Tier 1 military film!

Rating: 10/10 (2 January 2017)

This film was one of my favorite films growing up as a child. Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down hits close to home as I grew up in Fort Campbell, Kentucky home of the 101st Airborne division. Mostly all of the people involved in the incident were from that base including my father who served in Mogadishu, Somalia. I remember seeing the film as a child and being blown away with the visual effects and sound. I have always been keen the quality of film. Meaning cinematography and sound editing have been one of the most important parts of making a film and Black Hawk Down hits the nail on the head. Scott has always been an amazing film director and he always manages to choose the best cinematographers and film editors on the market. With this film winning two Oscars it has proved to be one of the best war films ever made.
When it comes to cinematography and film editing, it is the most important element in a film. It can seriously make your film or damage it. I have seen films like Open Water or 50 Shades of Grey (or 50 Shades of Crap) that had poor editing and camera work. In the film Black Hawk Down, the camera work is above par. The brilliant movement makes the viewer believe that he is actually in Mogadishu. And with its Oscar winning editing the film makes you believe that you can actually be getting shot at. As a Marine Corps combat wounded veteran it is very difficult to watch films that can trigger flash backs and unwanted dark memories. There is a reason I don't normally watch war films. But this film has always been a classic for me and my family. The story is not as beautiful as one would want but it is beautiful how the camera makes it. War can sometimes be beautiful. It was sad to see people you knew get injured so severely. But I guess that's what drove me to joining the armed forces. I love to fight. And the will that was presented in this captivating film only gave me the inspiration to fight for my country as well. Yes, films are inspiring whether they are real or fake. Ridley Scott has taken a true life disaster and turned it into Hollywood magic. One of my favorite scenes is the scene where Josh Hartnett's character Eversmann is trying to save his buddy's life in some make shift table. The soldier was shot in the leg. The bullet hit a main artery and his attempt to stop the bleeding makes the viewer believe that he is actually in the room as well. The camera does a magnificent job in producing a realistic environment for the viewer. This is what real cinematography and film editing is all about. Making the viewer believe.
In conclusion, this film has changed my life. With the decisions I made as a young Marine, this film has played an influence on how I wanted to carry out my Marine Corps career. With balls of steel. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to watch this film and also to be affected by the film to this day. The camera work and editing has motivated me to either go into cinematography or editing as a career. Scott continues to influence people around the world with amazing directorial skills. One can only be grateful to catch a glimpse of his work.