So every commercial I’ve seen for Black Hawk Down have quoted a litany of people & sources who praise the movie as ‘one of the best movies of the year’.
That may yet prove to be true. However, when the movie is being released January 18th, isn’t that damningly faint praise? I mean, how many films have been released this year? A couple dozen, at most (at major theatres)?
Of course, I fear Black Hawk Down will nothing more than a contextless void of American Jingoism, praising America’s military whilst completely ignoring all that led up to the situation itself (and the link I post is a pretty favorable one).
I think the enthusiastic “best of the year” type stuff refers to 2001, as the movie opened in December in certain markets (and was presumably screened for critics in December as well).
As for the movie itself, I thought it was pretty good. The movie deals exclusively with the viewpoint of the American soldiers involved, and so is very light on sociopolitical context. It’s really not about Somalia at all; it isn’t even really about the characters portrayed, either… it’s mostly about military tactics and camaraderie among soldiers, and I think it succeeds reasnonably on those levels.
I think the enthusiastic “best of the year” type stuff refers to 2001, as the movie opened in December in certain markets (and was presumably screened for critics in December as well).
As for the movie itself, I thought it was pretty good. The movie deals exclusively with the viewpoint of the American soldiers involved, and so is very light on sociopolitical context. It’s really not about Somalia at all; it isn’t even really about the characters portrayed, either… it’s mostly about military tactics and camaraderie among soldiers, and I think it succeeds reasnonably on those levels.
Well, that’s good to read.
I remembered that Ewan McGregor is in the movie on Sunday night, which means I’ll see it, even though I was originally not intending to. From your review, I’m even more interested.
Well, that’s good to read.
I remembered that Ewan McGregor is in the movie on Sunday night, which means I’ll see it, even though I was originally not intending to. From your review, I’m even more interested.
I saw it last night — it was good but 80% of the moving is gunfire (the otherwise 20% is quite good but with all the shooting, there’s little room for plot and character development.) my brother, who spent most of christmas reading the book of the same name on which the movie is based, says that there’s slightly more sociopolitical context given in the book.
it’s an interesting movie if only in the context of the current US military action in Afghanistan…
I saw it last night — it was good but 80% of the moving is gunfire (the otherwise 20% is quite good but with all the shooting, there’s little room for plot and character development.) my brother, who spent most of christmas reading the book of the same name on which the movie is based, says that there’s slightly more sociopolitical context given in the book.
it’s an interesting movie if only in the context of the current US military action in Afghanistan…