The Reel Rejects - BLACK HAWK DOWN (2001) MOVIE REVIEW!! FIRST TIME WATCHING!!

Starting point is 00:00:00 Did you know that at Chevron, you can fuel up on unbeatable mileage and savings? With Chevron rewards, you'll get 25 cents off per gallon on your next five visits. All you have to do is download the Chevron app and join to start saving on fuel. Then you can keep fueling up on other things like adventure, memories, vacations, daycations, quality time, and so many other possibilities. Head to your nearest Chevron station to fuel up and get rewarded today. Terms apply. See Chevron Texciscorewards.com for more details. Introducing the new Volvo XC90 with seven-seat versatility,

Starting point is 00:00:35 Google built-in, and advanced safety features for all your precious cargo. The new Volvo XC90, designed for life. Visit volvocars.com slash U.S. to learn more. At Sierra, discover great deals on top brand workout gear, like high-quality walking shoes, which might lead to another discovery. 40,000 steps, baby. Who's on top now, Karen? You've taken the office step challenge, a step too far.

Starting point is 00:01:00 Don't worry, though. Sierra also has yoga gear. It might be a good place to find your zen. Discover top brands at unexpectedly low prices. Sierra, let's get moving. Thank you to Liquid Ivy and Babel for sponsoring this video. Yes, all right. I'm ready. Sir, yes, sir. Let's do this thing. Sam Shepard, I was right. Besides that being one of the greatest casts I've ever seen an ensemble piece, I really Oh, Hugh Danty Sorry, like the castes play

Starting point is 00:01:32 No, no, no, you're good, you're good Keep calling out cast members Don't worry about Go ahead, call it cast members Keep on going to say I totally understand the hype around this film What an intense roller coaster ride

Starting point is 00:01:44 Well, first of all, I had never, sorry about my ignorance to the history I'd never heard this story I know as an American I'm like, how do you not know? Apologies, I didn't know anything about it So just from Ridley Scott's perspective, I appreciate the history that I learned from this.

Starting point is 00:02:03 I thought it was done in a very emotional and mature way. So I appreciate just the history that I learned from this. What these soldiers had to go through. Also what the people of Somalia had to go through just from the starvation and just obviously a very horrific thing. And I am living under the thumb of a genocidal warlord. Yes, of course, awful situation. I am never a proponent of war or like getting involved. in situations to which we do not need to, but in humanitarian question, that's what that becomes

Starting point is 00:02:33 is like, what is your response? I feel like that's one of the major questions of a lot of wars, like, what is your responsibility from across the world when like massive unholy devastation is taking place? Right. And in this situation, you know, when 300,000 people have been starved to death and the numbers are going to continuously keep climbing and, you know, that's, that's quite a, Quite a serious situation. Someone is abusing the people that they, you know, are seeking to lower it over. And, yeah, they're, you know, using starvation as a means of leveraging everyone and their mass murder. Like, yeah.

Starting point is 00:03:10 Yeah, but having said that, I love that in the beginning of the film, obviously, we got the scope of what's happening in terms of the history of the situation, the warlord and all that. And then also, too, we got to have a little bit of camaraderie. And, you know, the, we got to meet the main crew of the Army or such. And I thought, the operation. The operation. All the different sort of units that make up this operation. Exactly. And, you know, right away, I was already, like, in love and invested with most of these characters.

Starting point is 00:03:45 Like the, you know, the interactions we were getting. And just seeing, again, the family unit camaraderie between all the guys. Also, too, not knowing that literally was going to be a non-stop. roller coaster ride for the rest of the film for the most part it was nice to just have a little like relaxation before like the real non-stop action began and it was an emotional action because we were already so invested in these characters at least that's how i felt so but amazingly well done i can only imagine i just actually seen today that david air um a film we had just reacted to fury he put out this thing on twitter uh was like a page a posted page showing

Starting point is 00:04:27 like a one day's work I don't know if you saw that but just showed like what goes into one day of filming an action sequence I'm like oh my god that is so I already figured it was a ton of work and a ton of prepping and all that stuff but what I

Starting point is 00:04:43 saw on that sheet of paper and I'm sure most of you know what I'm talking about that David Air posted today I can't even imagine this film I mean there was so much planning out and so many like wide shots And incredible coordination with the action sequences and the helicopter shot.

