Enormously underrated

Rating: 10/10 (12 May 2004)

Ridley Scott's next big directorial project after the renowned epic Gladiator, Black Hawk Down is an adaptation of a book that details the events of one of recent history's most bloody conflicts involving the American military. What should have lasted only a half hour ended up taking days. With other great war movies that surfaced within just a few years of each other (Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers, etc.) it's easy to overlook one that doesn't involve World War II. Nearly everything about Black Hawk Down is about as close to perfect as could be imagined. If you've only seen it once, you haven't experienced it all the way. Black Hawk Down is one of those rare movies that gets more and more powerful the more times you see it. It is an astounding achievement for everyone involved. An intense story that is brilliantly presented, Black Hawk Down is one film that just should not be missed.