Tears of the Sun [Archive] - Movie Fan Central Discussion Forums

Strider

02-28-2003, 03:08 AM

Tears of the Sun (2003)

http://i.imdb.com/Photos/Ss/0314353/Tears-of-the-Sun.jpg

Director - Antoine Fuqua

Writers - Patrick Cirillo, Malcolm Clarke, Alex Lasker, Robert Orr, John Pogue, Stuart Sender

Starring:
Bruce Willis as A.K. Waters
Monica Bellucci as Dr. Lena Hendricks
Cole Hauser as Atkins

Synopsis: "A.K Waters (Bruce Willis) is a special-ops commander who leads his team into the jungle of Nigeria to rescue a doctor, Lena Hendricks (Monica Bellucci). However, she will only leave if they agree to rescue 70 refugees as well."

Distributor: Columbia Pictures

MPAA: Rated R for Strong War Violence, Brutality, and Some Language

Release Date: March 7th, 2003 (in wide release)

Genre: Action, Thriller, Drama

Well, I don't know about you, but I'm sure ready for a good action film with some war and thriller elements thrown in. "Tears of the Sun" looks like an entertaining film, and I'm looking forward to seeing Bruce Willis back in an action film. It's going to be interesting to see how his return to the action genre works out with this film. He's really stayed far away from the genre ever since 1998's "Armageddon".

Anyway, what do the schmoes think of this film? Please use this thread to post your comments and reviews on the film, "Tears of the Sun".

Strider

Fisting Ackbar

02-28-2003, 03:20 AM

Oooh, Monica Bellucci and Eamonn Walker. Reason for me to see this.

ilovemovies

02-28-2003, 03:31 AM

Did anyone catch the "promo" for this movie when Bruce Willis was guess hosting for Letterman? Funny shite!

Jon Cocco

02-28-2003, 03:36 AM

Antonio Faqua is a good director, but the trailer for this movie makes it look formulatic, nothing new. That is just the trailer however. Bruce Willis has to escort the civilians to safty across the jungle, all while fighting military or assassins in Africa. It sounds like a fictional version of Black Hawk Down in the jungle. Although the idea sounds cool, it sounds unoriginal. So what happenes at the end? He makes it to the check point and the helicopter picks him up? Bruce Willis was just in Harts War, and that did terrible at the box office.

Antonio Faqua has yet to make a flawless or great movie. Wait and see...

inglourious basterd

02-28-2003, 05:52 AM

Originally posted by Jon Cocco
Antonio Faque is a good director, but this movie looks like it has been done before over 1000 times. Bruce Willis has to escort the civilians to safty across the jungle. It is like Black Hawk Down in a jungle. Although the idea sounds cool, it sounds unoriginal. So what happenes at the end? He makes it to the check point and the helicopter picks him up? I mean, the movie looks like just another war movie. Bruce Willis was just in Harts War and that did terrible in the box office. The preview to this movie looks rediculous and annoying.

That is the whole premise. This movie comes out in two weeks and they have just recently started previewing the trailers in the theater... Not impressed one bit.

I personally think that Antoine Fuqua still has to prove himself. I thought Training Day was underwhelming and overrated.

Furthermore, I disagree that this is "Black Hawk Down in the jungle". Making that comparison shows that you did not understand the intent of that film.

I personally think that the film has some promise. There is a large margin for error, but there are more than a few directions that could make the film work. I think your pelting of the film is a little premature.

Moviefan1234

02-28-2003, 06:13 AM

I'm looking forward to it. I do hope that this is a good film, but I do have worries about it. Apparently they went over production and over budget during filming. I really do hope it surprises me and I like it though.

dh1989

02-28-2003, 07:27 AM

http://i.imdb.com/Photos/Ss/0314353/CT-2038.jpg

"Tears Of The Sun" looks superb! Bruce Willis is the prince of action(Schwarzenegger is the king, ;)), and the trailers are exciting as hell. After this week's destined-to-be-bad actioner, "Cradle 2 The Grave", I pray Willis and the talented Antoine Fuqua(who did an excellent job crafting "Training Day") give us a action-genre film that delivers a kick-ass time at the multiplex. Overall, this one looks very good, and I am very excited to see it!

http://i.imdb.com/Photos/Ss/0314353/DF-0146.jpg

dh1989

02-28-2003, 07:29 AM

Originally posted by Moviefan1234
over budget

That would be good for the audience, wouldn't it? More action. More sets. You get the picture. The only people who would be worried about that is the studio, who must be praying it makes back its money. Of course, I could be totally wrong on this matter.

blankpage

02-28-2003, 10:44 AM

I cannot wait to see this flick. This is my first "must-see" of 2003. I think it looks like great, over budget, Bruce Willis fun! It looks like a good action flick, and Big Bruce won't let us down. I am ready to see this flick, and I will be there opening weekend.

