BLACK HAWK DOWN: MY PERSONAL REVIEW: 2 1/2 STARS

self ^ | 01/18/01 | RaceBannon

[RaceBannon]

Ok, after all the hype, I expected a blockbuster of a movie. Sorry, it aint.

[RaceBannon]

There it is!! I almost wanted to call my Mom to have her see it with me, just so I could cry in front of her to let her know I am glad she didnt get the telegram!!

[mystery-ak]

Snap out of it....pull yourselves together....LOL
btw.....the last scene in SPR, before Capt. Miller dies says *earn this*.....that did it for me...tears

[NC_Libertarian]

I have yet to see you post anything correct on this forum. I just got back from BHD - it was fantastic. 4 1/2 stars.

[NC_Libertarian]

LOL, what would we do without your well timed comments? Isn't there a gay thread you should be posting on somewhere? ;)

[patent]

Thanks for the review.

[Paulus Invictus]

It isn't historically correct if it does not show that coward Klintoon failing to approve armor support for the trapped soldiers. Also, if they left out the WH scene when the father of a dead soldier refused to shake hands with the Felon, then it fails to be a correct version. I need truth when it is part of the real story.

[NC_Libertarian]

It isn't historically correct if it does not show that coward Klintoon failing to approve armor support for the trapped soldiers

It wasn't blatant but it was there. Just replace "Washington" with "Clinton".

[NC_Libertarian]

It would be too "high profile" to give them armor and air support. It's all about politics with Clinton.

[RaceBannon]

That's your opinion. Mine is: It doesn't deserve the hype as a great movie.

[ChuckHam]

Sorry Race. Gotta disagree with you on this one. Why only 21/2 stars? Was it because there wasn't a love story?

I don't consider this one a movie at all. It was as close to a documentary as you can get without actually shooting combat footage. This film wasn't made to entertain. If anyone is entertained by this, they are sick. This film was more of a tribute to a lot of great guys who did their finest to make the best of a poorly thought out operation. This movie was a tribute to 2 outstanding Americans who gave their lives to save another American and as a result were quietly awarded the MOH by the impeached one. This movie was about a young American by the name of Jamie Smith who bled out his life in a dunghole called Somalia. To consider this just another film to be rated 2 1/2 stars is a insult to the Americans who bravely fought and died there. I encourage anyone who has never faced enemy fire or who has never lost a friend to enemy fire to go see this movie. It pulls no punches and doesn't attempt to entertain you. This movie shows the true spirit of the American fighting man.

[NC_Libertarian]

My opinion is the law! :)

[RaceBannon]

Good Grief, did you even see the movie?? Those 2 Delta guys were only in less than 10 minutes of film, and the guy who bled to death was in about the same.

I expected to see realpeople, there was too much Hollywoodism in the acting. Some were good, but others were just sad for what it could have been. The leaders should have been the Dale Dyes, they shold have sounded like Service members instead of the loose-linked to the service because of a simple uniform.

The scene where the soldier is mocking his captain and is caught, FLIPS THE BIRD as he is brought away to be rebuked!! ThAT IS HOLLYWOOD, not courage and bravery. That Captains behaviour was too predictable, also, he was too Holywood hard, too much mean to be real, over acting is the word I am thinking.

This movie is just THAT. A MOVIE. A documentary would have been a better project, because ths was NOT a documentary at all.

[ChuckHam]

Give me a break. I just got back from the movie. You don't think enlisted men mock their commanders from time to time? That little scene in the hangar was real life. Did it happen like that? Maybe, maybe not.

The movie was not a documentary. Let me repeat myself, the movie was not a documentary. I said it was close. How hard is that for you to understand? The book Blackhawk Down was written (based upon hundreds of interviews with on the scene soldiers) to show what our guys went through during that battle. The movie was based on the book and the army as well as soldiers who were involved in the battle said it was EXTREMELY accurate. I take this to mean that not only were the battle scenes authentic but that the characterizations were authentic as well.

This movie set out to tell a simple yet violent story. It succeeded in my estimation.

[RaceBannon]

What I meant was Hollywood was the flipping of the bird while he was being hauled away by his captain. THAT did NOT happen in real life by any decent troop or Marine.

[RaceBannon]

I don't consider this one a movie at all. It was as close to a documentary as you can get without actually shooting combat footage.

Then you say it ISNT a documentary. You just said it was the closest thing!

This movie is over rated as movies go. This is no blockbuster.

[scannell]

Were Clinton's failures apparent from the film or "Hollywoodized?"

[RaceBannon]

Clinton's name was never mentioned. They did say Washington. It was said maybe 3 times, but not emphasised as we wish it was, no comments were made after the statement to explain how it left them without any heavy armor.

The opening written lines on the screen explained that the Marines seemd to have settled the situation, then pulled out, and the day they pulled out, Adid declared war. Too much that we know to be true is left out in this regarding Clinton/Aspin's complicity in their being under armed.

[ChuckHam]

Fine by me. I don't care if it's a blockbuster or not. That's not the point. I'm sorry you weren't "entertained". The movie was AUTHENTIC and almost 100% FACTUAL. I'll take that over "entertainment" and "acting" any day of the week.

Also, if you recall, the troop was flipping off his buddies as he was being led away by the Captain. That crap happens all the time.

[RaceBannon]

Not in the Marine Corps I served in!!!

[ChuckHam]

I know how you feel. Unfortunately, we haven't had a good crop of troops for the last several years. Also, that guy flipping the bird wasn't a Marine.