I've always had a penchant for films set in the jungle, and TEARS OF THE SUN makes excellent use of some sweaty jungle locales in its story of US soldiers battling Nigerian rebels. It's a story of human drama masquerading as a war movie, and action lovers will be disappointed as all of the gun battles are saved for the (admittedly spectacular) last half hour. Before then we get a film based on real-life events that runs the gamut of emotions, from courage to anger, fear to bravery and everything in between.
It's nothing new, but benefits from some superb acting from the assembled cast members: Bruce Willis, as silent and stern as ever, acts with just his eyes for the most part and gets the viewer totally on-side; Monica Bellucci is utterly beautiful and tough as the doctor working against the odds, and the rest of the American soldiers are also brilliant – including Cole Hauser as a tough cookie and Tom Skerritt as a grizzled veteran. Well-shot, well directed, and with plenty of story and emotion to keep it going, at first glance this might be typical gung-ho adventure stuff but it's much more. It's got heart and conscience and it never disappoints despite the lengthy running time. A solid thriller.
It's nothing new, but benefits from some superb acting from the assembled cast members: Bruce Willis, as silent and stern as ever, acts with just his eyes for the most part and gets the viewer totally on-side; Monica Bellucci is utterly beautiful and tough as the doctor working against the odds, and the rest of the American soldiers are also brilliant – including Cole Hauser as a tough cookie and Tom Skerritt as a grizzled veteran. Well-shot, well directed, and with plenty of story and emotion to keep it going, at first glance this might be typical gung-ho adventure stuff but it's much more. It's got heart and conscience and it never disappoints despite the lengthy running time. A solid thriller.