Jon Cocco

02-28-2003, 10:59 AM

Originally posted by psudoazn
I personally think that Antoine Fuqua still has to prove himself. I thought Training Day was underwhelming and overrated.

Training Day was nothing great. The third act was most crazy, but it seemed a bit forced, as opposed to the flawless first two thrids. Also, Antonio Faqua is a good director, but he has yet to make a solid, great movie... with a great script from beginning to end. Training Day could have been better, had the creator and writer spent even more time with parts of it. However, how Antonio Faqua executed most parts of Training Day was damn impressive for it being only his third movie! I am talking about the movement, creativity of realism, suspense or intensity, and capture of environment. Even The Replacement Killers was so cool in its direction, but that okay film has come a long way to his more focused directing with Training Day and HOPEFULLY [/b]Tears From the Sun[/b]. Hopefully Tears of The Sun will prove to be better, but it does not seem original story-wise.

Furthermore, I disagree that this is "Black Hawk Down in the jungle". Making that comparison shows that you did not understand the intent of that film.

I certainly understood Black Hawk Down. However, the camparison was made by myself, simply because I isolated the actuality of true events between the two. I understand Black Hawk Down is not fictional and this is.

The basic plot of Tears Of the Sun is that Bruce Willis leads a team of Navy S.E.A.L.'s through Africa, while looking for one man who will not leave without a bunch of refugees. Willis is told to abort mission, but he continues to fight the bad guys, while other fighters in the jungle continuously fight them. He must make it from one point to the other, while saving lives and battleing assassins with his pumped-up platoon ... in order to be rescued.

I hope this is different and less predictable than the trailer suggests.

RogueSpear

02-28-2003, 01:14 PM

I can't wait to see this. I've been longing for a good action movie for some time and who better to deliver than Bruce Willis? I'll definately be there next weekend.

Scarface98.9

02-28-2003, 06:33 PM

I'm looking forward to it. I like a good ol' action movie with Bruce Willis attached, and the occasional war movie. I'll try to see it if it plays near

darkface

03-01-2003, 02:38 AM

i watched the tv ad for this film today, and just had to post it here.

a reviewer said

"Best military action film since Black Hawk Down"

I found that to be hilarious. Black Hawk Down just came out last year lol. Maybe Apocolypse now, or Platoon, but why say "best military movie to come out since the movie that just came out not too long ago to make it sound like this movie actually sucks"

Jon Cocco

03-01-2003, 02:31 PM

Originally posted by darkface
a reviewer said

"Best military action film since Black Hawk Down"

I found that to be hilarious. Black Hawk Down just came out last year lol. Maybe Apocolypse now, or Platoon, but why say "best military movie to come out since the movie that just came out not too long ago to make it sound like this movie actually sucks"

lol. More like the only military action film since Black Hawk Down. That is like saying Matrix Reloaded is the best sequel since the original. It sounds like all hype to me.

I honestly hope this film is better than Black Hawk Down, because Black Hawk Down got a little too repetitive for me. Tears Of the Sun is fictional, which could be a great thing to show crazy stuff since it is not based on the realism of something. I really hope this film is more interesting and deep than the lacking previews suggest. The trailer makes this film look like your typical war movie. Also, the preview for Training Day by the same director, did not give away anything. It may turn out that this film is the first great movie of 2003.

Scarface98.9

03-01-2003, 04:12 PM

Originally posted by Jon Cocco
lol. More like the only military action film since Black Hawk Down. That is like saying Matrix Reloaded is the best sequel since the original. It sounds like all hype to me.

