An amazingly realistic portrayal of modern war

Rating: 10/10 (21 January 2002)

Covering a little known event in October of 1993, Black Hawk Down follows the failed Army Ranger attempt at overall executing a Warlord contributing to a genocide in Somalia. The overall goal of the movie seems to be to be as accurate and realistically horrid as the actual event. Somewhat in line with scenes featured in HBO's Band of Brothers, Black Hawk Down accomplishes everything it sets out to do.
Personally, the movie for some reason reminded me somewhat of Rules of Engagement, only taking one scene of the film and extending it as well as making it much more serious.
With the team of Ridley Scott and Bruckheimer, this alone tells what the movie will be like. The epic and saga of a Gladiator combined with the smooth visuals of movies like The Rock combines to be phenomenal.
Josh Hartnett is surprisingly well suited for the "leadership in the face of adversity" role he takes on, as well as gives a very emotional performance. The rest of the acting is also top notch, with no one character proving annoying or poorly cast.
The visuals are what makes this movie though. Visceral scenes or RPG's flying and guns firing. Endless Somali's, men women and kids, armed to the teeth trying to kill the horridly outnumbered Americans in any way possible. A sense of urgency and desperation surrounds the action as it unfolds fast and never ending. The only movie it can really compare to would be Three Kings, that somewhat overlooked gem from a few years back. Black Hawk Down is lacking a small amount in the uniqueness of the effects presented in Three Kings, yet makes up for it in every other aspect of the movie.
All in all, a great movie with not a dull moment, and the icy and eerie echo presented at the beginning and end that indeed the events shown are real events. Not for the weak hearted or those seeking a cheer-me-up movie, Black Hawk Down gives a grim portrayal of fighting a war that isn't ours to begin with...