Black Hawk Down (Two Disc Set) (15)

It is difficult to call Black Hawk Down a Ridley Scott epic comparable to his previous outing, Gladiator. Indeed this is by no means your typical war epic, awash with hackneyed images of heroism and nationalistic overtones a la Saving Private Ryan. Black Hawk Down is refreshingly unassuming and by no means glorifies violence or warfare but attempts to convey its every essence and the tragedy inflicted on both sides of conflict.

On first viewing, the cast list is a modest collection of little-known, mainly British actors. This in itself ensures that the film's story is not smothered with drowsy Hollywood egos. The only real protagonist in the film is played by Josh Hartnett, who plays the role of Sergeant Eversman, a soldier who is elected to take charge of a platoon of men after his senior Lieutenant is discovered to be epileptic. Hartnett plays this quasi-lead role in an assuming manner and doesn't try to be the token hero, and although he displays moments of heroism so does he equally display moments of fear and trepidation. In fact, there is nothing in the film that attempts to glorify and put a gloss on the actual events of 3rd October 1992, which is testament to Ridley Scott's consideration and thoughtfulness as a film director.

The setting of the film is also interesting. For obvious reasons, Mogadishu was out of bounds for Ridley and his crew, so Safi, a coastal city in Morocco was chosen. Geographically, culturally and to some degree, architecturally the setting evokes a vibrant and colourful picture of a living, breathing Mogadishu. Many of the crowd scenes such as that of the bustling Bakara Market, where much of the fighting took place, were so detailed that you could almost smell and sense you were actually there. This attention to detail in the film was wholly extensive, to the point that even the hundreds of extras, who were mainly West African were made to wear individually tailored Somali dress. Film buffs may also be aware that a fleeting tribute was shown in the film to the famous Maryah's Beauty Salon in Mogadishu.

Before the conflict begins in the film, we are introduced to the young men who are about to embark on this operation. They approach it with a sort of excited anxiety, being fully aware of the dangers but equally so, that they will be relatively safe should the mission go to plan. However, an aberration occurs in this plan which was originally conceived as the simple kidnapping of a Somali warlord's chief political advisor's. In this respect, the mission was a success but what the American army was not aware of was the fact that Somali militia were becoming adept at firing RPGs or Rocket Propelled Grenades at aerial targets. When a Black Hawk is hit, it eventually results in a Black Hawk Down and hence the eponymous title of the film. The American military aphorism asseverates to 'Leave no man behind' and that is precisely why the ground personnel are forced to head back into the volatile district. The end result is a catastrophic blow to the American military in terms of the number of military personnel lost as well as it's efforts in establishing peace and a stable government in Somalia.

Overall, I rate Black Hawk Down a scintillating masterpiece of film which will shock, thrill, excite, disturb, sadden and utterly exhaust you by the end. Such is the intensity of this overwhelming fusion of emotions combined with the film's viscerally breathtaking action sequences that by the end, you will feel as though you have really been through this draining and truly fear-provoking event, I guarantee it.

Black Hawk Down has to be one of Ridley Scott's best films. It is an astonishing achievement that puts you right in the middle of the hellish horror faced by US Army Rangers and Delta Force operatives in Somalia in 1993. As far as I am concerned there was plenty of emotion in Black Hawk Down, and plenty of "choke-up" moments, or moments when I was moved by the unbelievable courage shown by the soldiers as they faced an almost hopeless situation. Ridley Scott does an amazing job of portraying the intensity of the action. It sucks you right in and you find yourself gripping the edge of your seat as you feel the stress and anger of the soldiers as they move and fight through the streets and chaos of Mogadishu. Black Hawk Down is a great movie, and to me the cast standouts were Josh Hartnett as Staff Sgt Eversmann, and Australian actor Eric Bana as Sgt 1st Class "Hoot", both outstanding actors and both help to make a truly great film. Well worth the purchase!