The few here who have ever had to experience live fire on the level shown in this movie will know this: this movie is the closest thing to a real firefight most people will see, and bear in mind it is sanitized. The real thing is even worse, even scarier, even louder...and again, even worse.This is a rough, intense movie. Probably right on the edge of what is in any way commercial. I am actually surprised any studio released this film, it's that hard-core. Spoiler alert here..Somalia is a fourth-world country with mores more akin to perhaps the 5th or 6th Century. Do not expect to leave the theater or your other viewing location with much sympathy for them, and they aren't looking for it from you. And I speak with experience. A hell of a movie, and I mean that in every sense of the word. And look up the term "fire discipline".

I was thrilled by this film in the theater when it first came out, and I've subsequently watched it, or sections of it, dozens of times at home. Each time, I admire its brilliant direction, editing, sound, music, the rhythm of the action, and the sheer beauty of many of the shots. Ridley Scott has made some classic films and (more recently) some disappointing ones. This, I think, is his best.But it's definitely confusing as hell, and even after all these viewings -- even after having read Mark Bowden's book (which the film follows very closely) -- I have trouble keeping track of all the various characters: the Deltas, the Rangers, and their complicated movements around war-torn Mogadishu.Most confusing of all -- something that puzzles me each time I see the film (and which the book fails to clear up) -- is why this poorly planned military operation was ever okayed in the first place. As depicted on screen, it seems the most harebrained scheme imaginable, because it's so ridiculously vulnerable, just one tiny step away from utter failure.All it takes to screw up the mission is a lone RPG fired at one of the low-flying helicopters. And hovering in the air just above the rooftops, the choppers make the easiest of targets; a single strike with a rocket can bring one down, and when one goes down (followed shortly afterward, of course, by a second), the entire mission turns into a colossal disaster.Sam Shepard, playing the general in charge, is, as always, an impressive figure, but you want to shout at him, "You idiot! What were you thinking?"

This film, which is about a controversial battle during the Clinton presidency, does not set out to cast aspersions on said presidency. Rather, it focuses on the battle, the men who fought in it, and the battle's futility.In this sense the movie is anti-war. The battle itself makes the viewer uncomfortable and nauseous, that being the intention of the film. However, unlike many war films that routinely castigate some or all of the participants of these fruitless skirmishes, "Black Hawk Down" rather treats the men who fought and died in Mogadishu with respect. Each man has a little humanity given to him. When some of these men die, an emotional connection is felt, even if it's fleeting.It becomes a problem, however, when the sheer number of characters you need to sympathize with before they are killed or otherwise incapacitated in the battle is something like ten or so characters. Add on another ten or so characters who survive the battle or are merely observing it, and the problem runs deeper. Even though I have now seen this film in the vicinity of thirty times, I still have trouble remembering who is who during the heat of battle and what they are doing and where they are going. Although I now know most of the actors who appear in this film, when I first watched the film I had no idea how to tell one apart from the other aside from their locations (in the city, in the helicopters, back at the base). I believe much of that problem stems from the fact that "Black Hawk Down" has a run time of nearly two and a half hours, which is not short, but the battle takes up so much of that time (at least two-thirds of the film) that any character who gets screen time (and most of them get a bit) is given so little in any meaningful way. If one wishes to give these characters the proper amount of screen time before all goes to hell, one ought to opt for a longer film, provided the director can sustain interest in a film surpassing two and a half hours.I can say, however, that the inadequate screen time afforded most of the actors here is essentially my only gripe with this movie. It's a somewhat big gripe, but it does not ruin the movie for me. In any case, I would rather have some humanity given these characters than have no humanity whatsoever.Everything else in this movie is at least up to snuff. All of the actors do fine and give their characters some of that needed humanity where they can, especially during the battle. There is no stand-out performance here, but I feel that is unnecessary here as the actors get the same amount of screen time for the most part (with Josh Hartnett as the de facto lead having the most by only a bit). This helps the viewer see all of the men as equal and as equally likely to die during the skirmish, which ratchets up the tension.The music bolsters the emotional basis of the movie without overpowering it in the process. Since Hans Zimmer sometimes does exactly that, it is fortunate that he does not do so for this movie, especially during the death scenes.The best part of the film, however, is the battle itself. While it seems strange to recommend a movie that seems anti-war for the warlike portions, the battle is, in a sense, the main character of the movie. It is never treated as a good thing, but it is treated with wary respect. The sound, the look, the feel, "Black Hawk Down"'s battle gets everything correct in the technical department. The special effects and sound design people deserve all the praise heaped upon them for creating an engrossing and sometimes squirm-inducing battle.The emotional basis of the battle never devolves into the equivalent of a patriotic march. It instead displays a fraternal kinship amongst the soldiers as they are battered, shot, and sometimes torn into pieces. The phrase "No man is left behind" or a variation thereof is bandied about with frequency. Also, as Hoot (Eric Bana) says near the end of the movie: "They won't understand why we do it. They won't understand it's about the men next to you. And that's it." This, I believe, is why the film was made. I don't believe there exist many anti-war films that decry the nature of war without also denigrating the soldiers involved in the wars, nor do I believe there exist many pro-war films that don't lapse well into jingoism. (If someone wishes to prove me wrong, please let me know.) Ridley Scott instead, in my view, takes the nuanced position of being against war while understanding the struggles and hardships the men endure and why they do this. I appreciate this greatly, especially coming from a Hollywood movie. It is the main reason I love this film.All in all, this is a fine technical achievement with a frequently overlooked message as its beating heart that, while not given its full due here, deserves more notice.