Starting point is 00:05:03 I mean, just insane. I was just so damn impressed. I got so much more to say. Janizio, what did you think of Blackhawk down? Yeah, I'm still putting my pieces together after all that. It's a very striking work. And I'm trying to remember this would be slightly after saving Private Rhein. Yes, three years later.

Starting point is 00:05:23 That was 98th, this is 2001. Yes. Because, yeah, I feel like there are these milestone movies. in the progression of war cinema over time, and especially as, you know, we've crested out of, you know, the older school, you know, in the 50s and 60s, you would have these war movies that weren't as predicated on, like, the visceral intensity of just being there and beholding the sort of chaotic, wanton, you know, amalgamation of harsh elements and split-second decisions. Like a movie like this to me seems like it I would like to go back to the moment in time Because I remember when this movie came out And yeah

Starting point is 00:06:02 I remember it being a big deal And something that a lot of people were talking about And you know This seems like it would be something of a departure In that Like I feel like a lot of war movies Probably learned from this In the sense that you get introduced to everybody

Starting point is 00:06:18 You start off relatively gradually You get a brief briefing of what the situation is, then we spend a little bit of time with all of our, you know, various ensemble players, you know, and, and yeah, it's like, it's enough, like, I'd be curious to go back and rewatch the first part again, just because, you know, you do get that time with them, but that's also, like, the lion's share of the time you get with them, and then the rest of it is the operation. It's like, you get to know everybody in the lead-up, and then once the actual operation begins, then it's all just pretty much nonstop.

Starting point is 00:06:54 that. You're cutting around to everybody who's on hand, everybody who's involved, all the different departments, all the different people on the chain of command. But there's not, like, this seemed like a unique piece in that it doesn't have those breathing moments and those moments to check in or those moments to, you know, between that. It's one operation going down and it's one, you know, plan that was supposed to be straightforward, you know, completely falling apart and becoming like a whole day-long mess. Yeah. And so it felt kind of unique maybe for thinking back on this moment of time to, yeah,

Starting point is 00:07:32 have this thing that, yeah, gets most of its characterization and its intros out of the way at the top, and then pretty much just throws you into a non-stop maneuver until the very end of the movie. I mean, there are a couple of moments where, you know, there's quiet between firefights, but, like, this really felt like... stuff like you have you know the little character dramatic bits in the prologue the first act and the rest of it is just all in the shit in the thick of it and yeah i mean the combination of you know the cinematography and the way they enhance the temperature and the elements and the dirt and the grime and the sweat the way they handled like they must have had so much b-roll and second unit footage to capture and sift through all the actors and you know the different like I think every war movie to some extent requires actors to say the dialogue, but also communicate the deeper layers.

Starting point is 00:08:33 It's like a lot of dialogue in war movies to me seems like there's a double speak happening where people are kind of saying something that's maybe ironic or optimistic to mask the very real pain and fear of the reality of the situation. And I feel like this definitely captured that. And yeah, I mean, there are certain character arcs that, like, the thing with Ewan McGregor, like, is one of the few things that is, like, kind of not fun, but, like, you know, that's, for the most part, this doesn't feel too Hollywoody in terms of how it's, like, drawing its archetypes of characters or having, like, yeah, there is a guy with a girl back home or whatever, but it's not doing that trope the same way a lot of other movies would. and it does feel like a pretty genuine encapsulation of how things can go wrong and again the expectation of and the view from outside you know the further you get up the chain of command the more time everything takes and the easier it is to sit back and consider things when you know stuff on the ground when you're the soldiers executing the operation you know like I can't imagine the patience and focus it must take to run these things up the chain of command wait for them to come back down you're seeing literal situations unfolding in front of you you have the best vantage point and yet you have to

