Review of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D - 3-Disc BD Bilingue

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Note: This is a review of the 2008 DVD release

A new "Nightmare Before Christmas" DVD package? Actually there are three versions: this two-disc set that includes a downloadable digital copy, a Blu-ray version, and a collector's edition that comes with a bust of Jack Skellington with a detachable Sandy Claus beard and hat.

Though this version is billed as a two-disc set, it actually has three discs. The third one contains the digital copy. An instruction sheet spells out in clear steps how to download the file to an iPod or similar device.

The movie itself is a feast for the eyes, ears and imagination. A delectable witches' brew of stop-motion animation, catchy show tunes and a seriously warped creative license, it always stays true to its timeless message: to be happy, be yourself. Devilishly nonconformist, it's an enduring holiday musical for the whole Addams family.

Well, almost. Though all of its fright gags are played entirely for laughs, some of the imagery is downright creepy, especially for small children. Anyone older than say, 6, however, should enjoy every minute. Teenagers will love it.

The story -the citizens of Halloweentown attempt to annex neighboring Christmastown -comes from the macabre mind of producer Tim Burton, who wrote it in his spare time (as a poem!) while working as a Disney animator in the 1980s. The movie blends the tastiest bits of Burton's earlier Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands with a sprinkling of the stop-motion magic first found in Disney's 1961 Babes in Toyland.

The imaginative cast of characters includes:

* Pumpkin King Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon), a mischievous misfit who believes his purpose in life is to merge the holidays of Halloween and Christmas.

* Jack's faithful dog Zero, a ghost with a glowing, jack-o'-lantern nose who, like the hound in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, eventually pulls a sleigh

* Rag-doll heroine Sally (voiced by Catherine O'Hara), Jack's love interest, who sews herself back together when she loses a body part

* Oogie Boogie (Broadway veteran Ken Page), a slimy, singing bag of bugs who channels the cartoon version of Cab Calloway in the old Betty Boop cartoons

* Lock (Paul "Pee-Wee Herman" Reubens), Shock (O'Hara) and Barrel (Danny Elfman, the film's composer), a trio of evil trick-or-treaters who "kidnap the Sandy Claws"

* Wheelchair-bound evil scientist Dr. Finklestein (William Hickey), a duckbilled quack whose flip-top head lets him scratch his brains for inspiration

* A mayor (Glenn Shadix, the interior director Otho in Beetlejuice) who is literally two-faced.

Blessed with the ability to bring adult minds back to child's level, Burton dwells in dark mischief. In fact, some of Nightmare's best scenes include the kidnapping of Santa Claus and Jack's hilarious attempt to replace him on Christmas Eve, when the skeleton gleefully delivers presents such as tree-devouring snakes and severed, shrunken heads.

Director Henry Selick painstakingly created the film over three years. Though he had a production crew of over 100, each minute of footage took a week, as each second required 24 ever-so-slightly different shots.

BONUS FEATURES

This 2-disc DVD package has a nice collection of extras:

* An audio commentary with Burton, Selick and Elfman.

* A downloadable digital copy of the film, which you can transfer to an iPod or similar device.

* Burton's first short, 1982's 6-minute "Vincent," a black-and-white stop-action film about a boy who dreams of being Vincent Price, who narrates.

* Burton's 1994 Disney live-action short "Frankenweenie." This 30-minute black-and-white film re-imagines the Frankenstein story as the tale of a young boy and his car-struck pet dog in suburban America. A recently taped introduction by Burton shows some working sketches being used for his full-length version now in development.

* A reading of Burton's original "Nightmare Before Christmas" poem by actor Christopher Lee

* A promotional film for the annual "Nightmare" makeover of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion.

* Promotional and making-of featurettes, a storyboard to film comparison, deleted scenes and theatrical trailers and posters

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Nightmare Before Christmas [Blu-ray]

Since there are a number of reviews listed on previous releases of this movie which describe the storyline of The Nightmare Before Christmas, I will just mention that I saw it when it was originally released in the movie theaters and have been a fan ever since. After being unable to find out sufficient details about the technical specs of this 2010 release on the Amazon and Disney websites, I decided to find out the information by visiting a "Big Box" store so that I could physically look at the Blu-ray/DVD cover. This version contains one Blu-ray disk and one DVD disk. The Blu-ray specs listed on the box are 1080p, with a 1:66:1 aspect ratio. The DVD specs are shown as "original theatrical format" with a 1:66:1 aspect ratio. If you do not already own a Blu-ray player, this version will work best.

