Instant Favorite.

A lot of fun.

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

The only reason I didn't give this the full thumbs up is that I would have had the real story turn out a bit different. Atto or whatever his name was, the captured arms dealer, wouldn't have been smoking a cigarette, smugly as if to say I told you so, instead he would have been in the stocks, the type used in the dark ages, no water and when he asked for water, he would have been "water-boarded" until he cried for his mama. If it were up to me, the US military's only rule of engagement would be win at all costs, always make a move before the enemy. But idiots in Washington won't allow that, they're too worried about what the rest of the world might think. For instance, Russia and China, both regimes that persecute their own people. No, the only time the USA should go to war is if we intend to win period, no rules of engagement, no rules what so ever, war isn't fair, it shouldn't be, make it brief and make sure we come home every time as the winner.

This is one of MANY violent, speechifying war films that spawned from the rubble of success that was Saving Private Ryan. But with great visuals and a refreshingly simple story, it stands above many of the others. Overarching stories and complex war themes? Not really. Instead, it's just wall-to-wall excitement and drama, with a seemingly endless cast of cusp-of-stardom young actors.

160 elite U.S. soldiers drop into Somalia to capture two top lieutenants of a renegade warlord and find themselves in a desperate battle with a large force of heavily-armed Somalis. With great direction, talented cast, amazing war set pieces, violence and above all an amazing and faithful adaptation of War and it's consequences 'Black Hawk Down' is one of Ridley's Scott's most underrated films and a War film that takes it's place next to War Movie giants like Saving Private Ryan, We Were Soldiers and Hacksaw Ridge. (A+)

EDITED FROM A REVIEW ON 7 FEBRUARY 2016.This is a great movie and a great depiction of what likely happened in Somalia...but, what about the American troops who died for useless reasons? What about their parents and families? Normally, a country invades and conquers another to enrich their own country. The US went to Mogadishu to help people, and, all we got in return was enemy fire and dead American kids!?!?Here...and, in all American Wars, nothing ever enriched the US...it depleted us of American soldiers (fathers; brothers; sons; nephews; etc.) for no reason...it's saddening! In this case...just like in every other American war, especially, Korea; Vietnam; Gulf War 1990; Gulf War 2003;...who cares when the children of the United States have to die for nothing? FOR WHAT? These are USELESS WARS! ALL wars are useless when American children are killed for silly reasons!Why were Americans even in Somalia? I'm quite sure that Master Sergeant (USA) Gary Gordon's family will remember their son, brother, nephew, etc. as a hero who 'posthumously' won the Congressional Medal of Honor, but, for what!?!? Why!?!? He died...and, for what!?!? What gain was this for the United States and this man's family? A great man, like many other great men, died in a silly war...not even a war...a skirmish; a conflict; a fight that means nothing...except to help feed people who needed food, yet, in the end, he died for nothing!The same with SFC(USA) Randy Shughart...his family must also feel the same pride for their child and his posthumous CMH; but, hatred, moreover, for the carelessness his government took in extinguishing his light by this foolish battle.US Government - so stupid...taking advantage of American children's patriotism, loyalty, and, honor, to and for our nation; and, then, squandering them in a useless war like this!?!? I'M ASHAMED OF MY GOVERNMENT!My heart goes out to everyone who lost someone in this silly encounter; and, in any other silly encounters worldwide..LT(SEAL) Michael Murphy; STG2(SEAL) Matthew Axelson; GM2(SEAL) Danny Deitz; and, so many others. God Bless You ALL!MM/USN (1985-1993)