right"]http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/8467/blackhawkdowngallerypri.jpg[/Img_Inline]

I've heard some people complain about how gory Black Hawk Down is, but like the deaths, all the gore is done with purpose. There aren't unnecessary limbs flying off, or anything similar. It is done with taste, something that Ridley Scott must be congratulated for. The war setting almost gave him the freedom to be as gory as he wanted with the film, but he used restraint. Even a scene where we watch a character put his hand inside of another's wound is done with purpose.

Something that may very well go unnoticed, and unfortunately so, is the soundtrack used. It, like almost everything else, sets the mood beautifully for the rest of the film. It begins with light-hearted songs, but ends up with dramatic, operatic pieces. Not noticing a soundtrack often means that it did its job correctly, and the one in Black Hawk Down definitely does that.

Black Hawk Down doesn't have well-developed characters, but it doesn't need them. You will care for the group of soldiers as a group because of this. The film is mostly an action one, but it manages to stir enough emotions to work really well. The soundtrack helps set the mood, and all of the violence is done with purpose. It's a very good war film that shows us how bad things can actually get.

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[Jegsimmons]

i think this was one of the few war films thats not about sending any political message that could ruin a film, but a message giving us some insight on what risk the arm forces take on a near daily basis to save lives of not only their own country but others as well.

 

[Marik2]

LOL you summed up my thoughts on the movie when I first saw it.

I also expected to be a character drama in a war but like you said its the opposite of that.

I really couldnt tell who was who while there was so much gunfire and explosions everywhere.

But like you said it makes you care bout the whole group instead of the individuals in it. And the gore and violence wasn't at all distasteful, everything had a purpose.

Good review man.

 

[Marter]

LOL you summed up my thoughts on the movie when I first saw it.

I also expected to be a character drama in a war but like you said its the opposite of that.

I really couldnt tell who was who while there was so much gunfire and explosions everywhere.

But like you said it makes you care bout the whole group instead of the individuals in it. And the gore and violence wasn't at all distasteful, everything had a purpose.

Good review man.

*gasp*

I reviewed a movie you've seen? This is kind of shocking!

Glad you liked it.

 

[Marik2]

LOL you summed up my thoughts on the movie when I first saw it.

I also expected to be a character drama in a war but like you said its the opposite of that.

I really couldnt tell who was who while there was so much gunfire and explosions everywhere.

But like you said it makes you care bout the whole group instead of the individuals in it. And the gore and violence wasn't at all distasteful, everything had a purpose.

Good review man.

*gasp*

I reviewed a movie you've seen? This is kind of shocking!

Glad you liked it.

Yup

And lol I didnt even notice the soundtrack as well

You had the same experience I had with the movie.

 

[Super Six One]

This is my number one film of all time, really good reveiw. Much enjoyed.

I totally agree about the soundtrack, sets and add so much feeling to the flim perfectly.

 

[JourneyThroughHell]

Man, you're a machine gun. Of reviews.

I really think you got it here, but really, I think the movie could've been so much better. There were really, really boring parts in the camp because they were kind of pointless, plus the portrayal of the enemy forces as a bunch of insane savages who run in the line of fire without taking cover or actually giving a shit.

In fact, that one scene

Spoiler

when that kid shot his father because the soldier crouched

was really stupid.

It's still a quality movie. Better than The Hurt Locker, I think.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I really think you got it here, but really, I think the movie could've been so much better. There were really, really boring parts in the camp because they were kind of pointless, plus the portrayal of the enemy forces as a bunch of insane savages who run in the line of fire without taking cover or actually giving a shit.

In fact, that one scene

Spoiler

when that kid shot his father because the soldier crouched

was really stupid.

I think, in a hectic movie like this, you need to have some calm before the storm. It also severd as a nice contrast for when the first humvees returned to base for the hostile district.
As for portrayal of the enemy: Judging from the actaul news footage of the Black Hawk crashsite where the dead Delta Force trooper is being lifted up like a trophy, I'd say the majority of these militia men where pretty crazy.

Very good review as always.

I didnt really expected this movie to be very good, since I figured it was just another war movie trying to hitch a ride on Saving Private Ryan's coattail.

 

[Casimir_Effect]

I love this film. Did you make sure to see the extended DC version? Like all Ridley Scott stuff the DC is better than the theatrical release.

