Black Hawk Down (R1)

[Ono]

I really wanted to see this on cinema release but was unable to.

I have just seen the R1 version and feel slightly disappointed with the film. :(

Not saying that it's bad, just that as **entertainment** it was a tad uneasy viewing. I think that the gritty realism of it all was not what I was expecting.

Very basic storyline and probably paid too much homage to Saving Private Ryan in style (Tom Sizemore reprising his character didn't help matters :rolleyes: ).


No gung-ho happy endings here, but 3 out of 5 from me.

[encaser]

I thought it was ok. But more of an updated Zulu with the shoot all you can takeout bbq massacre, and not the 6 course class of Caine and Co's couldn't possibly squeeze orf another mint wafer cum brown savage Ma'am.

[alan8477]

I too thought it was 'OK' only. I was confused for much of the film, as I struggled to differentiate characters. Identical haircuts, uniforms, goggles, helmets etc, I couldn't recognise who it was I was looking at. The noise meant I also struggled to recognise voices.

I can't deny the heroism of the 'real' soldiers, but I did feel the production team were overly influenced by that, and so arrived at a film that lacked challenge. Definitely need to watch it again if only to clarify some of my confusion.

[mcmullanbrush]

I agree also.
As for telling one character from another, there was very little character development in the film anyway.
I was expecting another "saving pte ryan" but it wasnt in the same class.
I also found the sound to be a little disappointing too

[Desticado]

I actually really enjoyed this movie at the cinema.
Not seen it yet on DVD as im waiting for a SE release.

For me it didnt really matter if you were confused by which squaddie was which. It was more a story of Collective bravery and poor planning in the face of adversity. I felt that Ridley Scott did a great job of filming it in such a way as to hold your attention for 45minutes during a non-stop gun battle.

Regards

[BadAss]

PQ was great though.

[General Skanky]

I saw my R1 copy about 1 weekago. I loved it.
Great film.

Just hope they make more like it.

[tee]

I really enjoyed it also, a great story and full of amazing action. I gave it 5/5

[RMCF]

Good enough action film but it leaves out a few things from the book that probably would have embarrassed the American movie going public, namely the bahaviour of the US soldiers in the region prior to the events of the film. Joyriding helicopters over the town and blowing up animals with machine gun fire being two examples.

[General Skanky]

Now that should have been in the film.:grin:

[Rambo John J]

There was a small detail of the Rangers opening fire on the Delta Force almost as soon as they landed aswell - inexperienced soldiers crapping themselves and shooting anything that moved, even if it was their own troops. For some reason that didn't make it onto the screen either.

I like the film a lot though.

Just received my copy today so i'll enjoy watching it later :)

[mcmullanbrush]

Originally posted by Rambo John J
There was a small detail of the Rangers opening fire on the Delta Force almost as soon as they landed aswell - inexperienced soldiers crapping themselves and shooting anything that moved, even if it was their own troops.

USA military shooting at their allies??
I am sure that would never really happen

[tee]

Originally posted by AccursedDelphi
Just received my copy today so i'll enjoy watching it later :)

Yes you will, just make sure you crank it up :)

[Desticado]

Is there any news on whethere the R1/2 SE release will contain anything extra to the current R3 release?

Im getting more and more eagre to get this movie as I talk about it.

Really enjoyed it at the cinema.

Regards

[JSW]

Mine arrived damged :( cracked around centre so its on its way back for replacement.

[Rambo John J]

I've heard there's quite a lot of stuff going onto the SE when it arrives. The R2 is 2 discs for sure and the R1's bound to be aswell.
There's a chat with Ridley Scott and Jerry Bruckheimer over at www.dvdfile.com where they discuss a bit about what we could expect to see (I think it's somewhere in the sites features section or something like that, sorry but I don't have time to hunt for it right now).
Given Ridley Scott's love of the DVD format I'd say we're looking at a commentary, deleted scenes, making of, and all the usual stuff at the very least. Hopefully the History Channel documentary will make it onto there aswell as it really compliments the film.

[Desticado]

Guess i'll Keep on waiting then...

Thanks.

[magnatron]

/www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=114013
"zulu's - farsans of em":rolleyes:

[Desticado]

Excellent link!

