As a film critic I strive to critique a film on its merits as cinema. This inability of some commentators to do the same is why some cannot comfortably watch entertaining historically based films such as "Malcolm X" or "Ali" because they can't absorb that a feature film isn't a documentary.

"Blackhawk Down" cannot be divorced from real world events. The film and its makers and backers have taken no such pains to separate, in fact they've ratcheted up the connection. The film was originally slated for a Summer of 2002 release. After September 11 it was rushed up to a December release so it could qualify for the Academy awards (it didn't work, and shouldn't have), and also to take advantage of the jingoistic fervor still gripping the nation. This has helped the film hold onto the number one spot for almost a month, and in the top ten for the forseeable future.

The news is that when a bootleg copy of the war epic "Blackhawk Down" was shown in Somalia recently the audience cheered when the helicopters, shot down by rocket propelled grenades, crashed and Americans died in their streets from gunfire, seeing the film as a celebration of their great victory over the invaders they repelled after killing 18 Americans. Some of the viewers said if Americans come back they'll get their asses kicked again just like the last time!

"They'll be making more films about their defeat if they come back here" boasted one interviewee to a newsman. This is as the US Military prepares the public for its Act Two after Afghanistan. The propagandists have even put out the cover story that Osama bin Laden may have made his way into Somalia from the cave redoubts of Afghanistan, so that is where the military must go with their Daisy Cutter bombs and flame-throwers.

This is the larger real world backdrop that explains the appeal and the relevance of "Blackhawk Down," made by "Gladiator", "Blade Runner" and "Alien" director Ridley Scott from the best-selling book by Mark Bowden. A return to the land might be what some consider adequate payback for the Somalians dragging those dead servicemen through the streets. The TV images of those where flashed worldwide, and caused President Clinton to pull Americans out of the country when no straight answer about what was being done over there.

Somalia is also being highlighted as the holding areas where September 11 terrorists come from. The most wanted lists show Somalians amid the Arabs and Middle Easterners.

The Battle of Mogadishu is also why the US Military is swiftly switching their service training into Asymmetrical Warfare, and Urban Pacification after they were played by someone who knew the Art of War, and lured into a deadly ambush and cut off from support or rescue for hours.

As a film "Blackhawk Down" is an entertaining, virtually all-male war romp that has loads of action, and "Saving Private Ryan" style gore as well. William Fitchner of "Armageddon" is among the ensemble cast; as are "Attack Of The Clones" Ewan MacGregor and Kim Coates of "Waterworld."

Tom Sizemore is a Ranger again as he was in the period film "Saving Private Ryan." He strides unperterbed as Gen. Patton on a W.W.II battlefield as bullets whiz by and the others duck, one bullet striking the flashlight on his shoulder epaulet. He doesn't even break stride.

"But I'm wounded!" complains one soldier when he's sent on an errand. "We're all wounded!" Sizemore tells him. IRL the Americans had sustained several wounds each while they sat throughout the night waiting for rescue.

"Pearl Harbour" co-star Josh Hartnett is back in uniform again as the leader of one of the groups who is pinned down. This film doesn't glorify war in the least; Hartnett's Everson tells his superior officer that he doesn't want to go back to downtown Mogadishu again. His eyes are watery and he is clearly scared. This is not exactly normal in a war movie, where the soldiers are supposed to laugh at death and willingly sacrifice themselves for the greater good. Not in this film they don't!

Don't look for much balance in "Blackhawk Down;" this film is a White yahoo's wet dream as gung-ho, apple-cheeked American boys are shown as the valiant human beings fighting against savage hordes of marauding Blacks.

Lost in the translation to film is the story behind those attacking Somalis (called "Skinnies" by the serviceman) who were trying to repel interlopers on their land who started killing their young men under the guise of "pacification" to keep the food flowing to fight the famine. I guess it would have been too hard to shift the food shipments inland from Mogadishu where the warlords couldn't get to them, and then nobody would need to get killed or "pacified." But I digress.

"Blackhawk Down" shows the upper Somalian rebel leaders -- I mean faction leaders, since it was a civil war -- as intelligent and crafty. You know, like the Japanese and Vietnamese in those war movies. The film neglects to show how the Americans were suckered into an ambush by Somalian faction leader and ruler of Mogadishu, Muhammed Aidid.

