Rating: 
Summary: Superb Movie!!
Review: I basically love this movie due to the fact that it is a US Navy Seals executing their mission. When I watch this movie it reminds me of Socom U.S Nacy Seals Playstation 2 game.. because I played this game from start to finish and know exactly what a US Navy Seals are.. I was beaten so many time trying to pass all missions and levels in the game and know that it is a game of stealth, planning, following orders and sift actions can safe many lifes.... Being a US Navy Seals is not an easy tasks... This movie basically goes hand in hand with the game.. I love both the game and this movie.. I do not care about America's foreign policy nor do I care about People in Africa. However those rebels killing people and civilians dieing everyday does happened and I am saddened by all these tragedies... A great movie and cool action.... Thumbs up!!
Rating:
Summary: Rhonda's Take
Review: Reading and writing are two of the most enjoyable pass-times that I have. Another entertainment medium that I enjoy as often as possible, is movies. Last night I had the pleasure to view, for the first time, "Tears of the Sun" starring Bruce Willis, (A.K. Waters), portrays a Special OPS Commander who enters the war torn wilds of Nigeria to retrieve Dr. Lena Hendricks, (Monnica Bellucci) before disaster strikes the missionary where she works. Refusing to leave with Waters unless any and all able bodied patients are allowed to come with her, Waters is faced with a conscientious decision. A conscientious decision Waters has never allowed himself to face before. The value of a human life and the fact that he really does care. At first, bent on treachery and successfully performing his mission, Waters leads the cumbersome troupe through a rugged and harsh terrain in order to reach the prearranged L Z. Along their way, both Waters and his men discover something about themselves and the people who have placed their lives in their hands. What transpires is visually graphic and often horrific. But War truly is Hell on Earth.If you're looking for a movie with a happy ending, this isn't the movie for you. But if you want to see a Hollywood version of the Hell that War truly is, and what the real life victims of a war torn country must face on a daily basis, this is the movie for you. Willis has never been an actor to do a tap dance around the harsh reality of life. Though the man does have a humorous side, as we've seen in the movie "Blind Date", a rollicking flick also starring Kim Basinger. This is one of my all time favorite movies, ever made. If you haven't seen it, see it soon. You won't regret spending the money. Another favorite of mine, which Willis himself admits to being one of his few box office failures is "Hudson Hawk". Again if you love the humorous side of Willis, this movie is a must see. One my children and I enjoy watching together. "Hudson Hawk" is a box office hit at my house.
Rating: 
Summary: War Action/Drama That Misses a Few, But Hits Many
Review: I think it is a bad tendency of some media to seek for any political agenda in American blockbuster movies. If you share that kind of idea, please don't watch this one. It's not about American foreign deplomacy; it's about the soldiers who have to maintain their humanity among the most harsh reality of war. And it's about Bruce Willis, who gives one of his best performances of the career. Actually, it is too obvious that the film was made for him, originally intended for the fourth "Die Hard" installment. But this time Bruno plays Lieutenant A K Waters, commander of Special Ops team, who has to rescue ONLY Dr. Lena Kendricks from the church in Nigeria played by Monica Bellucci. The doctor knows it is dangerous to stay on, and that they are being surrounded by rebel armies, but as she dedicates herself to the people there, she refuses his help. The following story is rather simple; Waters agrees to take the refugees with her, but you know that kind of promise will inevitably compromise the mission itself, and involve the whole troop with unnecessary dangers. And it does. The most amazing thing about "Tears of the Sun" is Bruce Willis. He is really great as the reluctant hero. Though his character (and others' too) is paper-thin, he infuses substantial weight into it, with dignity and professionalism. And I mean professionalizm of the actor's own. Other actors are all noteworthy, in particular, Cole Hauser as "Red" who assists the chief with a really cool attitude. Compared to them, female parts should be called weak. Bellucci is beautiful as ever, and not bad, but I still don't know her casting is the best choice for the film. And most unaccountable thing is that you see a glimpse of Fionnula Flanagan, whose chilling performace was very memorable in "Others." We see her name in credit, but she virtually does nothing. The script is not perfect, especially the opening and ending part, where you can notice many plot holes (for instance; Why Character A appears the gate again when she should be most likely somewhere else?) But the combat scenes are competently done, and if the presented situation is nothing unique, it is saved by good acting from the cast, and beatifully photographed rain forest scenes which succeeds in bringing the humid air to the screen. (In fact, it was shot in Hawaii, though.) And the scenes that capture the horrible truth about civil wars in Africa (or any other land) are hauntingly convincing. In short, "Tears of the Sun" is a good example of a story we all know, but still well-told. As such, it is worth watching.