Well, there was the crap-tastic Windtalkers, and average-at-best We Were Soldiers, so it's not that bad of a recommendation quote

Jon Cocco

03-01-2003, 04:28 PM

Originally posted by Scarface98.9
Well, there was the crap-tastic Windtalkers, and average-at-best We Were Soldiers, so it's not that bad of a recommendation quote

Oh no, I totally forgot about those two other films. It just shows you how not memorable they were for me to have forgotten them.

dh1989

03-01-2003, 10:18 PM

Originally posted by Scarface98.9
Well, there was the crap-tastic Windtalkers, and average-at-best We Were Soldiers, so it's not that bad of a recommendation quote

Plus Bruce's WWII actioner "Hart's War", which I enjoyed, but was critically panned.

Strider

03-02-2003, 03:57 AM

Originally posted by dh1989
Plus Bruce's WWII actioner "Hart's War", which I enjoyed, but was critically panned.

Yeah, "Hart's War" was a good flick. I really enjoyed it.

Strider

Moviefan1234

03-02-2003, 06:48 AM

Originally posted by Strider
Yeah, "Hart's War" was a good flick. I really enjoyed it.

So did I. That's why I don't listen to the critics thats often.

Here's four clips to the movie - http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/t/tearsofsun.php

:cool: My hopes are now skyrocketing.

darkface

03-03-2003, 02:11 AM

Thanks for the link for the clips, it's made me want to see the movie more. The trailers never really did it for me. I think the movie will be good, but i think they could have done a better job with the trailer.

I always did like the direction of Training Day, so i can see potential in this. Although it still looks like your mediocar military movie.

Jon Cocco

03-03-2003, 03:10 AM

Originally posted by darkface
Although it still looks like your mediocar military movie.

Mediocar?... Are you missing the point? What if there really are tears from the sun? Have you all even thought about that?! If the sun cries... we're all dead. I'm too young to die! :confused:

DieHardBruceFan

03-03-2003, 12:49 PM

Do you think I am looking forward to this movie!? (look to the left of your screen)

TRAINING DAY was one of my favorite movies in 2001 and Bruce is a god so I'd have to say- yell yeah I'm looking forward to this flick!

Bruce can do no wrong in my eyes so TEARS OF THE SUN should be a heck of a good time at the cinema.

Btw-Monica Belluci is unbelieveably hot too, so that adds an extra bonus to the flick.

MickeyKnox

03-03-2003, 02:56 PM

This movie looks fuckin awesome the action looks incredible and this movie looks like it will be alot better than Black Hawk Down!

On My List for movies to see this week!

Jon Cocco

03-04-2003, 05:13 PM

Originally posted by Nymphetamine
Not only is it one of the dullest war movies in recent memory, it is also unrealistic. Bruce Willis, a career spec-ops solider is all of a sudden going to ask the men under him to take a vote on how they should proceed?

When and how did you see this film??? By the sound of things it seems to not be good. Can you explain how you managed to see this, if indeed you're telling the truth. Was this film better or worse than the other war movies like Harts War, Black Hawk Down, Once Were Soldiers, Wind Talkers?? When the action got started, was it good or totally been-there... done that? Can you ellaborate a bit without spoilers?

Phatmaster2k3

03-04-2003, 05:38 PM

Originally posted by Nymphetamine
Spoilers...

YAAAAAWNNN

Tears of the Sun makes We Were Soldiers look like Apocalypse Now

Not only is it one of the dullest war movies in recent memory, it is also unrealistic. Bruce Willis, a career spec-ops solider is all of a sudden going to ask the men under him to take a vote on how they should proceed? LOL, ridiculous.

It's also dated, in that those priests and nuns being rescued would choose to remain just to get slaughtered. It's a sign of a poorly written screenplay when the audience can see the ignorance of a characters actions before the character does.

The first 40 boring minutes could have been edited down into 4 exciting minutes.

When the predictable twist finally comes and we learn one of the people being rescued is the Kings son, its way too late to even care.

Tears of the Sun is to war movies what Daredevil is to superhero movies...Except it doesnt even have a Colin Farrell to cut through the dullness. And like Daredevil, it will have a great opening weekend and then die the slow death it and all other cookie-cutter films deserve.