After considering this information, I decided to order the Blu-ray + Digital (2008 release) from Amazon since I did not have any use for another standard DVD in my collection, and the Blu-ray disk has the same aspect ratio of 1:66:1. The Nightmare Before Christmas [Blu-ray] + Digital Copy The picture quality on this Blu-ray shows a vast improvement over the DVD Special Edition released in 2000.

For anyone who is a fan of this movie and is considering purchasing a Blu-ray version, I would tell them that it is definitely worth the upgrade.

Best Deals for Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D - 3-Disc BD Bilingue

If you think the best movies are the ones that show you a world you've never envisioned before, then you will LOVE Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas". A benchmark in stop-motion animation, this incredibly difficult-to-make film (24 individually posed frames were needed to produce ONE SECONDS's worth of action) is a masterpiece of art direction, set design, and good old-fashioned storytelling. The plot revolves around Jack, the Pumpkin King of Halloween, and his attempt to run Christmas in place of Santa Claus. "Sleigh" becomes confused with "slay"; "stockings" become "stalkings"; and spirits go from joyous to ghostly as the two holidays clash together like oil and water, or fire and ice. One of the great surprises of the movie is that although it dances around material that could easily careen into cynicism, it remains refreshingly sweet and light throughout. Which is not to say that some of the comedy isn't a little dark and perhaps geared more towards older children and adults; for example, the brief scene in which a python puppet is shown swallowing a Christmas tree whole is hysterically funny, but not especially appropriate for the very young.

The special edition DVD is unquestionably the version of this classic to buy. Included are a wealth of extras: the teaser and theatrical trailers; a documentary on "The Making of ..."; deleted scenes and storyboards, etc, etc. The best bonuses are two short films by Burton: "Vincent", a poetic tribute to the magnificent Vincent Price, narrated by the subject himself; and "Frankenweenie", a canine send-up of "Frankenstein", starring Shelley Duvall, Daniel Stern, and a cast of talented character actors. This DVD is one that you can spend HOURS exploring happily! Highly recommended as both a Halloween and Christmas treat.

Honest reviews on Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D - 3-Disc BD Bilingue

POST-PRODUCTION 3D (converted from 2D to 3D)

My ratings are based mainly on the QUALITY OF THE 3D, not the video content.

There are about 23 out of screen effects that extend about 10% of the way, from the screen to the viewer but 6 of them are very quick. 2 made it to 15% and 5 more at 25%.

The 3D looked somewhat inconsistent from scene to scene and it lacked the crisp details normally associated with animated 3D. This is partly due to originally being a 2D stop-motion film vs. a computer generated animation like most. The lack of colors and the many dark scenes it includes also hampered the 3D.

Active Glasses Users: I detected 19 instances of crosstalk but realistically only 5 times the ghosting was easily noticeable. (on my system)

MY 3D RATING = GOOD (poor, fair, good, very good, excellent)

Note: As far as the percentages go, everyone's eyes are different. What I see at 25% you may see at 15% or 35%. To fully realize how far something is out of the screen for you, pause on an effect and direct a partner with an extended finger to the tip of what you are seeing. You may be surprised.

