Muslims are offended once again by a lack of attention to the perspectives of the Somalians

Rating: 7/10 (28 April 2002)

I was fairly offended as an American Muslim to endure the spectacle that was Black Hawk Down in theaters this winter. Certainly we all needed a movie that would restore our happiness and passion after the tragic events of September 11 but Amelie is the film that provides you with that on every level. Black Hawk Down was a vision with the lovely scenes of Black Hawk helicopters in the wrong place at the wrong time and the sound editing is some of the best I have witnessed in the war films genre but everything else about this film proved that Ridley Scott and his crew lacked the insight and research to embark on this venture.
Were all Somalians who felt angry at the American military presence in their country in 1993 one-dimensional lunatics with guns and desires to kill Americans? Absolutely not but once again in the tradition of the "Muslims are evil and that's just the breaks" film genre (True Lies, The Siege, Not Without My Daughter, Executive Decision) we are given another film that fails to portray the religion and it's followers positively and does not allow us even for a minute to understand their perspective. And why is that? Could it be because in many ways they are American themselves with a love for SUV's, cell phones, football, and spaghetti with meatballs? Ridley Scott could not possibly have the desire to show that side of the Somalians because America and certainly Black Hawk Down have to have enemies and not allied civilians whose lifestyles mirror our own. And yet you cannot ask for much from a film that also refused to give personalities and character development to it's own American heroes of war. I can accept the notion that Black Hawk Down is overly patriotic but for me it was not to honor these brave American soldiers who fought and died as most may assume Ridley Scott and his crew intended. Instead the film is merely an exercise in depicting American imperialism and world domination in which America is happy to stick it's nose where it doesn't belong no matter what the consequences are for American soldiers and foreign civilians. A tiring attempt to muddle an already estranged relationship between America and The Middle East hampers Black Hawk Down.

If you are interested in a more accurate and useful film on America's concerns in The Middle East pick up a copy of Three Kings at your local Blockbuster. The film has covered the most ground yet in it's efforts to portray Muslims accurately and intelligently. We are not there yet and Black Hawk Down is one step back when we desperately need to take two steps forward. I often weep for the future.
7/10 for sound editing and visual effects alone