A Great Tribute to the Proud Fallen

Rating: 10/10 (21 January 2002)

Upon seeing the previews for this movie, I could not wait to see it. Not for it's gore, not for the action, but to gain another level of respect for the men and woman who have fallen for this country and the people of other countries. People talk of the lack of character development and cliched stories and lines and to them I say, go see Vanilla Sky. These are probably the same people who enjoyed Pearl Harbor for it's love story! War movies have no place for love.
Black Hawk Down is a movie that defines why I have nothing but the utmost respect for any man or woman that has served in the Armed Forces and has seen action. I have trouble moving from a fox hole while playing paintball! To get up and move and carry out orders while being inches from death amazes me. And to their credit, I think the actors in this movie did a wonderful job of portraying these men. I'd love to see the people complaining of the canned death bed lines, on their death beds and see what they would say. I don't think that many of us would be nearly as calm. And, who said, the line of Leave No Man Behind was overdone! Another review said it best, if you have never served you will never understand. To see this movie, there should be a pre-requisite, you should be serving or have served or have nothing but respect for those in the military. Watch Band of Brothers and maybe you'll understand. Or maybe pick up a book on war and get a feel for the brotherhood developed.
I won't go on, as this is becoming more of a political diatribe instead of a review, but I will end with, See this movie. At the end, I was left in awe of the men who were there and I was ready to sign up myself.
Since Sept. 11th America has found new heroes to admire. I think this film reminds us all that there have always been heroes and they are the men and women of the Armed Services who have lived and died to give us our freedom! Freedom to express our views and say what we will. Remember these people while watching this movie and suddenly story lines and character development mean nothing. It doesn't matter that you didn't know Johnny GI from Randy Ranger, they were Americans and you morn their deaths because of that. If I ever get the chance to meet one of the men that served in Somali, I will be in simple awe and in the presence of a hero.