Starting point is 00:09:59 rely on people who are kind of looking from the outside into some extent or another and it really does capture this sort of impossibility of the whole thing and like you have so many this one thing this really drove home to me was that yeah like this operation for all they're you know convincing each other at the beginning that like oh be in and out it's like a half hour. It's a simple operation and we know what we got to do. And then you realize as the movie goes on, like, damn, this is still like multiple units. You've got people on the ground. You've got people in the air. You've got snipers. You've got other guys. You've got the guys who are up the chain of command watching on the monitors. And everyone's participating, but everyone has a different vantage point. And like the way they handle the friction of that between everybody as they're trying to figure it out in these little moments where, You're like, if this guy doesn't like this order, he could just decide to swerve and throw a Hail Mary and screw this up even worse. Or, you know, maybe in the case of like that one little exchange between William Fickner and Jason Isaacs, like, okay, well, maybe there is a time to eschew the chain of command.

Starting point is 00:11:10 And hey, maybe, yeah, we need to improvise in this moment. And, yeah, it's just another one of those onslaught movies that really drives home, like, how hard it is to process. all of this, you know. Yeah, and obviously we know the movie's called Black Hawk Down, even though we didn't know too much about what it's going to be about, but we could kind of slightly get a handle. You know what this is good. Even if you don't know the particulars, yeah.

Starting point is 00:11:34 But I mean, like seeing how it kind of started off with a little bit of a hitch in terms of, okay, this guy's clearly afraid to go, even though he's being paid for a job, the guy that they hired to drive in to the hostile territory, to let them signal them which building. Right there that lets you know that, okay, we're foreshadowing an unforeseen horrific situation. And also, too, once they had the spies with the kids letting them know, okay, impeding danger is a coming. That's always harsh, because especially when you're in, you know, places like this, I feel like more than, I mean, it happens in various war-related things.

Starting point is 00:12:12 But I feel like especially when you're in a place like Somalia, the imagery often comes with the images of kids, kids with gun. absolutely and I will say this too I thought there wasn't a ton of humor in this film which I thought which I thought was actually a wise choice by whoever the writer writer's was just because again as much well yeah exactly well just because look and they're not trying to be like too cute in Hollywood

Starting point is 00:12:38 yeah just because look you can put you can insert a little humor and just to give us a little breathing room as as the audience for a little levity but I think it just put us in the POV of what these actual soldiers went through in this situation. There was no room to feel like they had any room to breathe in this situation, like through this entire ordeal. And like literally once the action started, my heart was racing and did not stop other than maybe for 30 seconds.

Starting point is 00:13:04 Like my back just kept hunching and my mouth, my eyebrows just kept squinting. It kind of would take and honestly, it forces you to kind of. Yeah, it would take as much as I love humor and I still would have. a lap. This wasn't funny enough. Yeah, I would have been taken a little out of it if guys were starting to, you know, give some humor in this type of situation. As I mentioned about 30 to 40 different times, wait, at least Scott was hired to direct this phone after he decided not to do Terminator 3. Wise choice. Very wise choice. Also, too, I know I mentioned about 30 times, sorry.

Starting point is 00:13:44 Got to give him his due. Hans Zimmer, phenomenal. phenomenal score really echoed a lot of the sentiments that I was feeling in the moments that he was inserting the score, whether it was piano background or just like the Somalian stuff that we were hearing with the music. It's just such a beautiful score. Every time I think that this guy can't wow or impress me anymore, he's like, there's no way he can come up with a good Superman score as much as John Williams. Oh shit, he really did. There's no way Dune is going to be one of his oh wow dune's really one of his best whatever he just

Starting point is 00:14:18 keeps impressing me and gladiator's one of my favorite scores and then immediately comes back with this one I'm like the dude is just so amazing he's so multifaceted and talented and like I love Hans Zimmer so much such an amazing score yeah what do you think of the score by Hans Zimmer

Starting point is 00:14:34 I mean yeah I thought I thought it was terrific I mean I'm sure he was also collaborating with a lot of notable you know like Somali vocalists and whatnot and I mean it is a kind of a movie that you know it's Not the kind of, there's like a Hans Zimmer sound that exists now that is very recognizable. So I enjoy going back to see. To hear some of his earlier works where, yeah, there are, I mean, this had tons of vocalizations.

