Black Hawk Down (2001)
Nonstop explosive action.
Presentation:
This film leaves quite an impression due to its strong contrasty look. It has somewhat of a cheesy Transformers Michael Bay look to it, which is a bit more yellow than you’d probably recall if you watched it when you were young. It’s a harrowing story with lots of epic top down aerial shots and dramatic closeups. The chaotic fire fights sort of all blend together after a while as there is definitely no shortage of action for this unending nightmare of soldiers trying to escape after a downed helicopter. As a child I would watch trailers and was so excited to watch this film, though the experience back then is very different than the experience now. But what makes it feel less of a cliché blockbuster is that it’s actually based on a real event and if you’re into war films, that’s what makes this one significant enough to stick with you.
Conclusion:
I found it hard to recall the details of this film due to the somewhat over the top non-stop action, camera movement and yelling. For a blockbuster, it’s actually quite an immersive experience, but there are just too many gun fights that eventually diminish their impact. I would say it’s even exasperating as the gunshots and explosions become tiring after a while. It’s maybe like a video game in that regard, comparable to something out of Call of Duty. I would consider this more as a war flick than a film by today’s standards, but if you watched it in the theatre, it will likely have been an awesome experience.
Recommendations
When a war movie is so brutal it feels like a reenactment.