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I first reviewed Black Hawk Down on DVD exactly one year ago. It was a DVD I was quite eager to receive after loving the film in theaters. Unfortunately, I was hoping for a wonderful DVD Special Edition and that first DVD release was quite thin in its extra content. Fortunately, Columbia TriStar wasted no time in announcing that a multi-disc special edition was in the works and would be released at some point in the future. It seemed that the film would be part of the SuperBit Deluxe line of DVDs. Well, the multi-disc special edition of Black Hawk Down has arrived and it is not part of the SuperBit Deluxe line. It is a very comprehensive 3-disc set that features information on both the theatrical production and the historical events that the film is based upon. My thoughts and views on the film have not changed since I first reviewed the title, but I felt like putting on my George Lucas shoes and reworking the original review a bit.
Review: Special Edition:
NOTE: Black Hawk Down is a film based upon actual events that occurred a decade ago. The events are well documented and if you found my review and/or the DVD entertaining and want to learn more about the events than what is given in the supplemental materials, the Philadelphia Inquirer has a wonderful website. The site (www.blackhawkdown.com) is absolutely the most comprehensive source for information on the actual events. The website is astonishing in the wealth of material it provides and my interest in the movie was sparked mainly from what I read on its pages.
Black Hawk Down is a film that delivers thrills and excitement for the entirety of its length. Stephen Spielberg?s Saving Private Ryan opened up new doors for the amount of realism that can be socially accepted in a war film?s scenes of carnage and death. However, unlike Saving Private Ryan which spent an equal amount of time between combat and plotline, Black Hawk Down makes combat its primary focus. Saving Private Ryan caught a bit of flack for its ?old man in the graveyard? bookend and hokey storyline. Black Hawk Down spends a few minutes here and there filling in the details, but does not hesitate to get into the action and stay there. The opening beach sequence in Saving Private Ryan is among one of my favorite theatrical sequences of all time. I remember hearing women agonize and convulse for much of the Normandy sequence and cannot help but think that people who found that sequence unsettling will want to pass over Black Hawk Down and rent Britney Spear?s Crossroads instead.
Ridley Scott?s creation is based upon the true events surrounding a conflict that happened one day in Somalia in 1993. A group of U.S. Army Rangers and Delta Force commandos found themselves up against a massive and heavily armed Somalian force during a mission that was supposed to be a simple extraction of a Somalian warlord. The underestimation of the African forces military capabilities resulted in over a dozen American deaths and the slaughter of over a thousand African nationals. Ridley Scott does his best to put you into the action and of that day?s events and he has created a look and style that can be described as unsettling and is very reminiscent to that done by Spielberg during the previously mentioned Normandy Beach scene. This is one of the most gripping and thrilling pictures I have ever had the pleasure of watching and ranks right up there with Jim Cameron?s sequel to Ridley Scott?s Alien. From beginning to end, Black Hawk Down is a captivating thrill ride that will grab you by the throat and not let go until hours after the credits crawl. Once you are done watching the film, you are left thinking about the horrors of war that you have been witness to and the incredible acts of courage performed by the American soldiers who were part of the events covered by the film.
The recent Iraqi war included unprecedented footage of our American soldiers in combat. Reporters were imbedded with fighting forces and using videophones and other pieces of modern technology, they were able to show the American public the dangers and pictures of modern warfare as it unfolded. We were first hand witnesses to skirmishes, snipers and tank warfare. Granted, the videophones generally were horrendous in image quality, but there were more than a few times where the picture was quite clear and we had front row seats to war. However, the images and moments we witnessed via the cameras of the imbedded reporters were calm in comparison to Black Hawk Down and its raw imagery. Ridley Scott did a wonderful job of directing and Slawomir Idziak did an astonishing job as Director of Photography.
Black Hawk Down benefits not only from its realistic camerawork and scenery, but it really sets itself apart from other war films with its cast of highly talented actors. Eric Bana has moved past Chopper and Black Hawk Down was a major stepping-stone that continues with The Hulk and brings him closer to becoming a household name. He is an incredible talent that is just now being realized. Ewan McGregor is another fine young actor that has been showing his craft for many years now. Tom Sizemore, Ewen Bremner, William Fichtner and Sam Shepard round out one of the best ensemble casts put together in a long time. Shepard and Sizemore are actors who almost seem a necessity in making a good war movie these days. It is rare that you see this solid of a talent pool in one place and everybody shows what makes them so talented. I was excited to see Bana and McGregor, but each and every actor and supporting actor utilized by Ridley Scott are magnificent inBlack Hawk Down
I could praise Black Hawk Down until I pass out. It is a film that I very quickly came to love and consider it one of the greatest modern war films. This film transcended storytelling and became a visceral experience that delivered the true emotion of conflict via the power of solid filmmaking and good old-fashioned Hollywood Magic. Ridley Scott?s choice of style and the incredible sights and sounds of Black Hawk Down drive home the emotion and put the audience into the center of combat. Bullets are sent over your shoulder and with the volume loud enough you will want to duck RPG rounds. It is not just an assault on the emotions, but a flat out attack on the senses. In addition to the technical aspects, the young and talented cast is one of the best assembled in years and there is not a single disappointing performance among them. I remember waiting in anticipation for this film to be released. There film was delayed for a bit of time, but it was well worth the wait. After his glorious Gladiator and classic early films Blade Runner and Alien, Ridley Scott shows that he can be one of the best.
Video :
Black Hawk Down takes a look and feel similar to the Normandy sequence in Saving Private Ryan and rivals the unsteady camerawork of The Blair Witch Project. The film is grainy and rough. Colors are desaturated and focus is not always a priority. Because of this, it is not a film that would generally be considered a reference quality DVD transfer. There are times when the camerawork looks as ugly and rough as the content it shows. The first DVD release of Black Hawk Down was a fine transfer and ranks among the best work Columbia TriStar has done. The new 3-disc transfer of Black Hawk Down appears nearly identical to the original transfer and I could not find a singular example where I could prove there is a difference. It is hard to improve on perfection.
The 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen film is stunning to say the least. Colors are purposely desaturated and film grain is introduced to the film to add to its visual flair. However, detail is extremely sharp and lifts the image from the flat television screen it is contained within. The colors are stylized, but the transfer delivers them perfectly. Black level is very good, when the style of the film does not hinder it. The source materials used to bring ?Black Hawk Down? were flawless. The heavy stylization of the film delivers a picture that would generally be considered sub par. It is delivered to perfection and though it lacks the pretty colors and crystal clear images of something not so stylized, this is about as good as DVD gets. If you got nauseous at watching ?Saving Private Ryan? or ?The Blair Witch Project,? you will feel the same way here.
Audio :
As is the case with the video transfer of Black Hawk Down, the audio mix appears to be identical to that of its predecessor. The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack of Black Hawk Down is one of the best I have ever heard. It easily rivals the DTS 5.1 mix of Saving Private Ryan. The sonic experience delivered by this film easily shows why it brought home the Oscar for Best Sound. This is one of the most encompassing sound mixes I have ever heard. Every channel is lively through the entire film. Bullets occupy every speaker and the .1 LFE channel bumps and thumps from beginning to end. For how lively and full of explosions and gunfire the soundtrack is, dialogue is easily intelligible and crystal clear, though at low volumes it can be problematic. The cinematic score of the film also rises above the combative sound effects and make its presence known. I have heard some grumbling about the lack of a DTS track, but with the incredible presence the Dolby mix delivers, I cannot see how it can be improved upon much. The sound too is as good as it gets.
Average user rating (1-5):
[release]10870[/release]