Starting point is 00:15:01 This had those piano interludes. I liked hearing him work outside of the palette. I am very used to hearing him working right now. so yeah I thought it was you know I mean it is very further removed from it now you know it is a bit par for the course in terms of you know you're in a desert

Starting point is 00:15:21 so we're going to obviously have these you know sort of these very striking and you know sort of gravity like they have this gravitas these vocalizations and it is like a trope of this kind of setting especially like in a war type movie

Starting point is 00:15:37 but yeah no I really liked those flavors totally totally agree with him really quick I start getting into some of the fun facts here. I love, love Josh Arnett's character and how we embrace this leadership type role. And one of my favorite speeches in the film was what Eric Bannon was saying to him.

Starting point is 00:15:54 Like, dude, you got to embrace this leadership role. And again, whether it felt insensitive or not, that's your opinion, but like, hey, you can harp on this later. Like, we've got to get these men out of here. And I just, I really felt that he was a fully fleshed out

Starting point is 00:16:10 character, Josh Arnette's character. and I loved Eric Banna too Such a badass and also too I liked I liked all the characters for the most part Obviously some didn't get as much focus But still Well and this is a movie that sort of You know kind of defies

Starting point is 00:16:25 What the label of even the concept Of being a badass could possibly mean And there's that whole thing with Orlando Bloom Early on where he fancies himself a badass And then you see that the real Badasses out there Are the guys like Eric Banna Who probably wouldn't claim that title for them

Starting point is 00:16:41 themselves because they are just here for another day in the thick of it to look out for the guy next to him. It's just Sunday for me. And I did think it was interesting the characterizations because, like, yeah, Josh Hartnett is kind of billed as the star of this movie, even though it is such a, again, broad ensemble. I thought his through line was quite nice and especially now sort of removed from the moment where, you know, there were feelings you could have about Josh Hartnett based on just like the nuts and bolts of his career outside of a film, any given film. I really liked watching him here. I really liked his presence here. He felt like a guy who had a bit of a fresh face, but not as much as, say, an Orlando Bloom type or even anyone McGregor type.

Starting point is 00:17:21 And Tom Hardy. Sure, yeah, yeah, yeah. He seemed to have a certain amount of experience, but also like being kind of elevated to this leadership role in this situation and watching him. He's not like, you know, the leader, the commander of everything. There are a lot of other people on the chain of command, but I thought, yeah, they're just of his squad.

Starting point is 00:17:40 Entering him slightly was a nice thing. And, I mean, there were so many great, you know, like I loved, God, what's his name? Like Tom Hardy and the guy from train spotting together. Yeah, yeah, his name is Ewin Bremner. No, he played Mellon. Ewan Bremner, okay. Yeah, I really like those guys together a lot.

Starting point is 00:18:00 And, too, like, again, I feel like it's funny because reading this little Wikipedia thing, I guess the John Grimes, the Ewan McGregor character, was renamed. and reworked as the actual guy that character is based on did some pretty heinous things. So, and it's funny to me because that's a really, because that is a really likable character and that is a character that

Starting point is 00:18:22 feels out of everybody more like a movie character than most anybody else. And not that that in the moment of the film took away for me. I like that character a lot. But yeah, I'm curious about that kind of authenticity, and it says this was adapted from, you know, a book that is dramatizing these first-hand accounts and stuff like that.

Starting point is 00:18:44 So, you know, I feel like this really feels informed by, you know, people who would have really gone through or been close to a situation like this. And, yeah, I mean, like, that's one thing. I'm always curious. Like, I love those videos on, you know, YouTube or wherever where it's like experts break down. How, you know, good of a depiction this movie is or that movie is. I'd be fascinated to see that for something like this. and coming out of Fury, which was a tank-based movie,

Starting point is 00:19:11 into something that isn't all about helicopter maneuvering, but certainly features it heavily. It was kind of an interesting thing. All right, Reject Nation, so today I want to share something with you that has been a wonderful addition to my health and fitness journey that I discovered during the holidays, and that is Liquid IV's hydration multiplier. I'm down to my very last packet, and I'm freaking out,

Starting point is 00:19:33 but it's okay. I got more in the mail. Now, a lot of you have been so kind to notice how I've been working on my physical health. Thank you for all the compliments. And one thing I learned is that proper hydration is absolutely crucial, especially post-workout and pre-filming after post-workout. And my wife actually introduced me to this product, which is perfect because we not only care about quality,

Starting point is 00:19:50 but a good taste and quality product. Whether it's after a sweaty workout or just after, you know, a good night out, you know what I'm saying? Efficient hydration and replenishing electrolytes is key. You just feel better, and it tastes fantastic. I can't emphasize that enough. And another thing that I'm always on the lookout for, too, is products that have zero sugar or zero sugar added.

