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Black Hawk Down (2001)
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Reviews Counted:154
Fresh:117
Rotten:37
Average Rating:6.9/10
Consensus: The movie may have skimmed on character development, but the action will keep viewers riveted.
Runtime: 2 hrs 32 mins
Genre: Dramas
US Box Office: $108,585,355
Synopsis: On October 3, 1993, Army Rangers and members of the elite Delta Force participated in a covert operation in Mogadishu, Somalia that went horribly wrong. Sent to abduct two lieutenants of a vicious... On October 3, 1993, Army Rangers and members of the elite Delta Force participated in a covert operation in Mogadishu, Somalia that went horribly wrong. Sent to abduct two lieutenants of a vicious Somali warlord, the soldiers found themselves surrounded by hostile militia. Two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down and many men lost their lives. Mark Bowden of the Philadelphia Inquirer told the story of the battle in his exhaustively researched, critically acclaimed book, BLACK HAWK DOWN, and filmmaker Ridley Scott (GLADIATOR) and screenwriter Ken Nolan have done an amazing job of bringing the dramatic story to the screen. Like Bowden's book, the film does not thoroughly examine the context of the conflict, but gives a detailed and intense blow-by-blow account of the fighting. The outstanding ensemble cast includes Josh Hartnett as a competent but nervous Ranger sergeant leading his first mission, Ewan McGregor as a "desk jockey" who excels when sent into combat, Eric Bana (THE INCREDIBLE HULK) as a cocky and enigmatic Delta, and Ron Eldard as a downed Black Hawk pilot. The violence of the film is brutal and nearly constant. Scott unflinchingly captures the chaos and mayhem of battle with tremendous visual finesse. [More]
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore, Eric Bana
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore, Eric Bana, William Fichtner, Sam Shepard, Ron Eldard, Jeremy Piven, Kim Coates, Brendan Sexton, Brian Van Holt, Carmine Giovinazzo, Charlie Hofheimer, Enrique Murciano, Ewen Bremner, Gabriel Casseus, Hugh Dancy, Ioan Gruffudd, Richard Tyson, Danny Hoch, Jason Isaacs, Tom Guiry, Matthew Marsden
Director: Ridley Scott
Director: Ridley Scott
Screenwriter: Ken Nolan
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer
Composer: Hans Zimmer
Studio: Columbia Pictures
Reviews for Black Hawk Down
Black Hawk Down" is a precise vision of how little war has changed in spite of America's high-tech equipment and extensive vocabulary of modern tactics.
While fine films like Saving Private Ryan depict warfare at its worst, they do not depict warfare in modernity. I cannot imagine a better representation of war, with all of its urban complexities, than Black Hawk Down.
It would've been nice to get to know a few of the men we're meant to care about.
Though visually awesome in its gritty portrayal of combat, the film is marred by lack of coherent or engaging story and distinguishable characters to anchor the tale.
'Black Hawk Down' jerks you around, slaps the side of your head, and kicks your butt back up to keep moving on. [Published 1-26-02]
War is inevitable, and often gruesome, but it also turns brave soldiers into heroes.
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