So you saw this!!?? Daredevil was good flick it is obvious you do not have any taste in movies;)

The Prowler

03-04-2003, 06:29 PM

Bruce Willis in the jungle, how in the hell can that be boring. The man has an uncanny ability to keep you glued to the screen even when he is just talking. The previews look incredible and the budget does look pretty high which is good for us. I saw the other day that Ebert and Roepert really liked the film with a 2 thumbs up. I am gonna be there opening night cause it seems like ages since a quality action adventure that isn't a comic strip.

BTW.....I loved Daredevil, very entertaining and never once boring

Scooter

03-04-2003, 09:17 PM

looks pretty good.... hopefully its better than Brucie's last film Hart's War.... looks like its gonna have a lot of action... i can't wait

silentasylum

03-05-2003, 02:14 PM

im actually anticipating this movie, im eager to see what antoine fuqua has for us after training day. the previews look damn good.

Corporal_Hicks

03-05-2003, 04:36 PM

I am really looking forward to this one, it looks like the first good R rated action film to come out in a long time.

RogueSpear

03-05-2003, 04:40 PM

Originally posted by Corporal_Hicks
I am really looking forward to this one, it looks like the first good R rated action film to come out in a long time.

That's what I'm hoping for. There aren't nearly enough R rated action films these days.

Tom Samborski

03-05-2003, 11:48 PM

This movie doesn't look that appealing to me, I'll save it for home video (or DVD).

Jim H

03-07-2003, 02:29 AM

Looking forward to this. I'm going to see it today if I have the time.

Oh yes. My favorite tagline: "Best movie so far this year" when it came out in January...

The Prowler

03-07-2003, 07:36 PM

Just got back from an afternoon viewing of Tears of the Sun and I was severely let down. Nymphetamine is dead on in that this has to be one of the dullest war films. If you didn't like Black Hawk Down chances are that you will not like this one either. I for one thought We Were Soldiers and Windtalkers were much better films. Bruce Willis does a decent job as the stern leader but the other soldiers are very dull. The big dilemma facing Willis and his crew was not that exciting or dramatic. I was expecting a lot more out of this movie. I think the previews were very misleading in making this look like an action film, cause for 3/4 of the movie it is not. This was a huge letdown with Bruce Willis as the only saving grace.

4/10

sleekproductions

03-07-2003, 11:00 PM

BUMP

Puck Bond

03-08-2003, 12:11 AM

Tears of the Sun looks like a really solid military/rescue thriller and I can't wait to see it. Bruce Willis is one of my favorites and this looks suited for him. I'm a sucker for these type of movies and always have been. I'm also interested in this Monica Belluci who I don't really know anything about except she's a hottie. Really looking forward to seeing what she can do and really looking forward to seeing this film. Plan on seeing it early next week.

dh1989

03-08-2003, 12:17 AM

http://i.imdb.com/Photos/Ss/0314353/TOS4.jpg

"Tears Of The Sun" is not the best war film ever, nor is it the worst. It is simply a middle-of-the-road action flick. Here is my review.....

Bruce Willis is quite good here. He defines macho, brave, and heroic. He delivers his lines with gusto, and seems really excited to be on the set, with the guys, and running around playing action hero.

Monica Bellucci is also quite good. She is believable, and portrays her character as a woman who really does care about a country that is falling apart. A very thoughtful performance.

The rest of the cast is superb. All of A.K. Water's military team have well-defined personalities, and the natives are endearing: so we do give a damn whether they are killed or not.

The action is superb! Heart-stopping. Fast. Smart. Nicely Filmed. I was entirely satisfied from the P.O.V. of an action movie fan.

The film goes down hill in the script department. Most of it is well-written, but there is zero development behind the mission. I'd love to know why they wanted to have the heroes in the jungle by the first 5 minutes. I don't want a lagging opener, I just want an opener longer than a few seconds!

I did love the cinematography. The film was beautifully photographed. It took you right into the brutal land in which the heroes roamed. I also loved the animals. As an animal lover, it was nice to see them appear frequently.

The movie is brutal, and does show war believably. No "bloodless gut wounds" here folks!

Overall, this is a servicable war film, but the lack of development leaves lasting scars. I wish I had liked it more, but I am glad I did not loathe it as previous reviewers did.