Starting point is 00:20:08 that's one of my main dietary restrictions throughout the week. And they, of course, got products that fit that description that also tastes good, too. So, yes, thank you so much. So, liquid IV's hydration multiplier is in summary is they are a non-GMO electrolyte drink that delivers hydration into your bloodstream faster and more efficient than water alone. Sometimes drinking a whole gallon is not always efficient. But in fact, it can provide the same hydration as drinking two to three bottles of water. I'm also big on efficiency.

Starting point is 00:20:32 Plus, it's packed with the love and essential vitamins. And we know vitamins are good for the body. It's vegan, soy-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free. You can customize their water amount to your taste. Again, perfect for post-night recovery, traveling, or just having a big night out. You know what I mean? No, well. So, if you want to boost your support for the channel and boost your hydration game, go to

Starting point is 00:20:48 Liquidiv.com and use promo code Rejects at checkout. That's Liquidiv.com promo code Rejects. And remember, Liquid IV. It's not a real IV. It sure feels like it. So stay hydrated, stay healthy, and let's keep crushing those health and fitness goals together in the year 2024. Hello there, esteem viewer of the real rejects. I, Greg Alba, language connoisseur, and worldly gentlemen.

Starting point is 00:21:10 I'm here to bestow upon you the secrets of Babel. Babel is an engaging language learning app designed for real-life conversations, offering quick, 10-minute lessons tailored by linguistic experts to effectively teach you a new language. Its conversation-based approach enhanced with speech recognition technology makes Babel worth trying for anyone looking to learn at their own pace anytime, anywhere. My dear friends, in this age, a monolingual mundanity, mandatity. Babbol is our beacon of hope, crafted by an army of over 150. language experts their lessons are like linguistic caviar rich refined and oh so satisfying personal

Starting point is 00:21:43 tale of triumph i once whispered sweet nothings in spanish or for the layman espagnol to my wife courtesy of babble her reaction well i'll tell you she was utterly bewitched greg you silver tongue devil no paraphrasing she exclaimed such vocabulary as i basked in the glory of my perfect pronunciation because babble isn't just about learning words it's about embracing the art of conversation with podcasts live classes and a veritable smorgasbord of interactive lessons i know the words on saying and their speech recognition it's like having a personal language butler ensuring every syllable is impeccably crisp now brace yourselves for an offer of monumental proportions here's a special limited time deal for our viewers and listeners to get you started right now get 55% off your babble

Starting point is 00:22:22 subscription but again only for our viewers at babble.com slash rejects 55% off at babble.com slash rejects spell b a bbbbl.com slash rejects rules and restrictions may apply join me. V. Greg Albin, the Adventure of Language Mastery at Babel. We shall not just learn no, nay. We shall conquer the world of communication. Or as they say in Spanish, communication. We're done with this ad. Yeah, and again, I'm so happy Ridley Scott turned down Terminator 3,

Starting point is 00:22:57 which, of course, we know was directed by Jonathan Mastow, who did U571 right before that. But I really feel like they probably, especially with Jerry Brockheimer producing this, probably would have went with Michael Bay, if Ridley Scott would have Just my guess Simon West was gonna do it

Starting point is 00:23:10 Simon West was I really felt like they would have gone I saw his name of the production in the producer credits and it says at least on Wikipedia that he found the book and suggested to Jerry Brockheimer that they make it

Starting point is 00:23:20 and then he was tired after working on Tomb Raiders so he passed the job along and I mean yeah it's like if Ridley Scott had done Terminator 3 it would have been funny because you know obviously Jimmy Camera

