Black Hawk Down MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 1/2 Content: -3 1/2

When Maj. Gen. William Garrison (Sam Shepard) orders his elite force of 120 American Delta units and Ranger infantry to drop into Mogadishu, Somalia to abduct two of a Somalian warlords top lieutenants, he thinks it will only take an hour. But the one hour October 3rd, 1993 operation stretches into fifteen, resulting in 18 Americans dead, 73 wounded, and the deaths of hundreds of Somalians. The mission, commanded by Capt. Mike Steele (Jason Isaacs), sees two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters shot down by mobs of armed gunmen, who engage the Americans in a prolonged and vicious firefight. The heroic efforts by various rangers to get to the helicopters center around a unit commanded by Sgt. Matt Eversmann (Josh Hartnett) which is pinned down for a time by the street fighting. The rangers save the mission from a complete loss by rescuing Warrant Officer Mike Durant (Ron Eldard) who is the only survivor of the second crash site and whom is briefly captured. Those who didnt see enough bloody combat in SAVING PRIVATE RYAN should enjoy this one.

This action/war drama, based on a true story detailed in a best-selling book, shows in stark reality the tragedy that can happen when the U.S. military is thrust into an ill-conceived police action in a foreign land. As brave and well-trained as the American soldier is, he has great difficulty overcoming 50-to-1 odds when his enemies all carry automatic weapons and grenade launchers. This is a War movie with a capital "W" as violent battle scenes occupy at least ninety percent of it. At the very beginning, the men are briefly shown preparing for the mission, and the last few minutes portray the relieved American survivors exiting to safe territory. One will find no parallel love story unless it's when the downed pilot, Durand, briefly looks at pictures of his family before he is captured. And one won't find humor unless it's the time a soldier forgets to install his earplugs before firing a big gun. Although it's yet another war flick, which can make a viewer proud of the training and dedication of the American soldier, the extremely graphic violence and frequent foul language in BLACK HAWK DOWN give it negative acceptability.

Preview Reviewer: Ed Crumley
Distributor: Columbia Pictures, 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232