Leave No Man Behind. (Black Hawk Down (2 DVDs))

Member Name: elspeth334

Product:	Black Hawk Down (2 DVDs)
Date:	26/01/02 (153 review reads)
Rating:

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We have all seen movies that were based on real events before and some were good, some not so good but in this case director Ridley Scott has created a gripping tale of US bravery against the odds. It is a realistic and a sometimes harrowing watch but is entertaining nevertheless.

The battle of Mogadishu in Somalia on October 3rd, 1993, is what the plot centres around. In particular, a standard mission to capture two lieutenants of a Somali warlord, which should have taken 30 minutes from incursion to extraction. In reality US troops took fire and were given heavy resistance from Somali forces. In the process a two US UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters were shot down. One hundred and twenty American Delta Unit and Ranger Infantry were deployed during the battle and maintained the motto of “Leave No Man Behind” which was also the tagline for the movie. The battle lasted all night and became the longest sustained battle involving American troops since the Vietnam War. In total nineteen American soldiers were killed with a total of seventy three wounded. Hundreds of Somalis died during the battle. The plot starts slowly introducing the all-star cast then escalates into the battle where the action never lets up for a minute.

The cast almost has almost as many stars as the American flag. Josh Hartnett portrays one of the main characters, Staff Sergeant Matt Eversmann, and plays his part superbly. He plays a newly appointed leader of the troops, this makes him cautious due to his inexperience yet you get to see him formed in to a brilliant and efficient leader. Ewan McGregor plays Company Clerk John Grimes who is usually a desk worker. This is interesting as you can follow his as he is emotionally shaped during the course of the battle. He is at first cautious and inexperience but then as the battle progresses he becomes more confident and as efficient as those who have been there before. Tom Siezemore is also in there as Lt. Colonel Danny McKnig
ht. He also plays his part excellently and gives a different perspective as he is under heavy fire with people dying around him he keeps a cool head and gets the job done. His acting was superb. The rest of the actors involved are too numerous to mention. They all portray a vast number of emotions in a huge number of situations and yet still manage to make it incredibly realistic. They make it seem like the viewer is in the middle of the action with them.

Since it is a Ridley Scott film that is produced by Jerry Bruickheimer you expect it to be big and loud. If this is what you are expecting then you won’t be disappointed. This action actually complements the acting and makes a truly entertaining combination. The action is mainly gunfights and explosions which sounds like a normal war film. The difference with this film is that there is a gritty edge to it in the way that it is filmed that makes it that bit more realistic. The special effects are quite incredible too. People get shot and you feel the pain they make it so real. Soldiers get blown in half and lose fingers yet you never feel like it is far-fetched. It has a certain realism no matter what is shown on the screen. The action and special effects are totally flawless making the viewer believe totally what they are watching.

Overall, this is one of the best war films I have ever seen. It really does make you feel like you are in the war. The acting is superb and the action is brilliant. I highly recommend that you go and see this film in the cinema so that you can see it in its full glory. It is spectacular and yet gripping and harrowing at the same time. It evokes so many different emotions that it is a roller coaster. Go and see for yourself, you won’t be disappointed.

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