This is topic Black Hawk Down in forum Film Handlers' Movie Reviews at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 01-18-2002, 11:36 PM:
This movie sucks much ass.
Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 01-19-2002, 12:12 AM:
Thanks for the description there, buddy. I like the very specific and detailed points you brought out about what exactly sucks much ass. Excellent attention to detail, IMHO. 
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This one time, at Projection Camp, I stuck a xenon bulb....
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 01-19-2002, 12:24 AM:
No detail needed. The ENTIRE movie sucks much ass.
Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 01-19-2002, 05:08 PM:
Sort of emulating the Criswell-style of review:1/19/02, Regal Cinema World 8 (Eugene, Oregon), Theatre #4, 12:00 noon show. Digital sound, could not determine format (no audible dropouts). Image shifted up and to the left about 1 foot, image also noticeably dim on the right third of the screen. No shutter ghosting for a change (woo-hoo). Reel 3 or 4 seemed to have a lab defect: Two vertical dark shadow-tiretracks running the height of the entire frame, on the left side, maybe 8-10" wide each, and weaving in and out. Approx. 25 people in a 300-seat room. But enough of that.
This is a very graphic war film, almost a documentary. Battle sequences are well-staged, choreographed, and photographed. Ridley Scott & the editor manage to make order out of complicated, chaotic footage and it almost feels like it unfolds in real-time. Lots of bloody carnage. This isn't entertainment per se, so I will not rate it on a scale or recommend it. But I'm glad I saw it.
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- dave
Crab juice, or Mountain Dew?
Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 01-21-2002, 09:06 AM:
David said: "Reel 3 or 4 seemed to have a lab defect: Two vertical dark shadow-tiretracks running the height of the entire frame, on the left side, maybe 8-10" wide each, and weaving in and out."Sounds like the soundtrack developer (which develops silver in the analog soundtrack area) was splashing into the picture area. The reels should be replaced.
Eliminating the need for soundtrack redevelopment is one reason the movie industry wants to convert to cyan dye tracks (requiring red LED readers). At the recent International Theatre Equipment Association (ITEA) Projection Seminar in LA, representatives from Disney, 20th Century Fox, MGM, Warner Bros., and other distributors supported the conversion.
Here are some links to information about the upcoming conversion to cyan dye analog tracks and the elimination of problematic soundtrack redevelopment:
http://www.atlab.com.au/faq/000531.htm
http://www.kodak.com/US/en/motion/support/dyetrack.shtml
http://www.agfa.com/motionpictures/dyetrac_jpeghigh.pdf
http://www.dolby.com/tech/ci.ot.0012.ScanRev.html
http://www.dolby.com/tech/ci.os.0012.reddye.html
http://www.uslinc.com/forum/fjcyan2.htm
http://www.componentengineering.com/webdocs/whydyetracks.pdf
http://www.getgts.com/mopic21.htm
http://www.editorsguild.com/newsletter/NovDec01/ioan_allen_two.html
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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion
Posted by Ethan Harper (Member # 472) on 01-21-2002, 10:15 AM:
My print had that too except, at hand inspection the lines were purple. On screen they appeared like dark shadow tire tracks. The reel has been changed.------------------
--"That's my story and i'm sticking to it!"--
Posted by John Lasher (Member # 968) on 01-21-2002, 01:33 PM:
Regal Cinemas, People's Plaza 17, House # 10, SDDS-8 sound.Interesting war drama. Extremely violent. Not a popcorn movie.
Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 01-21-2002, 11:46 PM:
Interesting observation: All of the studio/production co. logos are on the TAIL rather than the head of the film!-Aaron
Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 01-22-2002, 01:36 AM:
Did ANYONE actually add that extra 8 feet of black leader that was sent after the print arrived? I still don't see the point in this, as the film was fine as it was. There was no audio or picture lost without the additional leader...so what was the point of that?Oh yeah before I forget, Joe is definitely right. The movie sucked. I was yawning through most of it and the most exciting part about it was when I left for a few minutes to use the bathroom.
Posted by James R. Hammonds, Jr (Member # 673) on 01-22-2002, 02:08 AM:
I put it on, but while biulding it up, I also thought it didnt need it.
I decided to put it on anyway because why not?
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 01-22-2002, 09:25 AM:
I put the black leader on, but accidentally put it on upside down and backwards. I can't tell you how many customer complaints we got. They were all pretty pissed!
Posted by Joe Beres (Member # 678) on 01-22-2002, 10:25 AM:
I actually liked the film. I thought it was a really good and fairly honest depiction of the American side of the story, at least from the soldier's perspective. If you want a movie that "sucks much ass", or a Ridley Scott movie that "sucks much ass," then have a look at Gladiator.
Posted by Jerry Chase (Member # 660) on 01-22-2002, 03:12 PM:
Does anyone else see the strange humor in talking about adding a black leader on the Martin Luther King holiday?
