Black Hawk Down: Review By SCREENWRITER

When talking about war films, there are many great ones that spring to your mind. Since the 1970's, three war films in particular have formed a bit of a sensation: "Apocalypse Now", "Full Metal Jacket", and "Saving Private Ryan". These three flicks have really set the bar for other war cinema that have come along since then. When Ridley Scott was announced to direct this 2002 epic based on Mark Bowden's book "Black Hawk Down: A Story Of Modern War", filmgoers knew that a intense ride was in store for them.

I didn't see "Black Hawk Down" for the first time until a couple of years ago and it was then when I found out there was a Civil War in Somalia or the Battle of Mogadishu, the battle in which the film is based. I was quite amazed by the story, and being the history-nut that I am, I was surprised I had never heard of the remarkable story before. The plan seemed simple: the Army is sent into Somalia to put a end to the Civil War. On October 3rd, 1993, a group of soldiers were sent on a quick mission to capture the Somalia warlord that was running the country. It didn't take long for the mission to go awry as two BLACK HAWK helicopters were shot down. Things then went bad to worse as the Rangers found themselves surrounded by thousands of Somalis, where they're only goal was to kill any American in sight. "Stirring up the Hornet's Nest" soon becomes a mistake and the American's make a desperate attempt to go by their motto "Leave no man behind".

While the American's go in with a plan, it doesn't take long for the panic to set in and it is soon enough where your wondering which side is more disorganized. The action and camerawork is a reminiscent of a video-game as the soldiers fight to escape the wrath of the Somalis. I felt like I was watching someone playing "Call of Duty" for two and a half hours, and being a man, well, that's always a blast. As this film progresses, the tension builds and you see how grim a film can really get.

Its no shock to say that Ridley Scott makes the ultimate war film with "Black Hawk Down". Unlike other war films that temper the battle with slow build-up for all the characters, you only have to wait a good thirty minutes for the story to set into place and from there the action doesn't stop, nor slow down, for the next two hours. There is no love-story to blind the first half of the film either, this is a war-story done right...and accurate! The movie fills itself with flying bullets, explosives, and bloodshed. The action here is so brutal and chaotic by the third time a character yells "RPG'S", you'll know to cover your ears.

You wouldn't expect nothing less from Ridley Scott than stunning camera-work. The movie has a very gray monochromatic look that makes the orange flames and red blood stand out. The helicopters shots, with the black smoke, are some of the best shots in the film. Like most Scott films, you'll see a lot of flying dust, rubble and debris mixed with slow-motion shots of falling bullets casings with shattered blood. The direction here, and visual effects, are used to the best percentage. Ridley Scott was the perfect man for the job here for "Black Hawk Down".

Characterization has been used extensively in war films to get the viewer to care a lot more about the characters. "Black Hawk Down" doesn't usually give you enough time with the characters to understand their moral values, but, it works out for the best. Some of the best performances of the film come from Tom Sizemore as Lt. McKnight and Josh Hartnett, who plays the sergeant who leads the mission and always feels a sense of guilt whenever a man is lost. Sam Shepard, as Major General William Garrison, who sits back in the safe-zone, watching his doomed men fight their way out of Hell, also gives an excellent performance. Eric Bana, with the small part he has, gives some of the best lines in film making the audience see the reason to why soldiers fight. His last lines in the film are some of the most brilliant lines ever from a war movie, and that's no joke.

"Black Hawk Down" is an intensifying, heart-pouncing war film that'll keep the viewers shaking in their seats. Its loud, bloody, and goddamn fantastic! It's heroic films like this that make me stand by my choice in wanting to serve the army once I graduate from college. If you haven't yet seen this film, you must because it's a must-see.

-Screeny