TEARS OF THE SUN RATING 8.5/10 http://www.empiremovies.com/reviews/brendan/tears_of_the_sun.shtml
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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 prescence 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?
Review Date: March 04, 2003 Author: Brendan Cullin
Official Site: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/tearsofthesun/index.html Director: Antoine Fuqua Distributed by: Revolution Studios, Columbia Pictures Theatrical Release Date: March 7, 2003 Cast: Bruce Willis, Monica Bellucci, Cole Hauser, Tom Skerritt, Eamonn Walker
Empire Movies http://www.empiremovies.com/ Copyright © 2000-2003 Liam Cullin
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