Black Hawck Down

[Clinton Huxley]

The charge of racism is not one that Ani has invented, it was a major criticism of the film at the time. One commentator stated that the Somalians were given all the characterization of the Orcs in the the Lord of the Rings.

[klr]

This is what happens when you do a movie of a relatively recent event. It's bound to become overly politicized one way or another. I know that happens with many movies, but it seems impossible to avoid if only a few years have elapsed.

The same applies to books IMHO. A book dealing with events in the recent past is not "history", it's "current affairs", and often very partisan at that.

[Clinton Huxley]

This is what happens when you do a movie of a relatively recent event. It's bound to become overly politicized one way or another. I know that happens with many movies, but it seems impossible to avoid if only a few years have elapsed.

The same applies to books IMHO. A book dealing with events in the recent past is not "history", it's "current affairs", and often very partisan at that.

Good point. When the first newsreels came out about Dunkirk it was described as a defeat. It is only with the objective hindsight of a 21st century perspective that we can recognise it for the ingenious tactical victory it was.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

The charge of racism is not one that Ani has invented, it was a major criticism of the film at the time. One commentator stated that the Somalians were given all the characterization of the Orcs in the the Lord of the Rings.

"Bloods and Crips" come to mind there. The folks that were attacking the US forces were indeed a minority of the population, but they were the ones with the specials. I remind people that the entire population of Tombstone, Arizona did NOT participate in the Gunfight at the OK Corral.

[Animavore]

But this was the problem with the "Blood and Crips" portrayal. It simply doesn't gel with the way Somalians are. They were like background gangstas in a hip hop video. I think at one stage a group of them were shown going up the road in an open top car pumping gangsta rap, though it's a long time since I've seen it. But that's the impression I remember having watching it. It came across as white American good, African jungle bunnies bad.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

But this was the problem with the "Blood and Crips" portrayal. It simply doesn't gel with the way Somalians are. They were like background gangstas in a hip hop video. I think at one stage a group of them were shown going up the road in an open top car pumping gangsta rap, though it's a long time since I've seen it. But that's the impression I remember having watching it. It came across as white American good, African jungle bunnies bad.

That's how they acted IRL, dude. The "specials" were Toyota trucks with machine guns or light artillery mounted on them, and they patrolled their turf in them like tom-cats patrol a garden. The ones that were willing to act like thugs were recruited in one or another of the mobs that ran loose in the country at that time. Remember, these are the guys that playing pirate there right now.

[Animavore]

Look I'll have to watch it again because I can barely remember it. I remember only thinking it was extremely one-sided. I also vaguely remember it had corny, emotionally loaded dialogue which American audiences seem to lap up and it was quite boring. It didn't go down as a war movie which stuck with me the way something like Platoon or Saving Private Ryan did, put it that way.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Look I'll have to watch it again because I can barely remember it. I remember only thinking it was extremely one-sided. I also vaguely remember it had corny, emotionally loaded dialogue which American audiences seem to lap up and it was quite boring. It didn't go down as a war movie which stuck with me the way something like Platoon or Saving Private Ryan did, put it that way.

Nobody likes everything. However, the folks who were there had input on the movie, IIRC. You have to remember why we were there in the first place to get the context right. (Yep, it was all that oil.)

[Animavore]

Actually I'd like to read the source material and watch the film again. I reckon the library will have it. See what was white-washed and see what was changed for dramatic effect.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Actually I'd like to read the source material and watch the film again. I reckon the library will have it. See what was white-washed and see what was changed for dramatic effect.

Informed opinions rock!

[Svartalf]

I thought it was complete shite.

It is.

[Svartalf]

I thought it was complete shite.

Based on true events. how can it be shite?

When a guy like Scott, who's proved he can turn out masterpieces, manages to give us something that makes you want to sue the studio for the timme you spent watching it?