Click on `' for the lowdown on other 3Ds

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D - 3-Disc BD Bilingue

It's "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas," of course. It was the movie that made the record of the first stop motion animated film. The story is of a character who has never heard of Christmas before and somehow "discovers" it. I think it is always worth view, unless your one of those... individuals who doesn't appreciate Tim Burton's "dark humor." The story is of Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon), the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, but lately, he's pretty much grown tired of the same old tricks and treats, deep in lamentation. (Hence the name of the song, "Jack's Lament.") One night, while he's wandering around in a forest, head filled with his thoughts of misery and woe, he finds a clearing where every tree is decorated with some holiday symbol. They all seem to interest him, but what fascinates Jack the most is none other than the Christmas tree. Danny Elfman, who provides Jack's gorgeous singing voice, is a master with "Nightmare's" music and songs. Who wouldn't mind going out on Halloween night, singing "This is Halloween" at the top of their lungs? (That's what my friends and I did last Halloween.) Anyway, you have ten songs to choose from. The cast of characters is awesome too. Sally (Catherine O'Hara) is sweet and sensitive and is always willing to help Jack, even it means literally risking an arm and a leg. Lock, Shock, and Barrel (Paul Rubeuns, Catherine O'Hara, and Danny Elfman) help make up "Nightmare's" interesting plot. Without this terrible threesome, Santa Claus (Ed Ivory) would have no place in the story. Now, every movie needs a villain, and who would be better than the notorious Oogie Boogie (Ken Page)? Overall, I think this movie deserves all five stars. One for animation, one for music, one for charcters, one for the story, and one for everone who pitched in and worked on this movie for three years.

Best Mulan / Mulan II (3-Disc Special Edition) (1998) Deals

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Today's Bonus: 38% Off

While Mulan looks better on Blu-ray, we are sacrificing some bonus material that was on the old DVD:

All galleries are lost in the leap from DVD to Blu-ray. There were ten Character Design galleries holding several hundred images, three Visual Development galleries amassing around 100 images, a 13-image Backgrounds & Layouts gallery, and a Publicity Art gallery holding 32 images. The interactive edutaining feature "DisneyPedia: Mulan's World", comprised of ten shorts on the film's elements and culture, is another notable casualty. Also gone: the no longer applicable introduction about being able to toggle angles for the production stages demonstration. Included on Mulan's first DVD (a non-anamorphic Limited Issue disc repackaged as a Gold Classic Collection edition) but subsequently dropped and still not resurfacing is its original theatrical trailer. That's a bummer both for fans of Randy Edelman's Dragonheart score and for those who appreciated the use of some rough animation and shots not used in the final film.

Of the four Disney films getting a new re-released on Blu-ray/DVD combo packs in March 2013, Mulan seems to be the only one that got a new DVD re-mastering, and thus lost the original bonus material. For those buying this for the Blu-ray, i would have preferred to keep the old DVD and watch those bonuses as I am not going to bother watching the movie on DVD.

So decide for yourself if it is worth buying again, only to keep your old DVD for the missing bonuses.

**Update of the soundtrack** Sorry to say, the MANDARIN soundtrack has also been dropped from both the Blu-ray and DVD of this release. You will need to keep your original DVD if you want to hear the Mandarin language.

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Mulan (1998)

Disney Blu-ray & DVD (March 12, 2013)

Directed by Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook

The Voices of Ming Na Wen, B. D. Wong, Eddie Murphy, George Takei, June Foray, Miguel Ferrer,

Harvey Fierstein, Jerry Tondo, Gedde Watanabe

Music by Matthew Wilder

Lyrics by David Zippel

Music Score by Jerry Goldsmith

Mulan is significant in that it was the first feature produced almost completely by Walt Disney Animation Florida, a top-flight studio that doubled as a Theme Park attraction. Guests could wander along picture windows and watch animators at work on real shorts and features. It was a wonderful thing to see while it lasted.

Mulan was also my daughter's first movie. Even though she was just a baby then, she has seen it many times since and it is one of her all-time favorites. This is a great dad and daughter movie, in any case.

The strength of Mulan is that its a story that makes a strong statement without beating it over your head. The sense and reason of equal treatment arises through character, situation and example. Within the context of a patriarchal society, the film is able to make its case without compromising its time or place. There is no question about what Mulan must do, yet she is not trying to "prove" anything,doing what she has to do for her fathers and her family's honor.

Mulan herself is one of the most engaging Disney heroines of all time. She only doubts herself once, but most of the time she just figures out what to do because it has to be done and it's right. Mulan emerges as the strongest and smartest of her fellow recruits. Rarely is such compassionate, unselfish motivation seen in film or TV.

Not one song stops the action. Mulan is not a musical, but it has extended musical sequences that are carefully planned. Donny Osmond and Lea Salonga sing their roles beautifully (this being Donny's first Disney project since he and his brothers appeared on the Disney TV show to promote The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland in 1969. (It was very groovy.)