Rating: 
Summary: Brainwashing Tripe.
Review: This movie obviously got the green light as a brainwashing device to justify American foreign policy. Its total hogwash from start to finish as the native Africans are treated as either too dumb to help themselves or are vicious killers out to rape, murder and plunder everything they come across. The plot is so far-fetched that it can only be described as total Hollywood war propaganda. Sorry, but even though the final message that evil can only exist if good men do nothing to stop it, does not justify this floppy Bruce Willis vehicle that is just another RAMBO with a hidden agenda. In fact that is exactly what this movie is. Remember when RAMBO III came out in a time when US middle eastern foreign policy was in need of public approval? Well what you got here is exactly the same thing, only it is not so blatantly obvious until you actually think about it! The plot basically revolves around Willis and his crack commando unit who disobey orders to help save a tiny population of African hospital patients from a black goon squad that is on the way to destroy them all. Its pure nonsense from start to finish. This kind of material should be banned from public consumption. It gives ALL THE WRONG MESSAGES. Antoine Fuqua should have known better than to sign his name on this one. Its all political programming garbage - Orwell style.
Rating:
Summary: A solidly crafted thriller.
Review: Tears of the Sun is hardly perfect. Director Antoine Fuqua's direction can get a bit heavy-handed and most of the characters are one to two-dimensional in development (understandable, given the large cast). But it's a solidly made, often thrilling and sometimes thought-provoking film that aims for serious issues, particularly as a sober outlook of modern warfare and morals. It's not entirely successful at the latter, but to even attempt to stray from typical Hollywood is admirable, and Tears of the Sun is often more hit than miss. Bruce Willis stars as A.K. Waters, the head of a mission to retrieve a Dr. Lena Hendricks (Monica Bellucci) from the Nigerian jungle, after Muslim rebels have just assassinated the presidential family, and are on a rampage throughout the country. Hendricks is located easily, but she will only leave so long as all able-bodied individuals on her mission can come along. Waters reluctantly agrees, but soon finds that he and his group must trek the jungles with no assistance and with 300 Nigerian soldiers hot on their trail. Tears of the Sun works as a thoughtful film, but is more successful as a tension-builder. Director Fuqua shows an able hand at building suspense to a feverish pitch, all the way to the concluding battle sequence, a fifteen minute setpiece that rivals any recent war film in both intensity and technical superiority. The other major action setpiece is a tense shootout in a village, the aftermath of which is disturbing in its revelation of the rebels' treatment of civilians. Tears of the Sun is a violent film, but never exploitative in its approach. The film's two best developed characters belong to Bruce Willis and Monica Bellucci. Willis has always been a fine actor, this understated approach has worked for him before and fits like a glove here. I'm not quite as familiar with Bellucci, who I've only seen in Brotherhood of the Wolf and as one of the brides in Bram Stoker's Dracula, but she's quite good here, easily the film's anchor when it comes to heart and warmth. I'm certainly not exaggerating when I say she's one of the most beautiful (and bodacious) women to ever grace the screen (and I look forward to her in the upcoming Matrix sequels). There are flaws, such as the rather obtrusive musical score and some pretentious use of slow motion on Fuqua's behalf. The film's biggest narrative stumble comes with a plot twist 3/4's through the movie, when an extraneous plot twist is revealed. Admittedly, without the twist, the film wouldn't have been able to build up as much suspense, much less deliver that final battle. But when all is said and done, Tears of the Sun is highly recommended, a Hollywood film that has more on its mind than explosion and gunfights (which the movie still has an ample amount of).