Starting point is 00:23:33 took over for aliens so he'd come and take over for Terminator. I didn't even think about that. I'm glad you made that point. I would have been interesting. But I feel like Ridley poured his entire self into a movie like this. As funny and interesting is what the point you just made, I'm glad

Starting point is 00:23:48 he's stuck with this. So really quick, a few fun facts that I can, because there's a million here, so can't go over them all. Some of the, I think you probably already knew this one. Some of the radio chatter in the film was taken from actual radio transmissions made during the battle. I would believe that, but I did not

Starting point is 00:24:04 know that. That was fascinating, yeah. So Nelson, you and Bremner, says to Twombly, Just don't fire that thing so close to my head. I can barely hear as it is. Bremner actually partially lost his hearing because of all the gunfire. He eventually recovered it from it. I told you, and that happened to Linda Hamilton, Terminator 2,

Starting point is 00:24:22 when they're in the elevator in the T1,000s above as they're escaping from Pescadir. She went on a bathroom break. She took out the ear plugs or whatever, and when she came back, she forgot to put them in, and Arnold was firing the shotguns up, and she still lost a part of it. her hearing so yeah that happens uh let's find some more fun facts for the reject nation uh eric banna's

Starting point is 00:24:45 u.s film debut he found the experience to be an ultra realistic one and said he frequently forgot that they were only making a film oh god sure i mean you must have to like especially a movie like this looks like you would just be immersed in it the entire wow the photo of a wife and child that one of the soldiers is looking at is actually a photo of eric Banna's wife and child. The prompts department forgot to take a photo of a wife and child with them, so asked Banna's wife and child who were traveling with if they could use a photo of him in the film.

Starting point is 00:25:16 Wow. Interesting. Okay, if I ever rewatch this film, I'm going to be like, hey, that's... Banna's wife and kid. It is fascinating. Interesting. And the way that, you know, again, stuff like war and entertainment intermingle, because something like this, you know, you could certainly see as...

Starting point is 00:25:31 I feel like a lot of war movies are Rorschach tests, and I can certainly see how this one could be a Rorschach test because, I mean, for me as a viewer, I watched this and kind of the whole point is like, this whole thing is a hellish nightmare. And there's almost, yeah, it's that thing of like, you don't go here to become a hero. It happens if it happens and really are any of us here? Taking backing off what you just said,

Starting point is 00:25:54 and I have not seen the film, according to American sniper Chris Kyle, this film is shown to U.S. Naval Special Forces recruits to inspire them before they begin the Hell Week stage of their seal training. see I believe that and that's like a fast again that's a fascinating thing and especially this was during the Bush years so like this was a time where yeah we were definitely sort of on an upswing of like no we need to reexert our power and we need to feel powerful again and I can see how I mean it's weird because I do think these movies that examine you know the again the wanton but also banal cruelty of war and things that you have to see and handle and desensitize yourself to like it is a true It's a slippery slope to walk because there are so many anti-war messages you can take, but also, I mean, you can take that same piece and see it as like a completely pro like, yeah, go America. And that is one thing about this movie that does kind of, that did stand out to me is obviously this is from the American soldier's perspective. Obviously, at least as it's portrayed to us and without having, you know, like I got to go back to the early 90s now and then, you know, go back for that history.

Starting point is 00:27:04 But, you know, it's like you don't really get much of anything at all from the Somali side of thing. Of course. Except just these droves, these hordes of people with guns and stuff like that. And so it hints at the tragedy that, you know, is befalling the region. But mostly what you see and spend time with is like, you know, the most radicalized, you know, sort of bloodthirsty parts in a way. and that whole exchange between the emissary for Adid and the guy they take prisoner, he's that thing of like,

Starting point is 00:27:41 you guys can come down here and kill but you can't negotiate here. You know, like, we're all killing is negotiating. And it does, it does ring of like, there are two very different philosophies

Starting point is 00:27:50 because at least when you see these images of certain warlords or dictators or whoever, it seems like a lot of these guys are willing to strap up and to be out here. And again, we don't actually, I don't feel like we actually meet Adi. So he's not out here fighting necessarily.