Marni Nixon, famed Hollywood �â,¬Å"ghost singer" who dubbed Marilyn Monroe, Deborah Kerr, Natalie Wood and even Margaret O'Brien, sings for Grandmother Fa, whose voice is none other than our Lovely Lady June Foray.

2005 2-Disc DVD Bonus Features

Audio Commentary by Pam Coats, Tony Bancroft & Barry Cook

Deleted Scenes (Keep 'Em Guessing, The Prologue Chronicle, Shadow Puppets Prologue, The Betrothal, Shan-Yu Destroys the Village, Mulan's Daydream, The Emperor's Dream)

Music & More ("True to Your Heart" Video with Stevie Wonder; "True to Your Heart" Video with Raven; "I'll Make a Man Out of You" Video with Jackie Chan; Video with Christina Aguilera; "Reflection" Video in Spanish)

Backstage Disney: The Journey Begins (Discovering Mulan, The Ballad Of Hua Mulan, 1995 Presentation Reel, 1996 Presentation Reel); Story Artists' Journey (Storyboard to Film Comparison, Introduction, Storyboard Only, Final Film Only, Storyboard to Final Film Comparison), Design (Art Design, Character Design, Ballad of Color, Still Art Galleries); Production (Progression Demonstrations, Digital Production); Music (Songs of Mulan); International Mulan (Mulan's International Journey, Multi-Language Reel, Publicity Art)

DisneyPedia Activity: Mulan's World

Mulan Fun Facts

2013 Blu-ray Bonus Features:

Audio Commentary by Pam Coats, Tony Bancroft & Barry Cook

Deleted Scenes (Keep 'Em Guessing, The Prologue Chronicle, Shadow Puppets Prologue, The Betrothal, Shan-Yu Destroys the Village, Mulan's Daydream, The Emperor's Dream)

Classic Backstage Disney: Mulan Fun Facts, The Journey Begins (Discovering Mulan, The Ballad Of Hua Mulan, 1995 Presentation Reel, 1996 Presentation Reel); Story Artists' Journey (Finding Mulan, Storyboard to Film Comparison: Mushu Breaks the Dragon); Design (Art Design, Character Design, Ballad of Color); Production (Mushu Awakens, Matchmaker Meets Mulan); Digital Production (The Hun Charge, Digital Dim Sum);

Classic Music & More("I'll Make a Man Out of You" Video with Jackie Chan; "Reflection" Video with Christina Aguilera; "Reflejo" Video with Lucero; Songs of Mulan

2013 DVD Bonus Features

Audio Commentary by Pam Coats, Tony Bancroft & Barry Cook

Deleted Scenes (Keep 'Em Guessing, The Prologue Chronicle, Shadow Puppets Prologue, The Betrothal, Shan-Yu Destroys the Village, Mulan's Daydream, The Emperor's Daydream)

Classic Music & More ("True to Your Heart" Video with Stevie Wonder; "True to Your Heart" Video with Raven; "I'll Make a Man Out of You" Video with Jackie Chan; "Reflection" Video with Christina Aguilera; "Reflejo" Video with Lucero; Multi-Language Presentation; Mulan's International Journey; Multi-Language Presentation)

Classic Backstage Disney (Finding Mulan, Mulan's Fun Facts)

Mulan II (2004)

Disney Blu-ray & DVD (March 12, 2013)

Directed by Darrell Rooney and Lynne Southerland

The Voices of Ming Na Wen, B. D. Wong, Mark Moseley, George Takei, June Foray, Harvey Fierstein,

Jerry Tondo, Gedde Watanabe, Lucy Liu, Sandra Oh

Music Score by Joel McNeely

Songs by Alexa Junge and Jeanne Tesori

Making a sequel for Mulan seems, unlike those of other Disney features, a natural. You might not be able to duplicate the epic battle scenes, but you could make more of the characters and their relationships. Sadly, Mulan II falls far from what it might have been.

A better title could have been How I Met Your Mulan. Countless rom-com clichés abound. Sure, it's a contemporary take on an ancient legend, but do Mulan and Shang really have to do that "men never ask directions" routine? Sure to be dated phrases are spoken, like "Why the face? and "He's gross."

