Rating: 
Summary: More than just explosions and gore
Review: When i first saw Tears of the Sun in the theater, i was truly amazed. It not only depicted the lives of Navy SEALS, but the everyday struggles of refugees. This movie reminded me that there are other wars going on in this world that we are not even aware of. Just because the war is not given "live-feed" by ABC, NBC, or FOX, it does not mean these wars are not as important. These wars leave countless victims to fend for themselves. I couldn't help but cry bitter tears when the movie showed what these refugees go through. At the end of the movie, the only question on my mind was, "What can i do to help these people?" Incredible movie!
Rating:
Summary: This Is A Thoughtful Yet Still Terrific Action Film!
Review: From the opening sequences aboard the aircraft carrier to the closing credits desplayed over escaping helicopters, this is perhaps the single most thoughtful action film of recent memory. Bruce Willis is terrific as an officer whose special operations team is assigned to extract an American national missionary doctor (a lovely woman, of course) from the war-ravaged rural areas of Nigeria. What should be a quick and easy operation turns complex based on the doctor's seemingly outrageous demand that seventy Nigerians be brought along, on the one hand, and Willis' sorely vexed conscience based on what he knows will happen to these Nigerians if he leaves them behind. So, Eighty or so strong, they venture tenuously into the hidden dangers of the jungle, quickly pursued by a battalion of rebel forces bent on finding and killing them. What then transpires is both well dramatized and cinematically executed, and the movie gives the viewer a quite accurate idea of the amazing firepower contained in a relatively small American fighting unit, and at the same time it also renders a glowing and accurte portrait of just how selfless and caring American fighting men can be. In the wake of so many such recent examples in Iraq, it is touching to see it so convincingly dramatized here. Yet at the same time, some troubling social and political questions regarding the nature of the human beings that inhabit the planet are depicted in quite gritty detail, and the subsequent theme of how to make sense in an absolutely insane situation plays a major role in making this an excellent, albeit a bit self-conscious and serious, action film. The action is superb, the cinematography of the African landscape is breath taking, and the actors provide a wonderful ensemble portrait of people trying to cope with the manifest craziness of conflict and war. One leaves the film thinking about what has been said and shown, and with a greater appreciation for just how marvelously complex our position in the world is. I highly recommend the film both for entertainment and for edification. Enjoy
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad at all
Review: I liked this movie despite a few minor problems with it. It reminded me of an old movie called The Wild Geese with Richard Burton, Roger Moore, Richard Harris and every toher macho dude from the mid 70's about a small band of mercenaries escaping from a much larger force across Africa trying to save a deposed president. Tears of the Sun hade excellent photography, a killer D5.1 track and the best techical direction I have ever seen in this type of film. These days movies with Navy SEALs have been somewhat overdone, but so far none of them have really shown SEAL tactics with anything approaching realism. Throughout the movie I can not remember nay one actually even saying the word SEAL only "I'm Lt Waters from the US Navy." SEALs know who they are, their commanders know no one else is important. Very nice touch. For a student of SEAL tactics pay careful attention to the village scene where Waters and his men take out a squad of rebels engaged in wholesale slaughter. This scene was realistic, taut, quick and efficient - SEAL trademarks. Pay attention folks, and Hollywood - this is how it is done. When the group encounters patrol of rebels in the jungle I suppose many directors and screenwriters would have had the SEAL's wipe then out which they could have done easily, but in the real world with real SEALs they would have done just as shown. The technical director obviously knows and understands SEAL tactics, missions as well and how to use SEALS to best advantage. The only problem was a SEAL of Waters' experience would have never been surprised by the straggler bringing up the rear - he would have assumed there was one and expected him. Even when faced with being overrun with a vastly numerically superior force the film depicts them using SEAL tactics to great effect. The problems I had with the film are relatively minor. First Bruce is a little long in the tooth to be playing a mere Lt. in a SEAL platoon. At his age he should have been cast more appropriately in Tom Skeritts role, but of course that wouldn't be quite as much fun for a superstar of Willis' status. The other was Willis' portrayal of Waters through most of the film. He was totally deadpan and reminded me of Kurt Russell's Soldier - flat and emotionless - a bred killer trained from birth. I can see him being a serious player and a man of few words but Bruce looked more like a robot than a SEAL commander. Only near the end did he start to show some emotion and stress. I should have come much earlier in the film. Other minor issues such a Willis disobeying orders and returning to rescue the refugees I have less of a problem with. In his position it would not be unprecedented to make a field decision of this sort. All in all I am happy to have this film in my collection. I'll put it right next to my copy of The Wild Geese.
Rating: 
Summary: What happened here!
Review: I couldn't help but write a personal review of this movie. I like Bruce and most of his movies and I enjoyed this one but some parts like the last 5 minutes of the film were just plain hokey. They definately went with the first take when filming the end. I mean it was a good story, great action/explosions, etc.. and definately had potential but the ending made me give it 3 stars...
