Black hawk down

[CasingBill]

Three disk????? It must have some awesome stuff. I have to get it now. Thanks

[impostal22]

too bad blackhawk down is not historically accurate by any means....so don't think you're watching a great representation of what happened..cuz you AREN'T.

[oldsoldier]

My brother was there. It is pretty close, although hollywood does embellish. Naturally. You cant capture feelings on tape, nor the fact that Clinton left our boys hanging in the wind. But, I would put out my political ideologies here. Just know that we didnt have any reason to be there. Although these soldiers died bravely, it was also needlessly. Damn, I am gonna quit while I am ahead.

[Albinonewt]

Originally posted by impostal22
too bad blackhawk down is not historically accurate by any means....so don't think you're watching a great representation of what happened..cuz you AREN'T.

It is actually very accurate to several accounts of the happenings.

Now, some accounts vary, so it doesn't match everone's version of what happened, but it does accruately mirror many of the stories.

Fog of war and all that

[impostal22]

umm..ok here goes:

the movie is based upon the book blackhawk down. blackhawk down was written by a man who was there. he went to get it published, but the publishing company wouldn't do it because it did not portray the american soldier as a hero. so the author was censored, and because he wanted the thing published, he changed the story, portraying the american soldier as a hero and the somalians as vicious animals. then he was able to get the book published. and now the movie based itself upon a censored, pro-american work. so it goes.

[slateman]

Originally posted by CasingBill
Three disk????? It must have some awesome stuff. I have to get it now. Thanks

It's got some nice stuff.

Disc 1: Movie (obviously ) with three commentaries. One by the Ridly Scott & Jerry Bruckheimer (the director and producers), one by Mark Bowden and ken Nolan (Bowdan wrote the book and Nolan was the screenwriter), and the best one: commentary by Task Force Rnager Veterans (that one is sweet).

Disc 2: "Making of" documentaries, deleted scenes and alternate endings, storyboards, and behind the scenes stuff.

Disc 3:
A couple of documenatries by the History Channel and PBS (they're on the actual battle). It's also got some background stuff and some trailers.

Its a great set. Definatly worth $25-30. Go get it.

[Albinonewt]

But the movie did not portray the Somalis as viscious animals and the Americans ARE heroes. If not for their original mission (which is a debatable point to be sure) then for the devotion and commitement to each other in the face of disaterous odds and in an intense situation. Those soldiers that fought and died for each other are heroic individuals that deserved to be remebered as such.

[1stdeadeye]

This movie does nothing but fire me up and make me angry.

First off we should not have been there. Second Clinton should have allowed armor. For our troops to have to be rescued by a Pakastani Tank and Indonesian APCs is wrong.

The best scene in that movie was either the Deltas sneaking up taking out the two Technicals or the Little Birds strafing that roof full of Somalis.

Impostal22...
Whatever.
Censored? If American Psycho can be published, anything can be. It may not have been a commercial success if he bashed America in it, but worldwide sales may have done well. Bottom line is that no publisher is going to turn away money. Maybe his book stunk and no publisher thought they would make money on it, so they told him to rewrite it.

[Albinonewt]

I watched it last night, just so it would be fresh in my mind. A few things:

First, the movie doesn't disrespect the Somalis in any way. They are portrayed as regular people who are nearly starved to death and denied every opportunity in life. The child weeps when his father is shot. The mother protects her children. They are normal people in the worst possible situation possible.

Second, as for as the bloodthirsty mob goes. The Somalis where in large part very bloodthirsty for a few important reasons. First, they were starved to death and the ONLY means for feeding themselves and their families were to capture or kill Americans. There were bounties placed so if you killed an American you could feed your family. That is a powerful incentive and transforms even the most civil of people into killers when they're protecting their own. I would have liked for the movie to have mentioned that. Second, there is a definite mob mentality in play in a lot of those scenes. We see that very thing happen here in the United States and in Europe all the time. Once a few people start throwing rocks at the helicopter or assaulting a downed pilot everyone jumps on board. They were caught up in the moment, which isn't to say they are blameless, but it's much different then just being a psychopath all the time.

And I'd like to thank the Clinton Administration for administering that war as poorly as possible. Thank you for putting our brave soldiers in harms way and then cutting them off from the support they needed. That was very Vietnam of you.