Most of the songs cover the same ground as in the first film. One might especially take exception with the song that appears to be intended as the breakout, "I Want to Be Like Other Girls." Yes, the song is about sheltered young ladies wanting to break free, but in this day and age, does every parent want their daughter to follow the crowd as these lyrics also imply?

A lot of work goes into films like these, and I regret deeply to sound so negative. There is a lot of talent evident in Mulan II, particularly the dazzling color palette. It's just that there must have been some behind the scenes disagreement about what the film was supposed to be. This is largely a comedy with most of the characters reduced to types.

In this film, Mulan makes an anachronistic speech about being shocked at arranged marriages, even though in the original film, she was fully aware of the cultural norms of her time. She went to the matchmaker fully prepared to face this situation.

This film goes on to depict a pat Brady Brides pairing of the three recruit characters from the earlier film with three princesses, perhaps suggesting that marriage is the only way for a person to be happy, as long as you can choose your partner (and get to know them for a couple of hours). Even when the princesses had discovered their independence, they reverted to another social convention and so did Mulan. Trying to have it both ways, modern and traditional, the story just gets lost in itself.

It's nice, though, to hear June Foray again, though we get to see precious little of the Fa family in the sequel.

2005 DVD Bonus Features

Deleted Scenes (Battle Sequences, Mei Flirts, The Escape Part 1, The Escape Part 2), "I Wanna Be) Like Other Girls" Video with Atomic Kittens

Voices of Mulan

Mushu's Guess Who Game

The World of Mulan Activity

2005 DVD & 2013 Blu-ray Bonus Features

Deleted Scenes (Battle Sequences, Mei Flirts, The Escape Part 1, The Escape Part 2)

"I Wanna Be) Like Other Girls" Video with Atomic Kittens

Voices of Mulan

Best Deals for Mulan / Mulan II (3-Disc Special Edition) (1998)

Based upon traditional Chinese folklore (try this take on it for a solid introduction by a noted reteller Fa Mulan: The Story of a Woman Warrior), these two movies tell the story of Fa Mulan (Ming-Na Wen), a young girl living in China in the 3rd Century BC. In the first of the two movies we learn that, as the only child of a considerable landowner, Fa Zhou (Soon-Tek Oh), who was lamed in war some years earlier, Mulan has, somewhat of necessity, grown up something of a tomboy, dressing in trousers, working in the fields, and riding her horse Khan astride; but she's found over the years that she enjoys this kind of life--the prospect of "meeting our Matchmaker (Miriam Margolyes)" terrifies her, and the process of getting "primped and polished" so that "boys will gladly go to war for [her]" seems rather stupid. But in her culture, women are at best second-class citizens, and "a girl can bring her family/Great honor...by striking a good match." Then the Huns break through the Great Wall, and the Emperor (Pat Morita) issues a conscription order across the length and breadth of his domain. To spare her father having to go to war, Mulan cuts off her hair, dresses in her father's old armor, and, accompanied by Khan, a lucky cricket given her by her mother, and a disgraced family guardian (a miniature dragon called Mushu (Eddie Murphy)), joins a company of recruits commanded by Captain Shan-Yu (Miguel Ferrer), the eager-to-prove-himself son of General Li (James Shigeta). If her disguise is discovered, she risks death, but her love for her father and her own awareness of her inward strengths make her positive that this is her only choice. At first she finds posing as a boy difficult, but before too long she proves her courage, dedication, patriotism, and ability to think quickly and use her body skilfully, and even earns the comradeship of three of the misfit recruits, diminutive squint-eyed Yao (Harvey Fierstein), jokey Ling (Gedde Watanabe), and gentle giant Chien-Po (Jerry Tondo). She saves Shan-Yu's life in the mountains, delays the Huns by causing an avalanche, is found out and disgraced, and then redeems herself when she discovers that the Huns have survived and infiltrated the Imperial City itself, and comes up with a plan to stop them.

