i don't know what to make of this movie. the story is simple on paper, chronicling a failed military mission in mogadishu(?). not sure if i liked it or not, more like watching a dramatic documentary than a traditional movie, and based on that criteria, this was a very good documentary. comparisons have been made to this movie and the beginning 30 minutes of saving private ryan. i personally think that saving private ryan was much more intense and graphically violent than this movie, which sometimes the action sequences were marred by a slight overabundance of flash cutting. the movie is ambiguous about the nature of the enemy, you're never certain whether they're shooting at somalian civilians or militia or maybe both. when the movie is over, you're not quite sure who won, but perhaps that's the message of the movie, that in war, there are no winners. the ambiguity of the story lends itself to be a good discussion film. unfortunately, i went and saw it by myself and had no one to voice my immediate reactions to it, leaving me in even more of a dazed state.

i read that this film is an accurate depiction of urban warfare, in the streets, from building to building, taking and securing one block at a time, a million places for snipers to hide and kill you from above, it's slow and tedious, ugly, boring, relentless warfare. that was interesting to see on the big screen. i think it's the lack of a more compelling story that sort of makes me wish for something more. if you want to watch a good war movie, watch saving private ryan. if you want to see a good war series, watching band of brothers. and if you want to watch a movie that realistically depicts the new warfare of the 21st century, then you can't do any better than black hawk down. it'll makes you squirm, it'll makes your heart beat faster, and when the movie is over, it'll have you seriously thinking about the nature of modern warfare and how the days of battlefield combat is long over, replaced by something far more dangerous with no definitive lines of right or wrong. now that i think about it, i did like this movie. it's not for everyone, but it'll change your perception of war after you see it.

woke up this morning at about noon, visited 2 open houses with my sister, went to the office to copy some files, and then saw black hawk down at the fresh pond cinema.

i watched alias at 9pm (waited all week, unfortunately it's part one of a two parter and i have to wait until next sunday to catch the conclusion) and caught some golden globes action in between, including the pre-ceremony red carpet coverage. best dress? andie macdowell and cate blanchett (both chinese inspired prints?). i totally missed jennifer garner getting the golden globe for best actress in a television drama (she had already won a people's choice award a few weeks ago). i think most of her fans missed it as well, as we were all probably tuned in to alias while she was receiving her award.