Starting point is 00:28:03 but like there's a lot less of that chain of command and then here you know you can't really point to one thing that led to the situation going the way that it did but it certainly seems like they have to deal with a lot less of that but beyond that it's one of those things where like given what the movie's perspective is I don't begrudge it not like spending a lot of time with the Somalis but I do agree with the sort of criticism that you know some people have thrown out at least you know kind of reading here about it that

Starting point is 00:28:33 You know, it doesn't really explore what their situation is at all, and it doesn't really explore. Why are they doing this? Well, that, I mean, not that I am saying we should see an empathetic view from, you know, the perpetrators of this violence, but more so the other people who live here for whom, when we leave, they're still going to be stuck with this, the people who are the victims of all this, the people who are the victims of the starvation of genocide. I would have, yeah.

Starting point is 00:28:58 Like, you feel sorry for them at the beginning when you're seeing those brief flashes of that power being exerted. But I don't feel like the movie really does much to nod to or acknowledge the pain and struggle that, you know, awaits and is constant for those people, you know, regardless of our intervention. And that's the other thing is they are joking at the beginning of the movie about, like, you keep coming in and out trying to get this guy, you know, and you, you know, we're famous for entering conflicts and then, you know, piecing out when we've sort of destabilized the conflict, but we haven't fully helped rebuild. and there are complicated feelings about how to rebuild and how we can help and if we should help and so yeah

Starting point is 00:29:38 I mean like I get that the movie you know at risk of being like five hours long we can't see all those other perspectives but you do see this and for what the images are showing you I feel like it's pretty easy to watch this and be like oh man those scary Somalis

Starting point is 00:29:53 like they're all like the and I feel like that's maybe at least something to note and I can see how that might inspire some of the wrong messages No, I agree. I mean, there's only a certain amount you can show, and I get what the shift was focused on. And to no surprise, what we were talking about during the reaction, this was nominated for Best Cinematography. And to no surprise, they lost to Lord of the Rings, Fellowship of the Ring.

Starting point is 00:30:15 Which Slavimir Idziak, I don't even, I've never even heard that name, but great, and I'm sure, you know, they've shot other stuff. And Bridley was nominated, too. Awesome. I mean, this, this Rotten Tomatoes sum up kind of actually, I think, is pretty apropos. It says it's, though it's light on character development and cultural empathy, Black Hawk Down is a visceral pulse-pounding portrait of war, elevated by Ridley Scott's superb technical skill. And I would pretty much agree with that. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:30:43 So I'll read a couple more really quick, because I know you guys are loving our review. And fun fact, trivia is here. So Ridley Scott offered Russell Crow the role of Sergeant Norm Hoot-Hooten, the Delta Squad leader. However, Crow had to turn the role down due to scheduling conflicts with Ron Howard's a beautiful mind. So we'll get a different Australian. Crow, a huge fan of the film, Chopper,

Starting point is 00:31:06 strongly recommended that Eric Banner. Chopper, I gotta see that too. I have not seen that. Let's see if I can find one or two more interesting words. Got to give everybody those juicy pearls. Oh, I'm not going to read this one, but it says a large number of actors who played American soldiers

Starting point is 00:31:22 are actually from different countries. Well, we knew that. And apparently they didn't have any Somali actors in this. Oh, really? I'm like where are all these people from? I guess they shot in Morocco. Ben Foster had to drop out of the role as Corporal James Jamie Smith due to a serious injury sustained during basic training.

Starting point is 00:31:41 I believe Smith was the one that they had to rip out. And he was like, please, the one who passed away. All right, let's see if I can get one more. Ben Foster would have been, I could absolutely imagine him in a movie like this. The way that guy throws himself into a role. Yeah, for sure. No, Eric Banna was who. Yeah, yeah.

Starting point is 00:32:00 Oh, no, no, no, we got that. Sorry, you said Smith. My bad. Yeah, yeah, no, Simon Smith. Okay, well, I guess we're on the last one. Oh, Ridley Scott had to drop his original ending as he found it to pedantic and boring. Oh, well, we don't know. Well, tell us the ending.