Thanks for that.

[magnatron]

Happy to help :)

[Lex]

FROM R2-Project:

Columbia have announced that "Black Hawk Down" will be released in the 16th of september. The double disk set will have over 25 extra features including commentaries from Ridley Scott, Jerry Bruckheimer and cast and crew, four featurettes together with items on pre&post production and deleted scenes.

[Desticado]

[Edited by Lex due to complaint]

[Stuart Wright]

Despite knowing of the SE coming, I still ordered it since I enjoyed it at the cinema. I found it very thought provoking really enjoyed the intensity of it. The definition of a "blokes' movie".
Watched it at reference level with a couple of mates last night.
The repeat viewing meant I could recognise some of the characters - only a problem for actors I hadn't seen before - like the snipers. But the helicopter pilots (Jeremy Piven http://us.imdb.com/Name?Piven,+Jeremy and Ron Eldard http://us.imdb.com/Name?Eldard,+Ron) were familiar faces as were some of the others (Jason Isaacs http://us.imdb.com/Name?Isaacs,+Jason and Kim Coates http://us.imdb.com/Name?Coates,+Kim.
I didn't recognise Legolas from LOTR, though.
Wednesday was the first time both REL Studios hooked up together. Sounded ok.
Picture quality is ok on DVD, though typically (of Columbia Tristar DVDs) spoiled considerably by edge enhancement.
Sound is ok but I felt that they could have used the rears more.
Saving Private Ryan still has the prize for best Soundtrack.

[stranger]

stuart, a bit more about the studios hooked up please. just o.k? or are you being modestly blase'

Originally posted by Spectre
The definition of a "blokes' movie".


So you think women wouldn't enjoy it, isn't that a bit sexist because i also enjoyed the intensity of the film. ;)

I thought it was a fair and unbiased portrayal of what was happening, showing in depth the total and utter chaos of when things just start to go wrong with the first black hawk down.

[kevb]

Did you enjoy the choppers

[Desticado]

Originally posted by AccursedDelphi

showing in depth the total and utter chaos of when things just start to go wrong with the first black hawk down.

I thought it started to go wrong when the US mounted a major opperation without contingency plans...

Such as mounting a major operation in the city without even consulting their military partners (the pakistanis) who were needed to come rescue their butts.


Different note.

I know you put it with a wink but wanted to add my two penneth...

I dont think its sexist to describe BHD as a blokes movie since its target audience is primarily blokes. Thelma and louise is a womens movie and Disneys Aladin is a childrens movie. (I enjoyed all three)

Doesnt mean only those groups of poeple enjoy that movie but they are the 'majority' and or 'target' audience. (I enjoyed all three

Stereotypes exist because the 'majority' of people conform to them to some extent but not exlucsively.

Regards

[Reiner]

I thought it was a fair and unbiased portrayal of what was happening,

That's why the left out the part that other countries supported the mission, in fact only with those it was made possible.
The Malaysian PM was pretty "upset" and made the US apologize for leaving that out.

In the end just another "we Americans are the heros" movie which falsifies history by leaving out important things or not portraying them correctly. :(

[Desticado]

Originally posted by Desticado
[Edited by Lex due to complaint]

Show much for free speech.

[Lex]

show much indeed :)

[Bonesy]

Reiner

I'm really surprised, how can you describe it as an americans are heros movie?

It make them look totally ignorant and unco-ordinated.
a very badly planned military offensive, that went completely worng, and the americans had to rely on other nations for save them.

I admit it made the actual soldiers in the thick of it look brave, but I would tend to believe they would have been it that situation, so I think the film reflects the human bravery that sometimes appears when trained men are near death.

The quiet part of the morning and the daft run home show the irony of the firefights very well.

having read the book, news accounts, and the biased commentary (which is 'very we are heros'), I feel the film is only guilty of A) show the actual events, with no insight into the polticial climate surrounding the situation, and B) rely on mark bowden too much, so suffer a little from his, admittedly american view.

many reports do highlight that 100 of america;s most highly trained soldiers failed to control 200 untrained, largely unarmed, starving and unco-ordinated villagers. perhaps that fact didn't come across well enough?