Tears of the Sun

I can only imagine that most people who have actually seen Tears of the Sun are left scratching their heads when they read bad reviews of it. In my opinion, this movie is actually among the best movies to have ever been made. Everything about this film is superb. It has excellent directing, a moving soundtrack by Hans Zimmer, beautiful camera work that showcases the lush flora and fauna of the African jungle, great acting that allows the audience to observe real Navy SEAL protocol while also lending subtle human quality to the soldiers and other characters, and realistic but intense action sequences. But I personally wouldn't label this film an "action flick." In fact, the first gun shot isn't fired until about half-way through the movie (that is, if you don't count the news montage at the beggining of the film that briefly shows the atrocities taking place in Nigeria). I would say that this movie is more of a drama, the moral which is to do the right thing to help others, even when one is not obligated to do so. In the movie, Lieutenant Waters (Bruce Willis) is sent on a mission to retrieve an American doctor, Lena Kendricks (Monica Belluci), from a war-torn Nigeria but Waters is compelled by Kendricks to also rescue a large group of Nigerian villagers whom she's been providing medical car for. Lieutenant Waters is then torn between disobeying orders and risking the lives of his SEAL team to save the African villagers from certain genocide by militant rebels or simply loading Dr. Kendricks onto a helicopter, alone, and flying her back to U.S. shores. Ultimately, Waters decides to help the villagers and thus a trek through the jungle is necessary to get all of them safely to the Cameroon border (the helicopters were only loaded with children and those too sick to walk). Although the story may not be particularly deep, what grips you throughout the film is the powerful drama and intense scenes, the subtle love interest between Waters and Lena Kendricks (although not fully developed in order to preserve the contextual realism of the story), the emotional transformation of the soldiers as they develop compassion for the villagers they guide, one really important plot twist in the story, and the general portrayal of the horror that some African people face in some of the continent's nations. The action sequences are just the icing on the cake. The action, by the way, is very well-directed, realistic, riveting, and (dare I say) emotional. You just have to see this film for yourself. And I guess that should be the moral of my review: see the movie for yourself. With most of the bad reviews I've read, I've found that they often give inaccurate and misleading portrayals of what's actually in the film (sometimes it borders on outright dishonesty). It's sad because this is truly a great film; not just above average, but great. But don't take my word for it. See it with your own eyes. My personal weapon of choice is Netflix but that's just me. Tears of the Sun is a movie that is truly too good to miss.

Sorry guys, I totally disagree with you Luke. This is cleraly one of the best action films I ever has watched. It is heartbreaking, true, merciful, suprisingly, action-war and a good end. I love this movie. Watch it!! have watched it several times myself. I would say it's something more than just a normal movie. It leaves a mark on you. Then it even end with this fabulous quote from Edmund Burke which is so true.... I haven't seen Die Hard but much else, and in my opinion Bruce Willis is fantastic in this movie, a true hero. We need those.! So if you wonder, watch this movie. I can't understand it's negative remarks. It is just stupid and so not true!!! :)

Why I thought an African war film starring Bruce Willis could be anything other than American fabrication and inaccurate rubbish is my profound mistake.. This is the worse film I have ever seen. It should be an embarrassment to everyone involved. If you want a decent Bruce Willis action film then watch Die Hard. If you want a compelling and well made African war film that doesn't insult those it is supposed to represent then watch Shooting Dogs. But never ever watch this film. To answer the question of the above reviewer regarding the point of the film, according to the final quote it is that 'The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.' Well if this is so, thank goodness there are the Americans and Bruce Willis' in this world to save us all!

I was in Kaduna, (northern Nigeria) when I saw this and i am from the south. So technically I was in enemy territory as far as this movie is concerned. Do you know that some footage was taken from a documentary filmed by Sorious Samura entitled 'Cry Freetown, I am not sure any part was even filmed in Nigeria. I was wondering what on earth was actually going on in the movie. Athough the timeline was supposed to be in the year of its release, most Nigerians who saw it thought it was a re-enactment of the civil war (Nigeria vs Biafra). My candid comment/question is this What was the point of it all? And i can't believe my beloved Bruce Willis would actually be in this sort of production. I don't want to leave it unrated so the one star i give is actually a negative one.