DVDs & Films Forum - black hawk down vs saving private ryan - Page 1

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This item was edited on Sunday, 27th January 2002, 16:50

The special effects are pretty damn good in both, but the films are poles apart. Black Hawk Down is your typical American cheese, full of too much whooping and God bless America cack. Private Ryan was very moving in parts whereas BHD seemed hell bent on creating a triumph out of what was an utter disaster for our friends across the pond.

The 1993 Battle for Mogadishu was one of the most lopsided battlefield victories in US history. 18 US dead for 5000+ sammies, top Aidid militia captured, potential disaster averted (100 Rangers cut off and surrounded overnight in a hostile city).

Now I'm not going to debate the value of the body count as a measure of military victory but our movie industry did its share of flag waving in the 40's and 50's. At least Hollywood shows it how it is and picks some things that didn't quite go America's way.

Or would you rather they re-made the Dambusters?

Black Hawk Down? Save yer money stay at home and watch CNN.

"One of the most lopsided battlefield victories in US history!" - more like their worst day since Vietnam.
"5000+ sammi's dead - figure has never been released but generally agreed to be in the hundreds.
"Shows it how it is" - do you mean a good old asswhupping of the ragheads, with a bite sized bit of info on why it happened.

Also ignoring the convienient whitewash that it was Aidid they wanted and failed to get, that Clinton withdrew four days later...I could go on.
Do you also believe that the they captured Enigma first?

I don't have a problem with what the Americans did and this isn't some deep rooted hatred of the way they operate overseas. It is just the constant twisting in movies of what actually happened, as though the truth isn't deserving enough of being captured on film.

Trip Fontaine - I find Fox News with Geraldo to be far superior for war news. His buffount hair, porno moustach and no nonsense lies make for great viewing. After he was on recenetly they decided to interview a GQ fashion writer about the conflict in Afghanistan. A new low. Next week Vanessa Feltz fast ropes into Kabul for a check on high street bargains.

According to the end of the movie which I've just watched there was 19 US killed and approx 1,000 somali's killed. Regardless of any artistic license taken with the film I did think it was very good.

Were the 19 US killed by "friendly fire" cos that's how this highly skilled fighting force usually manage it!

"Black Hawk Down is your typical American cheese, full of too much whooping and God bless America cack. Private Ryan was very moving in parts"

I agree on both points, but I think there was just as much whooping and God bless America in Private Ryan. I'm sure I remember from history at school that the British had something to do with WW2 - did you see anyone but yanks in Private Ryan?

Cinematically both films are great - special effects, acting, directing. I prefer all out action and rate BHD higher - but that's personal preference.

The films show 2 completely different types of conflict. In WW2 it was clear cut - the bad guys are the Germans over there invading the rest of Europe. In Somalia you couldn't really tell who the real enemy was - it coulda been anyone in the town.

This item was edited on Monday, 28th January 2002, 20:17

Hey grifter, you're wrong on many points.
As stated by the book and by veterans, the mssion was not to get Aidid, rather 2 of his lieutenants. They succeeded in this aim, it was only a few months later, not 4 days, that Clinton withdrew the troops and handed back the Somalis. This had nothing to do with the soldiers, who are only following orders. The soldiers are the focus of the movie, and their courage in the face of the overwhelming odds caused by the intelligence blunders of their superiors.