*** 1/2 out of *****
Rating: 
Summary: Tears of the Audience
Review: This Bruce Willis action drama starts out pretty convincingly as Navy Seals are sent on an extraction detail to evacuate an American doctor played by Monica Bellucci from the jungle of Nigeria. The film accurately depicts the tribal strife that plagues most African nations to this day. The movie also isn't shy about depicting the type of brutality that takes place on a daily basis in these civil conflicts. Monica Bellucci is also convincing in playing the missionary wanting to join the saintly martyr cause. Even Bruce Willis is somewhat credible in portraying a disciplined commando who's conscience is his greatest enemy. The movie's realism fails in the final extraction where you have a squad of men fighting off a battalion of guerrilas. I realize that a few men have often fought great odds with success but this is simply absurd. At one point it seemed as if modern fighting had retrograded to Civil War tactics where men form a compact line formation and charge a whole batallion of men with RPGs and automatic weapons: ridiculous. And finally of course, as with all films of this type, the cavalry comes to save the day at the end and everybody is joyous: Yeepie! Seeing this movie once is quite enough for this movie to keep its dramatic flair. The more you watch it the more it will remind you of Rambo III or some long forgotten Chuck Norris film.
Rating: 
Summary: Nigeria's Bitter Tears
Review: TEARS OF THE SUN starts out as an actioner for star Bruce Willis, but soon morphs into an introspective soul-searching film that disguises itself in a series of bloody jungle ambushes. Director Antoine Fuqua presents an image of Africa that has become increasingly commonplace in the media, a continent rent with tribal internicene warfare that degenerates into genocidic ethnic cleansing. Fuqua chooses Nigeria as the background for some truly horrific tribal slaughtering. The elected president, his cabinet, and his family have all been executed by advancing rebels who do not pause to kill anyone found in their path. Monica Belluci is Doctor Lena, a good-hearted woman who chooses to tend to the suffering of a tormented population. With her is a priest, Father Gianni (Pierrino Mascarino) and a nun Sister Grace (Fionnula Flanagan), all of whom choose to remain in harm's way rather than abandon some 70 wounded natives. Enter Bruce Willis as Lt. A. K. Waters, who is ordered to enter Nigeria with his Special Ops team to extricate only Doctor Lena. Waters and his team find Doctor Lena, but she refuses to go with them unless her 70 wounded can go too. Most reluctantly, Waters agrees to this change of orders. Until this point, Waters is a strictly by the book officer, one who regards this war, this country, and its natives as irrelevant to his mission. But he cannot close his eyes to the ubiquitous suffering to which he has a ringside seat. He surprises Doctor Lena, and probably himself as well, by making a genuine effort to extricate the entire group of helpless natives. TEARS OF THE SUN is a violent film filled with both disturbing images of jungle battle and the even more malific glimpse into the depths of sadism and inhumanity that seemingly reside within the collective breasts of all the rebel commanders. Malick Bowens as rebel Colonel Sadick is especially convincing as one who is as equally determined as is Lt. Waters to complete his own mission but allows not his conscience to bother him in the least. To Colonel Sadick, natives of his own country, but of a different tribe, are disposable people. As a moral counterbalance to Sadick, Sammi Rotibi as Arthur Azuka, the son of the slain president, is the reincarnated collective soul of his bitterly abused people, most of whom see in him the restored dignity of a once proud Nigeria. TEARS OF THE SUN suggests that the evil and insanity of ethnic cleansing is a moral disease that, far from being an epidemic, afflicts only those who are predisposed to violence. Lt. Waters and Arthur Azuka remind the audience that for good to triumph, brave men must show their bravery, not to an armed enemy wearing a different uniform, but more to their own kind ordering them to commit acts that differ from those of the rebels more in degree than in kind. The tears of the son that are being shed for his people are constant reminders that this sort of bravery cannot be assumed to exist in any great quantity.
