Change Your Image
IMDB808
Reviews
Tears of the Sun (2003)
Thankfully, not your typical "shoot em up"...
This film was slow to start. Having known the premise of the film from watching the commercials I could've came in 30 minutes after the movie started and not have missed too many important details. There are some tense moments during this time while they are traveling through the jungle but it really doesn't set the pace for the movie.
Once the movie really begins, however, it takes off and becomes quite exciting. Bruce Willis and his team don't even fire a shot until a crucial moment when he must decide between saving a small village or go around it to complete his mission...
The viewer is given a realistic portrayal of combat with accurate depictions of combat maneuvers not seen very often in the movies. The brutality of war is depicted up-close and brings the viewer to near tears in a few scenes. The SEALs in this film are also depicted well enough with a great cast to support their leader, played by Bruce Willis. The team members are balanced in the sense that each of them is crucial to the operations. There is a point-man/scout, an explosives expert, a person in charge of monitoring enemy movement and a "Doc" to mention a few. They are likeable characters and I hope to see more of these new actors in future movies.
There is more to this story than "save the doctor and go home". The person actually being saved isn't revealed until much later in the film. It is a believable sub-plot that works well with the story.
The movie also does not fall into a romantic pitfall between the female and male lead. Additionally, it doesn't succumb to a final scene with the leader of the enemy fighting Bruce Willis in hand-to-hand combat. This well-done movie avoids typical "shoot em up" cliches and delivers a solid movie that I wouldn't mind seeing again.
I rate it 8/10.
When Trumpets Fade (1998)
Nobody dies...
You will understand the meaning of my One line Summary after viewing this film. The film depicts how brutal and real war was along the Belgian/German border. The viewer gets a microscopic view of the life of one soldier as he progresses from Private to Lieutenant in less than a week. The quality of this film rivals Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan...a definite "must-see!"
Signs (2002)
I saw the sign and it read "Excellent"
This movie is a beautifully done thriller because it is suspenseful and thrilling without resorting to high tech CGI explosions or gore to get the point across. I loved it. M. Night is a director that I've been following ever since seeing "The Sixth Sense". To me he already ranks up there with Stanley Kubrick, Luc Besson and other spectacular directors. I won't ruin any of the plot for you. This movie does everything that I WISH the X-files (movie) did for me and more. A truly must-see movie!
Savior (1998)
A serious look at war...
"Savior" came to me as a movie half-seen on HBO. What I saw was enough to intrigue me to search for the DVD. The DVD is currently out-of-print. Luckily I was able to find one on an online auction site and I am pleased to say that I am quite happy with my purchase. This movie takes a serious look at war and it's effects on a soldier who has joined the foreign legion, a woman he meets, and an infant who enters their life. The setting is Bosnia and war is brutal. The hero finds himself surrounded by death and destruction. He chose his life as a soldier in the Foreign legion as an act of revenge to purge his anger from losing his family. Soon, war and anger overcomes and all that is left is the "Savior". Who is the savior? I'll leave that up to you the viewer to discover for yourself. Excellent film overall. This is my favorite performance by Dennis Quaid.