Great War Film, But I Wouldn't Consider It The Best Of All Time

Rating: 10/10 (26 January 2002)

I went into the theater with high expectations, and they were more than fulfilled. I definitely did not expect the intense, graphic, realistic violence lasting the entire film, but it definitely works to convey the emotion and mood of the time. Superb acting by Tom Sizemore, William Fichtner, and Ewan McGregor. Josh Hartnett gave a pretty standard performance, which is to say that it was good. Not great, not superb, but not horrible. I've never really been a fan of his, and even thought his Pearl Harbor job was somewhat lackluster. Anyways, back to the movie itself. First things first, if you didn't like the first 10 minutes of Saving Private Ryan, the gory part on the beach on D-Day, then definitely DO NOT go see this movie. The first ten minutes in Private Ryan encompass the entire length of Black Hawk Down. It is extremely violent, and not for the weak at heart. Those who can stand it will be struck by the realism and brotherhood between the special forces troops. As is said in the movie, those who haven't experienced it will not be able to fully understand the dedication to each other, and the unit as a whole, that exists in US special forces troops, and all US military troops in general. Overall, great portrayal of war and the hopelessness that can occur, and above all, the hope that those troops can maintain as long as necessary to get everyone home. Great film, and great action. BRAVO!!