In the second movie, Mulan, now recognized as the Hero of China, has agreed to marry Shan-Yu, but before the wedding can take place, the duo are summoned by the Emperor to carry out a mission for him. The ruler of the neighboring realm of Qi Gong has agreed to help the Chinese against the still-threatening Huns if the Emperor will send three of his daughters to marry three Qi Gong princes, and as the road goes through bandit country, a stout escort is needed. Calling up Mulan's three friends, Yao, Ling, and Chien-Po, to help out, Mulan and Shan-Yu set out to deliver the princesses, Mei (Lucy Liu), Ting Ting (Sandra Oh), and Su (Lauren Tom). But there are complications. Mushu has discovered that if Mulan marries Shan-Yu, his family's guardians will take over her protection and Mushu himself will be demoted, so he's resolved to set the two against each other. And the three misfit soldiers, who had hoped that their heroism would win them wives, have discovered that finding willing girls isn't so easy--until they meet the princesses and a triple mutual attraction blooms.

Mulan is a character many girls will identify with, even in today's more liberated climate, and her struggle to balance her society's expectations with who she feels she really is carries relevant messages for adults too. Though Murphy as Mushu is slightly over the top, the other voice talents are well done, and there's plenty of fast-paced high-octane action, peril, and people doing physical things gracefully and well. (And, yes, the Huns, though they were the ancestors of today's Hungarians and ultimately went west, did in fact imperil China during this time period.) Admittedly the second movie is vaguely disappointing (at least to me), but it has its good points, and on balance the set is well worth adding to your collection.

Honest reviews on Mulan / Mulan II (3-Disc Special Edition) (1998)

The first Mulan Movie is my favorite Disney movie of all time. Not only do my wife and kids love it, I actually enjoy watching it with them. The story has a very positive message for kids that says they can do anything they put their minds to. On top of that, Eddie Murphy is hilarious in the role of Mushu the Dragon and the bumbling warrior sidekicks are funny too. The positive message and jokes that are funny for kids and adults make this a very watchable, and enjoyable movie... even if the kids want to watch it over and over again. The second move is not bad also, so the double pack is a great deal. One small word of caution, there are several fight scenes in these movies that may be upsetting for very little ones, but overall, the movies are great with happy endings. The movies really hold up after all these years. Highly Recommended.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Mulan / Mulan II (3-Disc Special Edition) (1998)

Mulan tends to get overlooked, but it's a solid movie. Eddie Murphy as the Dragon is out of place now as everytime you hear him deliver lines, you tend to think of his hoofed sidekick role from Shrek. He's no Robin Williams in terms of comedic sidekick ala Aladdin, but he has his moments.

The villian in Mulan is my personal favorite, and surpasses most of them. However, he descends quickly into gimmicky villain at the end.

Buy Black Hawk Down (3-Disc Deluxe Edition) (2002)

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I have to say that they nailed this movie pretty good.

Basically all it does is tell the story of what happened in Mogadishu on October 3, 1993. They didn't focus on character detail that much which to me is a good thing. There are just too many people involved to go into detail with them all. Going into too much detail on certain characters and not others would take away what some did and would lessen their sacrifice. So, they stuck to just the story. Good move.

They compressed the story some, changed a few names, and merged some characters into one character This was done to get the story down to a movie time frame and to protect certain characters identities as they are still serving.

No movie based on a book is as detailed as the book. Don't expect it to be. You should read the book as well.

Some critics have said that it is way too violent of a film. Did they know they were going to see a movie about combat? Hello!!?!! It's about time that film makers have started making movies to show the American public what really happens in combat. Combat is not one guy running around killing people by the hundreds with a head band on. They made it a real as you could get it on the screen. Saving Private Ryan started it off and now Black Hawk Down. To Jerry Bruckheimer and Ridley Scott, Bravo! Well Done!

It's very accurate as far as weapons, equipment, uniforms, etc. They used the exact helicopters that were used in the original mission in 1993 with the 160th SOAR.

The whole movie I was searching for inaccuracies. Want to know what I came up with? They had their names written in marker on their Kevlar helmets (this was done so the audience could quickly tell who's who) we wrote our names on the helmet band. The chin straps on the Kevlar helmets were not taped up (As soon as I got to Ranger Battalion we had to taped up and tie down certain pieces of equipment and this was one of them), they wore dog tag silencers (in Ranger Battalion I was told to get them off and tape em up with 100 MPH tape as soon as I got there), and sometimes they said each others names on the radios instead of call signs (once again this was done for the audience). So as you can see I was really reaching there.

