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Reviews - Tears of the Sun |
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Bruce Willis plays a tough-as-nails Navy
SEAL lieutenant who leads his small band of dedicated soldiers in the
deep, dark jungle of Nigeria to rescue a doctor, a priest and a couple
of nuns from an isolated refugee camp. The country is being ravaged by
civil war and there is not much time to evacuate. The only problem is,
the voluptuous doctor (Monica Bellucci) will not leave the camp without
bringing some of the refugees with her. It is not long before the SEALs,
the doctor and the refugees find themselves being chased across the
country by an army of 300 ruthless rebels who are tearing up the
countryside and killing everything and everyone in sight.
Tears of the Sun is an absolutely astounding movie. Antoine Fuqua's
follow-up to Training Day is a sight to behold. Some of the shots of the
African jungle and wildlife are simply stunning. But within that beauty,
we see a side of Africa that cannot be ignored - a side that really begs
to answer one question - why? Why the violence? Why the genocide? Why do
so many innocent people have to die? It is a gut-wrenching thing to
watch. It leaves one shaking their head in disbelief. This sort of
violence is by no means limited to the borders of Africa. It happens in
all corners of the earth. It is not something that is easy to watch.
If you liked Black Hawk Down, chances are you will also enjoy Tears of
the Sun. In some ways, they are very similar movies - so much violence,
you feel like you should turn away. Tears of the Sun is certainly not as
gory as Black Hawk Down. And I would have to say that Tears of the Sun
has just as much courage and much more emotion. You get to know some of
the innocent victims of violence. And Bruce Willis brings so much more
emotion to the lead character. He doesn't have a helluva lot to say in
the movie, at least verbally. His face says it all. He is such a
commanding presence on the screen that he cannot be ignored. Willis
really does carry this movie from beginning to end and combined with a
very compelling story, it is difficult to take your eyes off the screen
from the opening scene to the closing credits.
Tears of the Sun is an excellent, well-made movie. Perhaps the ending is
a bit too "Hollywood" and there is the odd moment that may
leave you scratching your head. (Would the U.S. army really risk the
lives of eight soldiers to save the life of one doctor who is only
American by marriage? Perhaps...) But I will overlook all of that based
on what the rest of the film has to offer. Just don't plan to walk out
of the theatre with a smile on your face. Be prepared to be asking one
question and one question only - why?
  
- 8.5/10
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Brendan Cullin - Senior
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