7/10

BorderEevilIII

03-08-2003, 05:03 PM

I still wonder why this movie is called Tears Of The Sun, but anyway. What I got out of the movie kinda/could parellell to real life. Willis I thought was excellent as the Lieutenant in charge of a mission & his fellow officers respecting any decisions he makes during the mission. There are scences very troubling.
Towards the ending of the movie gets really intense & fearing who will survive gets you guessing. And my final thoughts other than a 2?!?! HELLO?!?! I am going for an 8 out of 10.:D

The Delfonics

03-08-2003, 08:19 PM

Tears of the Sun - (7/10)
Info: 2003, R, Bruce Willis, Monica Bellucci
Genre: War Drama/Action
Comments: I had a lot of mixed feelings while watching this movie. At times I thought hmmm too slow then hmmm good action then hmmm forced sympothetic dialouge.... but in the end I realized that this was one tight flick. The action blended very well with the drama. The whole jungle atmosphere was great and the tribal music added a great atmosphere. The story was thin but very solid. Bruce Willis and his crew of a handful of men goto a jungle deep in Africa to get a doctor out of an area about to be taken over by rebel forces. However the bitch just doesn't want to leave her people and wants Bruce and crew to take them too. Id just like to add that Monica has a nice rack... ok back to the review. Bruce Willis remains concrete emotionally and insists that the mission just needs to be completed. However along the way back he decides to turn the chopper around and get the people out. This is when they get chased by the Rebel forces. Definately some good action sequences and the flick is long and the talking makes it seem even longer. A lot of people say that there are to many war films out lately (JoBlo) but I have liked each one of them. The post Saving Privite Ryan era has been the best for war films. This is a soild flick. Althought its not as good as SPR and Black Hawk Down its worth the money.

Dialouge - 7/10 (The dialouge isnt as deep as it could have been but holds it own.)
Violence/Gore - 6/10 (Dead bodies, body parts, people flying. Not incredibly gorey though.)
T&A - 2/10 (We get the typical National Geographic stuff. Monica Bellucci shows some decent cleavage)

dh1989

03-08-2003, 10:51 PM

This is the average rating for "Tears of the Sun" so far....

5/10 or, according to JoBlo's rating system, "Wait For Video"

I think it is better than that, but some schmoes obviously disagree with me. ;)

Buck Turgidson

03-09-2003, 04:54 AM

http://www.roanoketimes.com/roatimes/news/story146165.html

A near rave from the measured and thoughtful Chris Gladden of The Roanoke Times.

Phatmaster2k3

03-09-2003, 10:28 AM

I thought Tears of the Sun was pretty decent. Not much action but enough to satisfiy me. The jungle was a great background for the movie and it looked supreb. Bruce Willis is good in this movie also, he is tough and rarely forgiving. I have to give this flick a 7/10 :D

The Delfonics

03-09-2003, 01:27 PM

Originally posted by dh1989
This is the average rating for "Tears of the Sun" so far....

5/10 or, according to JoBlo's rating system, "Wait For Video"

I think it is better than that, but some schmoes obviously disagree with me. ;)

I agree, it was a good movie. I almost gave it a 8/10

freesafetyblitz

03-10-2003, 06:25 AM

Originally posted by Nymphetamine
Theres about 10 seconds screen time of the air-craft carrier and fighter jets in the previews. And about 11 seconds screen time of the air-craft carrier and fighter jets in the movie. And yes those 11 seconds are the best parts of the movie.

May be a slight exxageration, but the ONLY time the air-craft carrier is on screen is when the commander is (inexplicably) outside standing on the air-craft carriers deck.

Yeah - I was pointing out to my buddy that the previews show all these missiles being shot at the fighter jets and them dodging those missiles with some really cool CGI - but that wasn't in the film at all (well - not that I saw, we missed 5 minutes because the film projector malfunctioned and burned a good 5 minutes of footage).

Overall I give the film a 4/10. The story is just too implausible (no I don't expect movies to be completely realistic, but if it's compared to Blackhawk Down in the trailer - it should at least be possible). I actually recently joined the U.S. Army's officer commissioning program, and I can tell you that disobeying orders to the degree that Bruce Willis did is not possible.