Certain shots were just incredible for me. For example, there was a point of view shot from the side of a MH-6 Little Bird (we used to ride out on the sides of those things all the time). The camera was positioned as to be a person sitting on the left side of the chopper looking to the front. In front of the chopper is another Little Bird fully loaded with guys. The sequence is them going in for a landing on the street. Just watching it reminded me of all those times I rode on those [...things].

Maybe someday people will start to understanding what people in combat arms go through.

A Co, 2nd Ranger Battalion

U.S. Army (1991-1995)

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This is a phenominal film. I'm sad to say that I was fairly oblivious to the conflict in Somalia... I was working 3rd shift and sleeping during the day in 1993 when this incedent took place. This film could not have been more timely in its release... when long dormant patriotism has been brought to the forefront of every American's thoughts.

Now that we've been attacked on our own soil, conflicts overseas seem that much more real to us.

In 1993, the Islamic leader and warlord of Somalia, Muhammad Farrah Aidid, led with fear and tyranny. His henchmen were equipped with what appeared to be limitless weapons -large machine guns, shoulder rockets, pistols, and many automatic and semi-automatic weapons. They enlist even the youngest and most innocent of their populace to help them spy and keep in constant contact via cell phone. Aidid stopped international aid from reaching his own people, killing 300,000 by starvation and the onslaught of civil war.

Washington sent in their military forces to remove Aidid from power and to prevent the Somali people from having to endure more suffering under Aidid's iron grasp. Sadly, Washington didn't want to "look too dramatic" and denied military requests for C130 gun ships and other heavy artillery that certainly would have made a big difference on the outcome of this event.

Army Rangers, pilots, medics, the famous Delta Force, the pride of America was there, fighting for the freedom of a people they did not know.

This film is the realistic portrayal of the events that led to the deaths of 19 U.S. servicemen... but it's not just a shoot 'em up movie. You feel like you're there, with them. What should have been a mission that was to last only 30 minutes, lasted longer than anyone imagined when a single Somali soldier downs a Black Hawk rotor with a shoulder-launched rocket... and the Ranger motto, "no one gets left behind," is tested to the limits.

There are some humorous moments to break the tension, but the majority of the film is a stressful experience where you are literally at the edge of your seat to see what happens next.

The 19 servicemen that are killed range the gamut from 18 year old enlistees to First Sergeants with years of service... and none of them dies in a pretty way. If you are made queasy by blood, beware... this is a bloody film... and there are a number of scenes that will make you gasp in horror. Some of these guys were hit by rockets... burned and blown apart... it's just awful, but sadly... it's reality. We usually just hear some sterile figures on CNN how a particular number of soldiers were shot, stepped on land mines, etc... but we don't see what really happened and that's when we become very detached from reality and end up sympathizing with the people (often our enemies) we see in easier-to-stomach scenes of children living in squalor as a result of conflict, maligning Americans against their own military. Please note the rating of this film and consider it thoughtfully before considering bringing a child. The gore is horrific and the scenes are really too intense for young ones.

For those who like shoot-em-ups and explosions, you won't be disappointed. The special effects are fantastic... there are a few scenes in the movie in which you feel like ducking as it appears a missile is ready to whiz right over your shoulder. The sound is fantastic... you can hear and feel the bullets whizzing by and you can hear the klinking of shells falling at your feet. The foley artists on this film are to be commended.

Hans Zimmer delivers a wonderful and complimentary score to the movie... along with the sounds of African children singing and some rock-n-roll to boot... it's a nice soundtrack.

Ridley Scott reminds us once again his flair for delivering crisp, vivid scenes that are riveting, exciting and moving all at the same time.

Watching this film is an emotional and intense experience that will leave you tired when it's over... but images from the screen will replay in your head several times. These soldiers trained hard to become Rangers and to be part of the Delta Force... these are young men that know what dangers await them and they go in with their eyes wide open... and they are prepared to defend their buddies with their lives. In many ways, this film is a monument to their strength, their courage and their loyalty. Those 19 men should not be forgotten. This film is also a testament to the necessity of properly arming and equipping our soldiers so that they have the best protection needed when engaged in conflict and worrying less about appearances and more about protecting American lives, both military and civilian.