Since the Marines have the credo of "nobody gets left behind," all the Somalis had to do was shoot a couple of helicopters out of the sky, then lay in wait for the would-be rescuers as they dutifully stayed by their dead and wounded.

They studied the American response and noted they did the same thing over and over: they'd send in a recon copter, followed by a column of lightweight HumVees that can be shot through by an AK-47 rifle. Aidid's men caught the American invaders in a withering crossfire, although they foolishly stood up on the rooftops, which makes as much sense as doing it on a ridge line, backlit by the sun. A sign saying "Shoot Me" wouldn't be much more effective.

Also, the marksmanship of the Somalis is something that was more true to life. If there was ever another group that couldn't shoot for effect nobody knows who they are. "The Skinnies can't shoot fer shit, sir" said a serviceman as they prepare to leave out for a routine patrol. A Newbie is ridiculed for putting his armor in as the seasoned ones take their rear plates out to decrease weight.

"I don't plan on being shot in the back while runnin' away" says the blonde White boy. He should have a sign on that said "Dead Meat," because we just know what's going to happen to him!

"Blackhawk Down" also shows the jingoistic naiveté of the hot-to-trot soldiers as they proclaim "I came here to kick some ass!" in the Big Mo, as they called the port city of the country on the Horn of Africa with the longest coastline of the continent, and incidentally a pinch point for the shipment of Western oil after passing through the Suez Canal.

The brutality of war, the weariness, the blood is unflinchingly shown. A body is blown up as a RPG that misses a jeep; chests are riddled by rifle fire. Stupid Somalians shoot at an American as they are on opposite sides of him. Seeing them, he slips from fright and they shoot at each other and one gets a chestful of automatic AK-47 fire.

"Better hose the blood outta those HumVees before you send that next group out" says a laconic Ranger. A soldier's weapon doesn't fire; he looks down and sees his thumb has been almost detached by a bullet. A medic takes a roll of tape to strap it back on as he switches hands. The chaos of war is shown by "Blackhawk Down" as well.

"I told you, don't fire that thing so close to my head, I'm deaf as it is!" complains one soldier to his partner with a 50 cal. as they are beset on all sides by Skinnies. Later as they are planning their evasion, the other asks him "Understand? I'll come after you, but you have to motion me when you get to the point. So I'll know its all-clear. Got that?"

"Huh?" says the oblivious soldier, who hadn't heard a thing he said.

The film also makes the Americans the heroes at the expense of the Africans and the United Nation. The UN forces are shown in the sports stadium debating about routes to take when the American general, played by Sam Sheppard, is calling for support and armour for his pinned-down men. Later, the Blue Helmets are shown driving their jeeps away at speed when war-weary soldiers with their packs and equipment are trotting to keep up after being refused admittance to ride inside.

The release of the film after the jingoistic war sabre-rattling that some knuckle-headed African descended participated in, as though they could curry favour the nation's Whites. They now have to face the dilemma of being patriotic in what might become a Race War as Caucasian forces are sent back into a Black land to kill people that could be their ancestors.

The Black Congressional Caucus haven’t distinguished themselves during the ultrapatriotic fervor. In fact they’ve revealed themselves to be a buncha scared wimps and punks, with the exception of the brave and principled Rep. Barbara Lee of California. All those fiery, strong, thunderous brothas in the US Congress, even damn-near Socialists like Dellums, et al formed a straight line, said "yassah, Boss!" and voted for the PATRIOT act, increased surveillance on citizens, and the declarations of a "war on terrorism" that may now be turned against the very land of their ancestors.

More troubled would be the Black serviceman who would have to pull the trigger on fellow Africans of the Motherland. Or give the order, such as Secretary of state Colin Powell and National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice, originally of Birmingham, Alabama. These are interesting times indeed!

Write, email or call kevinjwalker@blackwebportal.com; visit the website http://cinemaviews.tripod.com; call (414) 454-9673, or write P.O. Box 1324-53201. Fax is (559) 851-7087. -- kjw --30-- Allozygote dyspepsia adjective. Nonreversing overlong nibs gastrinoma duplication hexanal potato autowrecker elev latensification snowberry acetamidochloride osteosclerotic uncompleted. Traceback catarrh insubstantial scissors circumstances monetarist lipocaic!
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