*spoiler*No officer (especially in special ops) would dare disobey orders like that - it jusy wouldn't happen. If he did, he certainly would not be able to convice a pilot to return to the LZ, and if he did that - there's no way he would have the girl he was sent there to save come with him. Beyond that - he would be tried and sent to Ft. Leavonworth (the military's prison) for life at hard labor for derilection of duty, disobeying orders, and criminal negligent homicide. Trust me on that one. Oh yeah - and why were they using pistols with silencers to assault that village?? Someone fell asleep on that one!*end spoliers*

The theme is actually the best part - and to that extent, I was pretty pumped to watch it, but 100 cheesey lines and 50 music breaks later I was pulling out my hair. WE GET IT - WE SHOULD HAVE SENT PEACE-KEEPERS INTO RAWANDA!

The gunfights were pretty cool though.

spacemonkey

03-10-2003, 11:37 AM

Good solid film. Excellent drama.

I learned a lot about the situation in Africa, I knew it was bad, but not that bad! Some of the scenes reminded me of the Holocaust. In fact the murdering thats happening over there is very similar in many ways to what happened during the Holocaust. The people that are doing these murders are just as evil as Hitler was in his days.

The movie does a good job of showing us the violence and the gore of these ethnic wars that are going on. And you actually get to care for these characters. They are not just an excuse to showcase special fx, wich are not many by the way, or action sequences, you feel for them, like if they were real people.

It has a really good scene where Bruce Willis decides to ignore "the rules of engagement" and just stops these murdering guerrilla members in one small town...that part was one of the best in the whole movie that really took us into the guts oft he matter and lets us see how really desperate, tense and just plain horrible this ethnic war is, what the Africans are going through is one tough ordeal...

That line that Bruce Willis says that his trying to help out this people to make up "for our sins". Good stuff. If you ask me this is one of Bruce Willis few solid performances, one that can defenetly be categorized as being actually good. Hes not just some cardboard hero on this one.

The films gonna tug your heart strings no doubt.

http://www.darkhorizons.com/2003/tears/sun3.jpg

max

03-10-2003, 01:29 PM

TEARS OF THE SUN begs the question: Is Monica Bellucci worth dying for? For Bruce Willis, the answer is yes. I won't bother you with plot details. To put it simply, the movie's about Bruce Willis trying to rescue Monica Bellucci from the enemy during the Nigerian war. Things go haywire when Bellucci slaps Willis twice for refusing to give in to her wishes. Irreversibly smitten, Willis risks his and several other people's lives for the chance of screwing Bellucci's brains out later. When someone asks Willis why he's doing what he's doing, he replies, "I'll tell you when I figure it out." One look at Bellucci's cleavage and we know why. Horrifying scenes of ethnic cleansing are interspersed with shots of Bellucci fleeing hails of machine gun bullets as if she were auditioning for Baywatch. Willis is at his one-note best. No actor conveys one mode of expression with greater conviction than Bruce Willis. Bellucci gives great snot during her crying scenes, but it's her cleavage who steals every scene she's in. The music swells frequently to remind the audience that this is all IMPORTANT stuff despite the bad dialogue. By turns moving and laughable, thrilling and preposterous, Antoine Fuqua's film is an uneasy mix of Costa-Gavras and Michael Bay. In the end, it's Michael Bay who wins easily. 5/10 rating.

Jim H

03-10-2003, 02:40 PM

I knew it was bad, but not that bad! In fact the murdering thats happening over there is very similar in many ways to what happened during the Holocaust. The people that are doing these murders are just as evil as Hitler was in his days.

The American news media pretty much ignores Africa today. 100,000 were killed in genocidal tribal warfare a few years back, and I don't really even remember them mentioning it. They also mostly ignored the Eritrean/Ethiopian war, which was the largest land war in the world at that time. I guess it has to do with the fact that they've been like that for 40 years, and people got bored with it.

A lot of the cases of genocide aren't quite like the Holocaust though, since frequently they're genocidal against each other - they're BOTH doing it, or in some cases, ALL doing it with like 3 or 4 different tribes infighting. It's really quite ridiculous.

spacemonkey

03-10-2003, 04:49 PM

Originally posted by Jim H
The American news media pretty much ignores Africa today. 100,000 were killed in genocidal tribal warfare a few years back, and I don't really even remember them mentioning it. They also mostly ignored the Eritrean/Ethiopian war, which was the largest land war in the world at that time. I guess it has to do with the fact that they've been like that for 40 years, and people got bored with it.