Starting point is 00:32:18 Yeah. We'll have to interview Ridley Scott one day here on Real Rejects. And so Ridley, getting off topic, we watch Black Hawk down. We want to know what the pedantic and boring ending of Black. I mean, I thought it was pretty effective to have him give that final speech, which I guess they said they, too, they said they had multiple writers. There's one credited writer on the script, but I guess the author of the book did a draft and those speeches, the concluding speeches by both Josh Hartman and Eric Banna were written

Starting point is 00:32:48 by Eric Robb apparently. So there were a lot of people on that. But yeah, having him deliver that little speech to the body of his fallen comrade and then you know, kind of ship off, I guess, out of here? It seemed like he was going back home, yeah. Yeah, you know. But overall, I quite enjoyed the film.

Starting point is 00:33:06 I would, like you, tend to agree with the consensus of rotten tomatoes. I mean, they didn't really focus too much on the character development other than a few characters. And obviously we didn't... I don't always mind for a war movie because, like, part of the structure of war is, like, you probably know a few people really well, but you're also fighting with a bunch of people, you know a little bit. Yeah, totally, totally. It's about the collective effort.

Starting point is 00:33:27 Totally. But the cinematography, the visceral, immersive experience, and the, I mean, just nonstop pulsing that I felt in my heart. Just like, it was so suspenseful and just, yeah, I think my heart is still not resume beating. But Ridley Scott, hell of a job. Hans Zimmer, hell of a job. Cinematography from that guy, I forgot his name already, but fantastic, fantastic job. Slavimir, it's yuck. There you go. Fantastic job. All the actors. Great job. One of the best ensemble cast I've ever seen. Let us know in the comments if you think it's better than Mars attacks from the cast.

Starting point is 00:34:04 If you think it's a better movie than Mars attacks, comment below. Anyways, I really enjoyed reacting for you guys. And, of course, with my brother from another money, Jan, my brother from another mother, Janizio. Sorry, this film still has me, or raising my art. Do you got any final thoughts before we end this? No, I'm just going to go hug everybody. Yeah, said it all. anyways y'all be well

Starting point is 00:34:29 look for us on the next reaction love you guys and uh see you next time Tyler Hake you want to know the first thing that came to mind what I thought of you just now you're gonna love this I imagine you as a superhero

Starting point is 00:34:50 that I get to ride on the back of yes like in the mighty Like, there's straps and everything, and I ride you, like a rancor. Yeah, you go a little tiny throne on his back. And you're also a man who, he seems so soft and gentle. People want to go up to you and pet you, but you breathe fire as well. You're a fire breathing, man. He doesn't mean to cook you, but he can.

Starting point is 00:35:19 And you wear boxing gloves as well. Yeah, I like it. Which I control. I move you around. Well, uh-uh. Yeah. like a rock'em-sockham hag-bought and i and together what we do is we are out there as as as vigilantes for wisconsin because they're a need of protection oh yes so we're vigilantes

Starting point is 00:35:38 and what we're really doing though is we are setting up a criminal enterprise and all of these crimes we're stopping are all fake it's just a big ploy so we can control where the money goes It's genius. Record that shit. Put it online. The thing, though, is that when this little girl befriends you, after I lose you temporarily, and she realizes that I've just been emotionally and mentally abusing you this whole time to keep you under my control, she's soft to you.

Starting point is 00:36:13 And then I'm like, we got to get rid of that little girl. She's threatening our whole operation. I didn't remind Tyler. I made him. I made you. turn nothing without me and then oh i forgot to kill her but you save her life and you have to make a choice is it in a bell you choose her instead but you die in the name of protecting her both of you die in the process of that and Greg still gets away somehow I still get away

Starting point is 00:36:43 because you cannot defeat me you died for nothing oh your gesture of goodness and honor will be forgotten by time but then in our sequel Tyler's been clone oh and he's got a twin brother too the samples at the lab

Starting point is 00:37:01 and a long distance brother played by Josh Brown dude perfect casting spitting image of Tyler oh totally yeah totally anyway Tyler

Starting point is 00:37:10 I can't wait to ride on the back you soon enough and let's just get this operation off to a good start I'm

Your Ad Here

The Reel Rejects - BLACK HAWK DOWN (2001) MOVIE REVIEW!! FIRST TIME WATCHING!!

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.