I'd recommend a second watching sometime, now that you know the roles of the different actors (such as Bana being a Delta guy). You'll find it far easier to recognise characters and get to know them. Sure, none of them are heavily developed (easily explained by considering this film was relatively closely based off recent true events and having a "hero" character could undermine all the others who fought and died) but there are some beautiful moments.

Spoiler: For example

, Josh Hartnett's sergeant character trying so desperately to save the life of the injured soldier right at the end

It should also be mentioned just how incredible this movie looks. Scott is a master of cinematography, able to film incredible close shots and landscapes then edit them to an even higher standard.

 

[Giest4life]

In fact, characterization is so low in this film, that despite there being some recognizable actors, it has no barring on whether or not the film works.

Don't you mean "bearing?"

OT: Yep, that's pretty much what I felt when I watched the movie. Though I watched it in bits and pieces when it was on TV, it's a good movie nonetheless.

EDIT: Good It's fixed.

 

[Marter]

I love this film. Did you make sure to see the extended DC version? Like all Ridley Scott stuff the DC is better than the theatrical release.

Sadly, I didn't. I will, however, re-buy it if I find the Director's Cut. I had bought this *before* I was aware that there was a DC version of it, and now that I've seen it, I am definitely going to look out for the superior version.

 

[Sly Skater Man]

I really loved this movie, as you stated it's not exactly following the mold of other war movies with all the characterization of a very few characters, but honestly it's better for it, making you care about the whole unit in general.

 

[10zack986]

I don't think the enemy was entirely crazy, they just sucked at fighting. That scene Casimir mentioned, the guy actually slipped and fell.

 

[Casimir_Effect]

I love this film. Did you make sure to see the extended DC version? Like all Ridley Scott stuff the DC is better than the theatrical release.

Sadly, I didn't. I will, however, re-buy it if I find the Director's Cut. I had bought this *before* I was aware that there was a DC version of it, and now that I've seen it, I am definitely going to look out for the superior version.

If you can find the right one, it's worth it. I say the "right one" as the film has confusing director's cuts based on location. I just bought one I thought was the full DC but I swear it's missing scenes from one a friend sued to have that I watched. The blu ray is probably the best one to go for.

 

[x434343]

Man, you're a machine gun. Of reviews.

I really think you got it here, but really, I think the movie could've been so much better. There were really, really boring parts in the camp because they were kind of pointless, plus the portrayal of the enemy forces as a bunch of insane savages who run in the line of fire without taking cover or actually giving a shit.

In fact, that one scene

Spoiler

when that kid shot his father because the soldier crouched

was really stupid.

It's still a quality movie. Better than The Hurt Locker, I think.

Well, to be 100% fair, pretty much EVERYTHING in the film was based off of something that happened. The enemy forces in Mogadishu, Somalia in the Fall of 1993 really DID act like that.

Plus, the trip-fall-shoot yer father portrays the local fighters of that area: Families working together to push out what they see as a malignant force.

 

[Krylock]

Just to be clear with you. You did know what the movie was about before you watched it, correct?

 

[Marter]

Just to be clear with you. You did know what the movie was about before you watched it, correct?

I knew what it was about. I didn't think it would be so heavily focused on action though. I expected more of a character study on the soldier's lives, something I didn't really get. Instead, there was a lot of gunfire, far more than I thought there would be.

Why do you ask?

 

[Krylock]

Just to be clear with you. You did know what the movie was about before you watched it, correct?

I knew what it was about. I didn't think it would be so heavily focused on action though. I expected more of a character study on the soldier's lives, something I didn't really get. Instead, there was a lot of gunfire, far more than I thought there would be.

Why do you ask?

Well the soldiers in the real life conflict weren't very intact with Character. Hell, i can't even name one soldier from that conflict without watching the credits to that film. I really don't expect much character development from a accurate war movie based on a small conflict. I knew what i was watching when i put the movie in my dvd player. I knew all about the conflict before hand. So i expected plenty of gunfire and a decent amount of violence.

Lots of gunfire will happen when you dump quite a few Rangers and a squad or two of Delta force into one city that hates Americans.

But for the character development that we did get, who was your favorite? Mine was Grimes. He actually had me laughing a few times.

 

[Marter]

But for the character development that we did get, who was your favorite? Mine was Grimes. He actually had me laughing a few times.

My memory is so bad, I can't even remember a specific character. I guess Josh Hartnett's character would be mine, as I can at least vaguely remember him.

Oh yeah, I forget...Welcome to The Escapist! I hope you enjoy your time here.