A lot of the cases of genocide aren't quite like the Holocaust though, since frequently they're genocidal against each other - they're BOTH doing it, or in some cases, ALL doing it with like 3 or 4 different tribes infighting. It's really quite ridiculous.

Ive read a little about it. But defenetly after seeing this film, it got me interested in this situation, and made me wonder why theres not much talk about it on the news since so many people are dieying..

Jim H

03-10-2003, 06:59 PM

Look at the brightside! Armed conflict is no longer the #1 cause of death in Africa. It's been supplanted by AIDS! Yay...

Buck Turgidson

03-10-2003, 08:09 PM

Originally posted by max
an uneasy mix of Costa-Gavras and Michael Bay.

That's a sentence I never expected to read in my whole life.

DieHardBruceFan

03-12-2003, 01:07 AM

Looking at my name you can see that I am biased as a mofo.
I liked this movie but it is very mediocre.
Although, Bruce was great in it and I enjoyed the battle scenes (all 2 of them!)
It was pretty slow for a war flick.

TEARS falls somewhere in the middle of my Bruce Top 20 list, number one being DIE HARD and the very bottom being BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS ( and yes, I dig HUDSON HAWK very much)

DieHardBruceFan

03-12-2003, 01:09 AM

Sorry, but I didn't see a shred of Michael Bay in this film. Perhaps, a dash of John McTiernan, but no Bay

Jim H

03-12-2003, 01:31 PM

( and yes, I dig HUDSON HAWK very much)

I never understand why so many people DON'T like Hudson Hawk. It's so incredibly stupid it's awesome.

I guess you won't be going to that hat convention in July!

PorcheRacer

03-13-2003, 08:08 AM

I'm going to see this today but I have one question, how boring is it?

RogueSpear

03-13-2003, 01:23 PM

Originally posted by PorcheRacer
I'm going to see this today but I have one question, how boring is it?

I personally didn't find it boring at all. I was engrossed throughout the entire movie. Some may disagree with me, however.

Zombie

03-13-2003, 04:35 PM

How's the action compared to lets say a Black Hawk Down / Svaing Private Ryan?

max

03-13-2003, 05:01 PM

I'm going to see this today but I have one question, how boring is it?

It's never boring. But it's hard to take the important subject matter seriously when Antoine Fuqua keeps pointing the camera at Bellucci's cleavage. Overall, the movie's more self-important than important. But, no, it's not boring. It kept me snickering throughout.

Puck Bond

03-14-2003, 01:12 AM

Tears of the Sun is a very solid, gritty and ultimately satisfying military rescue thriller with a very realistic and intense setting and a solid cast lead by Bruce Willis and the surprising Monica Bellucci. Willis play Lieutenant Waters the leader of a small Special Ops team, who must go into the war-torn African nation of Nigeria and bring back an American doctor Lena Hendricks played by Bellucci, who is stationed at a mission deep in the African Jungle, soon to be overrun by ruthless and merciless rebel forces. Waters is a good leader, follows orders and gets the job done. His mission is to bring back the doctor, a priest ad two nuns from the mission. Complications arise when Doc. Hendricks refuses to go without some 70 refugees that she has been looking after...and knows that anyone who is left behind at the mission will be left to a slaughter. At first Waters and his team are reluctant to carry the extra burden of the 70 refugees, but a change of heart leads him facing impossible and improbable odds. It is up to him and his team to lead everyone through the treacherous jungle to safety across the boader of neighboring country Cameroon. Bruce Willis is a favorite of mine I will admit, but he just seems to be getting better and better with age. His stern look and hardnosed smile is a strong and powerful dramatic presence on screen, yet still he can be smug, funny and can show warmth and compassion...all around a very versatile actor and he is very good in this film. Surprising me most was Monica Bellucci, now much has been made of this stunning beauty, but I haven't seen her in anything before. I got news for you...she can act and does a great job in this playing the stubborn and forceful doctor, who won't leave her people behind. Granted her accent may be a burden, but she has no problem conveying emotion or creating a convincing character like she does here. I wll also say this film is not pretty...the depiction of the brutal nature of ethnic cleansing and the slaughter of hundreds of innocent people, who are just caught in civil war and political upheval is not easy to take. There is an especially gruesome and horrifying scene involving a dying and raped woman who is found in a hut in a village the special forces are forced to attack. This is what goes on in a lot of these Third World nations where religious beliefs and devastating poverty lead to brutal and unbelievable cruel violence. It is a film that doesn't pull its punches in this regard. I also loved the setting of this film...the jungle these people have to fight and claw their way through is beautiful and ominous at the same time. Now some might dismiss this film as maybe too slow...and for some it might be, but films like this should take their time telling an important story. Some may also dismiss this film as just an action movie with a patriotic American hero ending, but it is much more than that and I found it totally engrossing the whole way through. Overall, Tears of the Sun is a solid, convincing military rescue thriller that looks at the horrors of ethnic cleansing and civil war. It features a great setting, some good action and features two very solid performances by the always dependable Bruce Willis and relative newcomer, the gorgeous Monica Belucci. Highly recommended...one of the best of the year so far.

