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Since I'm in the military, I watch military movies differently than other types of films. I rented Tears of the Sun and really, really wanted to like it. But halfway through, I was thoroughly pissed off by it and resorted to nitpicking all the technical details.
My main problem with the movie (and apologies if these are spoilers) is, WHY IN THE HELL DIDN'T THE PRINCE GET ON THE FIRST HELICOPTER? Monica Belucci knew who he was, why didn't she make sure he'd be safe? Furthermore, I have never seen as big of a whiny, backstabbing, annoying, ungrateful little bitch as Belucci's character. Willis should have asked her to please come with him, and when she refused, socked her in the kisser and carried her out of the jungle. Mission accomplished. Instead, half of his squad and half of the refugees get killed to basically save one guy's life (the prince), when he shouldn't have even been there in the first place. Why didn't he send one of his team off in a different direction with the cell phone (I didn't see a cell tower in that jungle, did you?) to throw the rebels off their trail instead of leaving it on the body? And the clergy that stay behind in the mission? Please. Faith to the end is admirable, but they just threw their lives away. What purpose did that serve? Especially the younger nun who is prepared to leave and live to help another village another day, but the older one gives her that look, and all of a sudden, the young nun is like "You're right, dying worthlessly here today with you two is a much better idea."
Technical problems? Christ, where do I start. The jets that launch from the carrier to wipe out the Nigerian rebels are unarmed F/A-18C's. When they arrive on the scene, they've magically transformed into F/A-18E's, armed for air-to-air combat. The weapons they carry would be completely useless against a formation of ground troops. And how the hell did Tom Skerritt's Seahawk helicopters (top speed 180 knots) reach the border at about the same time as the fighters (top speed 1200 knots)? Speaking of Tom Skerritt, he couldn't find a quieter, more secure place to call Bruce Willis than the FLIGHT DECK of the carrier? He's up there during flight ops with no ear plugs or cranial helmet on, yakking away on the satellite phone. Try that on a REAL aircraft carrier.
The movie calls attention to ethnic violence in Africa, which is a noble cause. But they've gone about it all wrong. Instead, we have another movie in which a few white guys drop in, and save a bunch of non-white people from themselves. Black Hawk Down worked because it was a true story, and needs to be told. Tears of the Sun just comes off as condescending. Especially to me, as an American serviceman, and I'm sure to victims of ethnic cleansing in Africa. Most of them will probably never see this movie though, although I hear that almost all of the refugees were played by actual survivors of tribal warfare in Africa.
The deleted scenes added a lot to the story and most should have been included.
Lots of good "wound porn" but I thought it was a poor story, with bad acting, questionable moral, and big plot holes.
-Mikey
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