Rating:
Summary: Good action flick
Review: I thought this movie was very good and action packed. I liked the idea on how they did not spend the first hour showing the veiwers about BUDs (HW) etc, "unlike several movies of the past." Yes, the story line of a team not following direct orders and taking such a chance is a bit fictional but than again, thats what makes it an original special Ops movie. Last but not least, the men played out there roles good and not like a bunch of rambo like characters with a death wish. "If you like military flicks, you will like this one!"
Rating: 
Summary: tears of boredom
Review: Maybe the ending saves this movie. I rarely only watch half a movie, but after about 45 minutes I had to stop this DVD. Incredibly cliche beginning, followed by scenes that left me wondering why it took 15 minutes to convey to the movie watcher something that could be summed up in about 15 seconds. Really, I just didn't get it.
Rating: 
Summary: Sadly, "Tears of the Sun" misses its potential.
Review: I had looked forward to this film, so it says a lot of my disappointment that I'm writing this particular review. What had the potential to be a really great film, falls sorrowfully from the target. The story starts out strong enough, throwing light on an area of conflict in the world worth attention, but annoyingly, there are just too many moments that make an intelligent viewer go "Ah, come on." In the end, it felt like it was going a little too 'Hollywood.' Some flaws are in the story, some in the film making. I have to vent some examples, so if you don't want me to spoil the film for you, STOP reading now. SPOILERS FOLLOW. While the performances by the actors are strong enough, the characters themselves are a little less compelling. The initial premise sends a group of US soldiers in to Africa to extract foreigners before military forces come through to certainly slaugher them all. Monica Belluci's doctor character should have been at least a little prepared for the brutality, considering her time already spent in the region, and the injured she cares for, and yet throughout the whole film she seems oblivious to danger, and more of an antogonist to the story than the 'bad guys.' Secondly, perhaps the biggest grip, is the final battle. There's already a scene that establishes the good guys' skills as Special Ops soldiers, using stealth and tactics to overpower enemies quickly and efficiently, and yet they choose to fight the final battle by advacing side-by-side down the middle of a clearing in the jungle. No wonder they start to get shot up. Duh. Then, after enough bloodshed, we find that the destination to the journey is close enough to run to. Why didn't they just run for it 10 minutes sooner? And then there's the 'surprise' reveleation towards the end of Act 2. Uh, Monica's character is a doctor, so she shouldn't be stupid. So she could have saved all of her people from peril back at the first helicopter scene if she just put one guy on the helicopters? Then why not save them all the trouble? We kept feeling like they were on the verge of making Bruce and Monica make out in the midst of all this mess, when really, Bruce's character would have been more justified in slapping her. And lastly, an example of excessive spectacle. Bruce Willis' character carries on a satelite-phone call to his commander (Tom Skerrit) back on the aircraft carrier. For the shear spectacle of 'hey, wouldn't this be neat,' they put Tom Skerrit on the deck of the carrier for his half of the shots, so that they can have aircraft landing and taking off right behind him. It comes off as a stupid scene, as you have great difficulty hearing what Skerrit has to say over the planes, and then there's the fact that Skerrit obviously can't hear anything either. It's frustrating, when watching an otherwise good film, to suddenly reach all those parts that make you go 'Oh, this is stupid. Why would they do that?' "Tears of the Sun" had the ingrediants (if they fixed a few story problems), not just to be a great war film, in the league of "Black Hawk Down" or "Platoon," but a truly great film, period. It's frustrating to see it miss so horribly.
Rating:
Summary: Take into consideration...
Review: All of you people that think the movie sucks just because they turned the choppers around,please shut up.Everyone probably knows that they woudn't do that,so save us your wining.The movie was made to entertain and make you think of some of the cruelties the world has outside of your own home.I thought the movie was great,worth buying.However if you don't like war movies/war violence,or if you are one of those uppetty snobs that turns down movies because of what the storyline put in.IT IS JUST A MOVIE!!!
Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your time
Review: You can figure out the end line of this movie within the first ten minutes. Even in terms of seeing this movie as just entertainment was difficult trying to accept the totally ridiculous decisions made by the Lieutenant (Bruce Willis). What Navy Seal would totally disobey the orders of his Commanders and knowingly risk the lives of his men and take on people he's not supposed to save, risking their lives, while at the same time the producers of this movie fail to make their heroic escape from 500 rebel soldiers look even half way believable??
Rating:
Summary: Predictable Plot and Action
Review: I went into this movie with high expectations. However, I found the plot and the action sequences extremely predictable. This movie will require a very strong "willful suspension of disbelief" in order to buy some of the scenes, acting, and decisions made by the characters. Although some of the action scenes were noteworthy, the overall slow pace of the movie and overly dramatic scene choices from the director made me wish the fast forward button was a little closer on the remote.
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