Black Hawk Down

Starring: Josh Harnett, Tom Sizemore, William Fictner, Eric Bana and Ewan McGregor.
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Rated: R

Black Hawk Down a man-fest extravaganza folks! They're flying out of the woodwork here! William Fictner, Josh Harnett, Tom Sizemore, Ewan McGregor. But, this is also a rootin' tootin' blood-n-gore war film with exponents! Take Saving Private Ryan and multiply it by three and you'll get close to the intensity of BHD. Director Ridley Scott held nothing back, except character development - but it's a war film after all - you want character? See The Shipping News. You wanna see things blow up real good? See This.

It's a real-to-life story about the troops sent into Somalia a few years back. Who knew... We lost nineteen men on that mission, it was a blurb on CNN. Not here. You'll have your stomach in your throat throughout the relentless battle scenes and swarming militia that retaliates.

Of course there were so many more casualties for the enemy, but, it's an American film damn it!

The term Black Hawk refers to the helicopters that the troops were shot down in behind enemy lines. They had been sent in for a simply capture and destroy mission. The film is based on the best-selling book detailing a simple-gone-awry mission in Somalia on October 3, 1993 where nearly 100 U.S. Army Rangers, commanded by Capt. Mike Steele, were dropped by helicopter deep into the capital city of Mogadishu, Somalia. As in real life, in the film things go very wrong- very fast. The crew shifts their goal from capture the bad guys to simply try to survive and leave no man behind. There's a lot of painful scenes and human anguish to deal with. Like I said, a war movie.

This is pretty much the story. Nothing too deep- it's a war film folks. But, it is one helluva war film. Future excursions into the genre will have to live up to this one. It makes the Pearl Harbor attack scene seem relatively calm - and that's something! There's no point in discussing Josh Harnett's Sgt Eversmann or Tom Sizemore's unstoppable Lt. Colonel Danny McKnight, they are undeveloped and never really center. It's the war scenes - nearly two hours of nonstop violence - that star here. Of course the lads look all rough and ready in their fatigues and fx make-up, but the blood and gore takes away any rabid Rhesus monkey sex thoughts, and fast. There's lots of man - banter as the whole cast is filled with he-men and that whole macho acting shindig.

That is the droplets of acting that are wedged between the billion bullets and Bruckheimer patented fire- and-explotions special effects. Yeah, Bruckheimer (Con Air, The Rock, Gone in Sixty Seconds)...He produced it. So, you know exactly what to expect- and it aint Shakespeare on the run.

This Josh Harnett fellow is being positioned for super-stardom. The next all-American movie star. He's been around a while in smaller films like The Virgin Suicides or horror campfests like Halloween H20. Those days are over. He was Ben Affleck's buddy gone heal in Pearl Harbor and that's where the eyebrow of lust eased firmly above the forehead. This man's a feast of manly bits! He needs a good bare all film on his resume, don't you think?

If you're into war films with a ton of men being blown up or shot at, run out and see this. If you're anti-violence in any little way avoid this 'cause it's a heavy duty bloodfest.

Snack Recommendation: Freeze dried rations and a coke.

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