The best way to describe Black Hawk Down is to say it is the most gruesome, action-packed war movie to come along in a long time.
Picture the beginning of the 1997 hit Saving Private Ryan, now picture the gushing blood, the chaotic camera movements and the occasional flying body part. Essentially, this is an accurate description of Black Hawk Down as well.
Based on the book of the same name written by Mark Bowden, director Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Hannibal and Aliens) takes the audience to a war battered Somalia and into the ill-fated Battle of Mogadishu in 1993.
It was at this conflict, U.S. soldiers planned to capture two Somalia lieutenants serving under warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid and return to base within an hour.
Shortly into the mission, gunfire erupts from the streets of Somalia downing two U.S. helicopters and pinning the soldiers in unknown territory.
At this point, the soldiers decide to track down the two helicopters and rescue their fellow soldiers. This is when the movie picks up the action with dizzying camera movements along with deafening rocket fire and machineguns.
It should also be noted that in this conflict in 1993, 18 U.S. soldiers died and over 70 were injured.
Black Hawn Down mixes in a combination of veteran stars with up-and-coming stars. Young stars Ewan McGregor and Josh Hartnett play the roles of Sergeant Matt Eversmann and Company Clerk Grimes, two U.S. military officers separated in combat after the two helicopters are shot down. Veteran actor Tom Sizemore portrays Colonel Danny McKnight, who leads his troops into the Somalian city.
Also, instead of focusing on one lead character, the movie features the struggles of the entire combat unit, each running into their own problems while trying to save themselves and their downed compatriots.
The cinematography of Black Hawk Down is as equally impressive as the combat scenes in the movie.
Throughout the movie, viewers see snipers hiding in nearby buildings and soldiers crawling to the nearest covers. The landscape is decorated to near-perfection such as seeing a children’s swing set and stray dogs and cats running through the streets.
Aside from the gorgeous scenery, the exceptional cinematography provides captivating camera angles and lightening-paced action
While the movie does impress with the sound, scenery and action, the it is not perfect.
For some, the action may be too dizzying with fast changing camera angles and bouncing cameras as soldiers are running through the rugged terrain.
Viewers may also find the fighting scenes to be repetitive since over an hour and half is dedicated to nothing but gunfire and explosions.
Also, this movie is not for the weak at heart. For example, in one scene, a stray bullet hit a soldier’s hand severing his thumb. The result is a vivid vision of a thumb hanging on by only a thin piece of flesh.
Another gruesome scene is after a U.S. transport vehicle has been hit by incoming fire and the lower section of a soldier’s body is missing.
Despite a few minor gripes, Scott’s Oscar hopeful movie is an entertaining, ultra-realistic war epic that is worth checking out.
Overall Grade: A-