I highly recommend this film.

Best Deals for Black Hawk Down (3-Disc Deluxe Edition) (2002)

Most reviews focus on the political and humanitarian background of the movie. This background is helpful, but the movie stands well on its own, even if you don't know anything about the actual events it is strictly based on.

The movie is of course based on the book of the same name, by Mark Bowden. A lot of credit should be given to Bowden; it was his tireless research that brought together a lot of scattered documents and first-hand recollections into one coherent historical piece. Before he wrote the book, there existed no single, overarching look at the battle.

I was impressed with the technical side of the movie. Battle scenes were depicted very realistically, and I couldn't find any niggling technical inaccuracies, like incorrect weapons or tactics. Most civilian viewers wouldn't notice anyway, but hats off to Scott for going the extra mile and getting good military advisors.

I was even more impressed that the movie followed the book so closely, and therefore what really happened. I don't think I've ever watched a movie that was almost an exact reproduction of the book its based on. Even so, there are a couple of historical glitches, and no real reason why they are there. When the first Blackhawk crashed (in real life)it did so in a very narrow road, knocking down a stone wall. In the movie it is in a traffic circle. In real life, the Minibird pilots showed exceptional skill landing in the narrow road to drop off medics. It's kind of an insult in the movie, when they simply landed in the great wide open. Beyond a few of these glitches, it tracks very closely. Watching the movie is like seeing the book fleshed out in full color. It gives you a taste of what grueling conditions the raiders faced.

One last thing...all U.S. participants save 2 or 3 medics were in fact Army soldiers, not "from different branches of the armed forces." Nor was this based on a "novel". It recounts, as accurately as a movie can, a real life nasty firefight and the superior efforts of U.S. Rangers, Special Forces, and Army Aviation pilots (and a few brave PJs) against what turned out to be crushing odds. So long as America produces selfless, dedicated, and highly trained soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines we have little to fear.

Honest reviews on Black Hawk Down (3-Disc Deluxe Edition) (2002)

The movie is an excellent account of the vicious battle in Mogadishu. What makes this edition a "must-have" are the inclusions of "The History Channel Presents: The True Story of Black Hawk Down" and "PBS Presents: Frontline: Ambush in Mogadishu." The movie and the two documentaries paint a well-rounded picture of the battle and political consequences that followed, culminating in President Clinton's decision to withdraw from Somalia instead of confronting Adid, the man responsible for the ambush.

If you liked the movie, want to know more about the events but missed the documentaries, this 3-disc release is for you.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Black Hawk Down (3-Disc Deluxe Edition) (2002)

It happened in 1993, just a few short years ago. The United States sent troops to Somalia on a humanitarian mission because the people were starving. But something went wrong. There was bloodshed. American troops were killed. What happened? What went wrong? It was all very confusing.

This film, based on the book by journalist Mark Bowden is an account of the operation in which American soldiers were sent to the heart of the city of Mogadishu to capture two top officials of the ruling renegade warlord who were preventing fair food distribution. It was supposed to take a mere half hour. Instead it turned into a nightmare as one of their special helicopters, referred to as a "Black Hawk" was shot down.

Within minutes the audience is plunged into that nightmare and the tension keeps up for almost the entire film. Director Ridley Scott does a masterful job; I felt I was right there with the men, dodging bullets and caring for the wounded as a hostile mob of fully armed Somalians kept attacking. There were no name stars among the actors and, with one exception, they were all white young men in uniforms, and so it was easy to get them confused, especially since there was little, if any, back story. It was the battle itself that was the star of this film. The violence was strong and unrelenting, and there was no time for either the men or the audience to catch a breath before the next horrible thing happened. Special effects were awesome as the moment-by-moment action just kept going on and on.

There might have been no one central character to identify with, but that was not this film's intent. It forced me instead, to identify with it all. And it certainly made me think about how a battle like this can take place in a distant part of the world without more than a few news blips here at home about what was really going on.

One of the strengths of the film is that it doesn't preach. Both patriots and anti-war activists and the many people whose sentiments lie between these two positions can find something to relate to. It just tells the story about what happened that day. And that story is strong enough to stand by itself with no apologies.