Tears of the Sun

The biggest problem with this movie is that it pretends to be a deep drama reflecting cruel actual events in the African jungle. And though it does depict those events in a really naturalistic way (I hadn’t had such a knot in my stomach in a long time!), it seems to lack credibility due to the combination of American bombast and Bruce Willis’s famous face. Tears of the Sun can also be seen as a pure action flick that wants to be something more, but because of the slow and boring screenplay, it’s not even a satisfying action movie. (17.04.2003)

At the beginning it drags on slowly and the only thing that looked any good is the surrounding jungle and Bruce Willis in camouflage kit holding a machine gun. The African jungle seemed to be asleep all the time. Where are the snakes, the spiders and other critters that could make this group’s journey a little more unpleasant? Take a look at Rescue Dawn and you’ll see what I mean. It’s all so artificial. Tears of the Sun tries to touch us with humanity and good deeds by hard guys who until now behaved like robots. And the only thing that Fuqua gave to this movie are lens filters, amazing views of African nature and a solid action ending which digs this picture up from the gray average. 3 (11.05.2008)

Fugua can deliver, but here he struggles with a lousy script and half-baked dialogue. Really, the only worthwhile thing in this film is the scene of the ethnic cleansing in a Nigerian village, which is both excellently shot and makes the ignorant realise that Africa is a world where human life has no value. If the rest had been in a similar vein, this would have been a great anti-war film. As it is, it's just another useless Hollywood crap that's dull in thought, with not much action either, and a typically Hollywood clichéd ending. So, sorry, this didn’t work out. (20.09.2003)

The surprise of recent times. I didn't think I'd see Bruce Willis in a good movie again, given what he's been doing for the last few years. A captivating rainforest setting, a group of elite marines, a group of Nigerian rebels on their heels, some twist and turns, amazing action, dosed sparingly but very intense, working emotions and empathy, decent pacing and gorgeous visuals. Actually, almost a full score. 85%. (10.05.2016)

A lot of angry Willis, unbearably wooden Monika, jungle, shots, dust, and injustice. To top it off, one big and very unbelievable twist against orders, sometimes annoying cliches, and an annoyingly optimistic message that hurts. Everything in the packaging of Zimmer's surprisingly tired composition and big black-and-white peace propaganda. I occasionally quite like Antoine Fuqua, but the claim that he can direct empty pictures well has never been more true. (11.05.2008)