Posted by James R. Hammonds, Jr (Member # 673) on 01-23-2002, 02:03 AM:
I hadnt thought of that.
But now that you mention it, it is kind of funny.
Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 01-23-2002, 02:04 PM:
Yeah, that is kinda funny. I added it, but I don't see the point either.
Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 01-27-2002, 05:04 PM:
The leader wasn't really needed, however, my guys added it anyway. You west coasters must not have a real sense of what happened in Somalia as it really unfolded. I had the luxury of talking to David Floyd, a local Detective, who was actually on the ground when the 1st Black Hawk went down. This film, along with Saving Private Ryan, are as close to real battle scenes as the general public cares to see, IMO.
David's character was actually written into the book, however, was not individually pointed out in the film. The film, in his eyes, brings the viewer to a level "not even close" to what he, himself, witnessed. Imagine the stuff you saw onscreen 10fold and you get the idea.
This film gave me a renewed sense of gratitude for our servicemen and women. I don't even care to IMAGINE being in some shit such as that. I'll take angry customers ANYDAY over gun wielding, frenzied Somali's.
Makes one wonder what is *really* going on over on Afghanistan....
One day, years from now, people will begin talking about the real inside deals that went down in Afghan., like the special forces and Ranger platoons, the Seals, etc... That's when we'll get the COLD does of reality that is WAR. Plain and simple folks.
Handing the soapbox to another..
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The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 01-27-2002, 06:43 PM:
Nothing wrong with appreciating our armed services and what they do, but that doesn't mean the movie doesn't suck much ass.
Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 01-28-2002, 12:55 AM:
Joe,Point taken...
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 02-09-2002, 01:22 AM:
I bought the CD soundtrack, because the closing credit music. When I played the CD, it was immediately determined that I wasted 20 bucks! As far as the movie content was concerned, I didn't watch it. I just run the damn things.
I have more important things to do while I am in the booth.
Posted by Ron Lacheur (Member # 1126) on 02-09-2002, 02:09 AM:
Paul,what song are you talking about?
Minstrel Boy? or that another song I don't know the name of that comes on about middle way through the credits?
BTW, I thought this movie was pretty good.
Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 02-09-2002, 05:48 AM:
Ron, it was not Minstrel Boy. Must have been the other one. It does not appear to be on the soundtrack CD. If it was, it is probably a funky version hardly nobody would recognize.
Posted by Paul Cassidy (Member # 951) on 02-09-2002, 08:19 AM:
This movie is highly anticipated in NZ and I,m looking forward to seeing this survival under fire Flick , I think it is the story that has caught most attention , the quirks of fate leading up to the mission and the mistakes made during the capture of the War Lord Leaders and in the end relying on those around you to get you though, this event defined the role that future U.S ground forces would be used.
Posted by Ron Lacheur (Member # 1126) on 02-11-2002, 01:11 AM:
Paul,The second song during the ending credits isn't on the CD. Check out www.cdnow.com the next time you wanna buy a soundtrack. They have streamed music samples. It'll save you the 20 bucks.
Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 02-13-2002, 12:24 PM:
Leave it to a New England Yankee now living in the South to pick this fact up.
Posted by Mitchell Cope (Member # 32) on 02-16-2002, 11:57 PM:
I'm not into war films per se, but this was a remarkable accomplishment for Ridley Scott to put onto film. Also thought the lighting and photography were excellent. This certainly raises the bar for this genre.
Posted by David Baum (Member # 568) on 02-23-2002, 06:06 PM:
this movie sucks much ass ? are you Americans ? I am not but got tremendous respect for US military service men ( note the distinction ). and this since the Marines speeded up the end of WW I in 1917 !
or is this because it could be considered a failed operation (partially ? too bad the AC130 Spookey were not used ( a republican govt maybe would have granted more forces and hardware but this is another subject, I'm centrist rather than democrat or republican ).
or is it just plain anti militarism ? pffffffnow, Ridley has done another piece of art imho.
just a bit concerned about the sound: did you guys notice it had some laid back presence, not a "in your stomach" soundtrack as SAVING PRIVATE RYAN ? anxiously awaiting to the 2-disc DTS dvd from COLUMBIA ( supposed to be their first "not previously released on dvd" superbit SE ), to test in my private screening room.
Posted by Brad Haven (Member # 954) on 03-05-2002, 06:50 AM:
Saw this today at a hoyt's cinema (garden city).
To be honest i didn't really want to see it and it's probably the reason for not liking it at all.
To be a great film in my book a film has to a: have merit and b: be entertaining, "black hawk down" has merit, but was not entertaining!.
the film looked great (though overblown on screen)and sounded great.
I saw a doco on the subject the other week and found it very interesting.
it's good to see another aussie on the big screen (eric bana)!