rikimaru187

03-14-2003, 10:01 PM

"Tears of the Sun" starring Bruce Willis.

I rate this movie an easy 10/10. I just saw it today and it's one of the best films I've ever seen. It's about a group of Navy Seals sent into a remote and hostile part of Africa to rescue a doctor, a priest and two nuns. When his team arrives at their mission camp, the doctor refuses to go unless they take along the refugees who are hurt or sick. With the extra baggage along for the ride and a rebel group hot on their trail, it quickly turns into a fight for their very lives. It's a gripping film with great acting and amazing action sequences. However, this film is not for the light of heart. Many of the scenes with rebel's doing "ethnic cleansing" are rather disturbing. I won't say anymore because I don't want to give the film away. But I do recommend this film to anyone who is a Bruce Willis fan or a fan of action military combat films. :D

jackson13

03-15-2003, 01:39 PM

Saw this last night. Very real. Very Intense. Very Dark. Very brutal. Very engrossing. Very deep. Very sad. Very, very good. 8.5/10.

bskutle

03-15-2003, 05:37 PM

**This is a two-fer review w/ "The Quiet American," which I saw two days after "Tears of the Sun." Here are my thoughts on both.**

"Tears of the Sun"- B
"The Quiet American"- A
Two very different movies with a similar theme a little too familiar for this turbulent time- American foreign policy. One is a by-the-numbers war action film starring Bruce Willis; the other is a complex character piece based on a Graeme Greene novel set in Saigon in 1952 starring Michael Caine (Oscar-nominated for Best Actor for his performance). One has a group of Navy SEALS (led by said star) going into a foreign country to remove a doctor (the lovely Italian actress Monica Bellucci) working in a mission in Nigeria, only to find it's more difficult than that when the doctor won't leave without her patients; the other follows a British journalist (played by other said star) who's in an affair with a Vietnamese woman (Do Hai Yen) in war-torn Saigon when an encounter with an American "doctor" (a shockingly effective Brendon Fraser) breaks his passive watching of the horror around him, and strains his relationship with his mistress. One is from a director (Antoine Fuqua), best known for guiding Denzel to an Oscar last year in "Training Day," who's continuing to surprise and mature after his very average first film (the Chow Yun-Fat actioner "Replacement Killers"); the other is from a director (Phillip Noyce), best known for the Jack Ryan thrillers "Patriot Games" and "Clear and Present Danger" (and other Hollywood thrillers like "The Bone Collector," the underrated "Sliver," and- ugh- "The Saint"), whose film is the Australian director's second striking and memorable off-Hollywood accomplishment of the year (after his homegrown and indelible "Rabbit-Proof Fence"). One has another compelling, evocative war movie score by master composer Hans Zimmer; the other also has an even more compelling, evocative score by little known talent Craig Armstrong. Despite their differences, though, both Fuqua's "Tears of the Sun"- simpler and more excitingly action-packed- and Noyce's "The Quiet American"- complex and more observant (though not without moments of stunning action)- are timely and well-mounted stories focusing on the issues our country faces when genocide and political unrest are prevelant in foreign lands, and the risks we take to intervene.