They're releasing it December 28th in New York and Los Angeles so it can be up for Acadamey Awards. We will get to see it January 18th, 2002.

Good news! 1) My brother said that one of the Ranger units was sent to Africa or wherever to assist with the filming, and they were used heavily as "experts" for a more realistic military feel. 2) Rated R for "...intense, realistic, graphic war violence, and for language"

So far here's the notables:

Josh Hartnett, William Fichtner, Ewan McGregor (Go Obi Wan!), Jeremy Piven (Is that the dude from PCU? It is!), Sam Shepard, Tom Sizemore, Eric Bana, Ron Eldard and a whole lot o action, baby. Gladiator director Ridley Scott, producer Jerry Bruckheimer...what else? Ah, already won an award, #6 Film of the Year, 2001 National Board of Review.

Don't make plans on the 18th, evening.

Is this happening, or what?

You dont get your own screen actually. Your in a room at the top of the theatre. I guess its a gigantic screen and its nice sized in the room but your actually looking through glass to see the movie. You do get your own sound and an extra "catering" room lol.

Doesnt sound as cool as if you had your own mini screening room now does it?

My brother and Dave get off work at the airport at 9 pm.

I'll go to a 7 oclock show with you guys, but would you be willing to go see a late show instead? My brother and Dave really want to see this...obviously. Turns out Mike knew most the guys that are in this movie as he trained with them a couple years after this happened.

Either way, just let me know.

Been getting a lot of 4 stars and great reviews.

The kicker was that on a "Saving Private Ryan" scale of actual goriness SPR got a 4, BHD got a 6!

See you guys tonight...

[This message has been edited by Jomama (edited 01-21-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Jomama (edited 01-21-2002).]

I really liked it a lot – even though I was just as angered and disturbed as when I read the book. I didn't know what to think or feel after watching it the first time - I was too stunned. Reading the book conjured up disturbing pictures in my mind based on what I saw on CNN in '93 about our soldiers being drug through the streets. The movie just recreated these pictures in even more realistic color and sound. I wish I had gone to see it again on Sunday.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (CNN) -- Somalis watching a bootleg video of "Black Hawk Down" on Monday cheered as helicopters crashed and U.S. servicemen were killed in the new movie.

Just days after the film's widespread release in the United States, hundreds of Somalis crowded into an outdoor playground Monday to watch one of the first bootleg copies to reach Somalia.

The film, which was No. 1 at the U.S. box office over the weekend, depicts the ill-fated 1993 Battle of Mogadishu in which 18 American soldiers were killed.

The United States was in Somalia to try to capture powerful Somali warlord Mohammed Aidid from his stronghold in the war-torn capital and take him to a ship anchored off the nearby coast. But by the end of the 16-hour battle in which commandos tried to seize several of Aidid's top lieutenants, 18 elite Army Rangers and hundreds of Somalis lay dead in the streets of Mogadishu.

At the screening, Somalis paid the equivalent of 10 U.S. cents to watch the movie, less than a mile from where a real Black Hawk helicopter went down.

MORE STORIES
Ridley Scott tells an unsentimental war story



VIDEO
CNN's Jeff Koinange reports that a screening of 'Black Hawk Down' in Somalia brings back memories of the real thing (January 22)

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Audience members seemed to take delight in scenes of U.S. defeat. Each time an American chopper went down in the film, the audience cheered. Every time an American serviceman was killed, the audience cheered some more.

Ahmed Abdullah said he witnessed the actual battle and saw the movie as more fiction than fact.

"It's not fair what the U.S. is trying to do," he said. "What I saw that day was different from what I see in the film today. It's not accurate."

Others said the movie brings back disturbing memories of a day they'll never forget.

"I felt very sad watching the film," one woman said.

Some in the audience said they were proud of the way Somalis were portrayed in the film. They said they believe they were defending their country and their pride against what they considered U.S. military aggression.

U.S. officials have said they are concerned that members of al Qaeda, the terrorist network led by Osama bin Laden, could try to regroup in Somalia so the country may be a possible next target in the war on terrorism.

But some audience members had a warning for the United States.

"As you can see, Somalis are brave fighters," one man said. "If the Americans come back to fight us, we shall defeat them again."

Said another, "Let them try again. They'll be making more films about us when we defeat them like we did that day."

1. Daisy-Cutter

quote:

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"As you can see, Somalis are brave fighters," one man said. "If the Americans come back to fight us, we shall defeat them again."

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Official estimates ranged from 1000-5000.

This is just more proof of how stupidity and patriotism don't go hand in hand. The Somali's feel they were being patriotic and were victorious as the US War Machine took a hit. It's nothing for them to lose thousands of people, they'll just create some more to add to the worthless, disgusting, uneducated, starving, pathetic, ignorant wastes of space that more deserve a bullet in the face than a bowl full of rice. Fuck em all. Thank you. Have a nice day.

There is one web site that I really hate and it's The Slate (@ MSN). Everytime I click on a link on MSN homepage and get sent over to The Slate I want to vomit. Just check out their take on Black Hawk Down.....

http://www.slate.msn.com/?id=2060941