Black Hawk Down -PG-13
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Tom Sizemore
Directed by: Ridley Scott
"Black Hawk Down" is one of the most graphic depictions of modern warfare in cinema. This disturbing epic sets a new standard for American war films. Unfortunately, the DVD release does not give the film the proper treatment.
The story is a vivid account of the Battle of Mogadishu. In 1993, an attempt to unseat a vicious warlord in Somalia went terribly wrong and 19 American soldiers were killed in a 15-hour firefight. What began as a raid to capture the warlord turned into a rescue mission as two Black Hawk helicopters crashed in hostile territory. The film embellishes slightly on the event, giving background to some of the soldiers. Tom Sizemore, Josh Hartnett and Ewan McGregor, as well as many newcomers, make a well rounded cast that is cliche free. It is obvious that depicting the battle takes precedence over the development of the characters.
Every recent war film has been compared to "Saving Private Ryan" in terms of authenticity. "Black Hawk Down" takes the intensity level of the D-Day battle in "Ryan," cranks it up a lot, and sustains that brutal momentum for an hour and a half. This movie is definitely not for the squeamish, and has many scenes that are difficult to watch. Ridley Scott's direction puts you directly into the firefight and refuses to let you out. This film is as true to modern warfare as is humanly possible.
The audio aspects of the DVD are indeed worthy of the Best Sound Oscar "Black Hawk" won. The sound is incredible if you own a surround sound system. The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is absolutely thrilling in that you can hear rockets and bullets literally whizzing past your head.
The DVD drops a grenade in its lap with its lack of special features. For a film of this caliber, I expected director's commentary and deleted scenes, much like Ridley Scott's last film, "Gladiator." The only extras are an "On the Set" documentary that shows technical aspects as well as cast interviews.
While "Black Hawk Down" is a stunning and gritty war classic, I cannot recommend purchasing this DVD. A special edition of the movie is in the works that will likely blow this version away.
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