Rating:
Summary: Simply awful...
Review: This is quite possibly one of the worst movies I've ever seen, and no doubt, Willis' worst movie ever! I can see why Demi left him.
Rating:
Summary: some good qualities, mostly bad
Review: The morally sound purpose of this movie is to shove the brutality of the atrocities that are truly happening to millions of the men, women and children in Africa in the audience's face. The thicker underlying purpose of this movie is to make those atrocities seem as fictional as possible to the naïve viewers of this movie - the people who can't see Earth as a small neighborhood. Corporate America is who we need to thank for this movie. Packed ridiculously full with your stereotypical African tribal music and full of drag-on scenes that are best when played at double-speed on your DVD player, this movie does deserve a great amount of credit because of its combination of great acting (Bruce Willis carries his weight as the leader of a Military Special-Ops Team & Monica Bellucci, the ever-beautiful actress, is wonderful eye candy...you may remember her as Persephone in "The Matrix Reloaded") and poetic simplicity of plot. Plenty of action, gunfire and wonderful shots of multi-million dollar military equipment for those gun nuts and action fans out there...this movie pokes fun at the gullibility of those who don't see that it supports racism (look at all the dead black people who aren't really dead, they're actually just extras who are mocking the atrocities of Africa and we're not even paying them much) and makes a pretty good attempt to convince the audience that Africa is not a real place, but rather a land only heard of in fairy tales. In fact, the end of this movie is so ridiculously unrealistic (best for people with the mentality of a semi-intelligent 9-year-old) that I would feel as though i am betraying you to not inform you that the whole movie is written like a fairy tale. At the end they show you a quote that makes the purpose of the movie clear...i appreciated this immensely, after all was said and done. However, the creators of this movie mocked the true state of Africa as it exists today: a continent in despair, full of rebel armies and unthinkable torture and famine and disease. Its too bad that many people here in America and the rest of the world don't think of their suffering neighbors in Africa and all over the world...if we did, we would realize that there are urgently important things going on in the world every minute of every day: friends; women and children screaming bloody murder for anyone to help them escape the hell that our corporate government likes to harbor in Africa with movies like these. One last thing: the movie seemed extremely cheap at times. Oh, and the stereotypics again: the Special-Ops Team of course is all white guys, one or two hispanics, and one black guy who makes an emotional connection with one of the female 'natives'. The scenery and camerawork is amazing at times, and very cheap looking at times. It is a movie that takes place in Africa, and it is a sporadically dull movie because they want to subliminally get the audience thinking that Africa is dull and unimportant. The only reason there are so many copies on your video store's New Release wall is because some rich old racist white men who own a chunk of the media industry want you to conform and ignore Africa's suffering with them. The movie's message (in the form of a well-timed quote at the end) was awesome. I can't recommend it because the movie is a huge crime against world peace even while it does take one good step towards world peace. Basically, the film is a hypocrite. But, man, that Monica Bellucci girl...wow. And that's my two cents. I feel so bad for Africa now that i think i should suggest an alternate movie: 'Ali' starring Will Smith (especially if you like boxing). Or if you're tired of all this serious talk and you want to laugh...try 'Nothing To Lose' with Tim Robbins and Martin Lawrence. Hope you liked my review.
Rating:
Summary: Sincerely embarrassing
Review: Watching this movie, your body feels more stressed and hemmed in by the constant assault of sacharine liberal platitudes than the impending arrival of genocidal militias, which you almost forget about. By the film's excrutiating end, I was half expecting the helicopters to disembark a team of chiropractors. It's hard bashing something that is so sincere, you feel like a bully. However, might I suggest putting on the cans and listening to Peter Gabriel's Biko over and over for two hours while looking at postcards of Bruce Willis and Africa? The pain will remain the same but will work out cheaper.
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