This film was one of my favorite films growing up as a child. Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down hits close to home as I grew up in Fort Campbell, Kentucky home of the 101st Airborne division. Mostly all of the people involved in the incident were from that base including my father who served in Mogadishu, Somalia. I remember seeing the film as a child and being blown away with the visual effects and sound. I have always been keen the quality of film. Meaning cinematography and sound editing have been one of the most important parts of making a film and Black Hawk Down hits the nail on the head. Scott has always been an amazing film director and he always manages to choose the best cinematographers and film editors on the market. With this film winning two Oscars it has proved to be one of the best war films ever made. When it comes to cinematography and film editing, it is the most important element in a film. It can seriously make your film or damage it. I have seen films like Open Water or 50 Shades of Grey (or 50 Shades of Crap) that had poor editing and camera work. In the film Black Hawk Down, the camera work is above par. The brilliant movement makes the viewer believe that he is actually in Mogadishu. And with its Oscar winning editing the film makes you believe that you can actually be getting shot at. As a Marine Corps combat wounded veteran it is very difficult to watch films that can trigger flash backs and unwanted dark memories. There is a reason I don't normally watch war films. But this film has always been a classic for me and my family. The story is not as beautiful as one would want but it is beautiful how the camera makes it. War can sometimes be beautiful. It was sad to see people you knew get injured so severely. But I guess that's what drove me to joining the armed forces. I love to fight. And the will that was presented in this captivating film only gave me the inspiration to fight for my country as well. Yes, films are inspiring whether they are real or fake. Ridley Scott has taken a true life disaster and turned it into Hollywood magic. One of my favorite scenes is the scene where Josh Hartnett's character Eversmann is trying to save his buddy's life in some make shift table. The soldier was shot in the leg. The bullet hit a main artery and his attempt to stop the bleeding makes the viewer believe that he is actually in the room as well. The camera does a magnificent job in producing a realistic environment for the viewer. This is what real cinematography and film editing is all about. Making the viewer believe. In conclusion, this film has changed my life. With the decisions I made as a young Marine, this film has played an influence on how I wanted to carry out my Marine Corps career. With balls of steel. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to watch this film and also to be affected by the film to this day. The camera work and editing has motivated me to either go into cinematography or editing as a career. Scott continues to influence people around the world with amazing directorial skills. One can only be grateful to catch a glimpse of his work.