Tears of the Sun (DVD, 2003, Special Edition)

I LOVED this movie of true VALOR, SACRIFICE and LOVE for one's fellow beings!! I haven't seen such breathtaking VALOR in a movie, since the true story of Jesus of Nazareth (with Robert Powell), and King Henry V.with(Kenneth Branagh).!!

Here is the description off the site:
Movie Description
Lt. A.K. Waters (Bruce Willis) and his elite team of Navy SEALS have their work cut out for them when they are dispatched to war-torn Nigeria with orders to rescue an American citizen, Dr. Lena Kendricks (Monica Bellucci). The mission is pretty cut and dry except for one glitch: Dr. Kendricks will have to abandon the natives to whom she has been providing healthcare and those that work in the mission where her rudimentary hospital is located. Of course, Dr. Kendricks refuses to leave without her people, forcing Lt. Waters to choose between completing his orders as directed or putting the lives of his men on the line by helping the refugees cross the border to Cameroon on foot. To complicate matters, the group is being pursued by militant guerillas who destroy everything in their path. Willis is in top DIE HARD form as Lt. Waters, a touch-as-nails military man who confronts his conscience and makes decisions that surprise even him as he finds himself influenced by the stubborn Dr. Kendricks. Directed by Antoine Fuqua (TRAINING DAY), this film offers an enlightening and disturbing look at the conditions that permeate war-torn countries.

The movie "Tears of the Sun" is a fictional account of a group of US Navy Seals whose mission it is to extract an American doctor from a refugee camp in an African nation embroiled in tribal war. The country's president, along with his family, has been slain by the rebel forces. These forces now control the country's military, and are going village to village exterminating all who aren't of their tribe. When the doctor refuses to leave without the people at the refugee camp, the squad lieutenant (Bruce Willis) has a decision to make. Will he force the doctor to come alone, leaving the refugees to certain death - or will he disobey his orders and work to save the refugees. There are some interesting plot twists in this exciting and thought-provoking film, and it will surely keep you on the edge of your seat. In the final analysis, love of humanity - even those vastly different than yourself - can truly conquer all. I consider this movie a must see!

Devastating portrayal of political turmoil in Africa. Not much sugar coating. Willis is good as the leader of a seal team sent into retrieve American citizens. The mission morphs from a simple extraction of high priority packages to an effort to remove a large group of refugees from the coming onslaught of the new governments troops.
Faced with on going genocide on all sides and orders not to become involved, Willis' character makes a believable decision to ignore those orders and engage terrorist troops who are raping and pillaging a village. No great soul searching just a simple thought process that says " Bad guys are killing innocents, I am an American fighting man whose every instinct is to fight evil, I'm Here, I can do something so here we go".
Much of this movie brought back uncomfortable memories and touched old emotions long buried. I thought the depiction of the Africans were spot on for the length of time they had to develop the characters.
Many of the Ricky Rangers out there will find tactical flaws and some amazing capabilities not known outside of hollywood. Some will criticize all forms of things military depicted. One must keep in mind that this was not a training film but a sincere effort to depict the Africa of today. An Africa invisible to the average American. An africa not concerned with global strategy or global markets but an Africa where the days are measured by the very personal human tragedies that mark the passing of each hour. An Africa where it does seem that God left a long time ago.
The fighting sequences in this movie are good for hollywood. The French doctor is a pain in the butt, just like real euro- do gooders who come to save Africa. Tom Skerrit is magnificent as Willis' CO
Buy this movie watch all the extras. And if you are so inclined remember Africa and her people in your prayers

Tears of the Sun is definately a war movie, and another in a long line that rather portrays the military SF (Special Forces) in a light other than their obvious ability to commit quick and harsh violence unto the enemies of the US.

This movie has been called preachy and contrived, and even more so a great recruitment tool. I only somewhat agree. Yes it is preachy in some spots, but in it's "preachiness" it questions the viewers true outlook on the world. "It's not our war." is one of those outlooks. What would you do in a situation of mass and horrific genocide between tribes (often muslim vs. Christian)? What would you expect our armed forces or those that have the ability to stop it to do? This is the question that is asked, and asked often. Do you believe in a situation that is preventable to stand idly by and watch, or does it become "our war" because we have the ability to stop it?

The overall story is easy, and the action is intense. The characters though thin, do let you know enough about them to make you care about them pretty quickly. In a nutshell, a country falls into civil war and ethnic cleansing in Africa, and a SEAL squad is sent in to evacuate US citizens to saftey. A moral dilemma is foisted upon the SEALs and they choose to act rather than to stand by.

I recommend the movie in that you can simply enjoy it, and it makes you ask yourself questions in a very straightforward way. It is well done, the acting is pretty good, and the battle and political action very realistic.

I also recommend you watch the making of, and see what the actors and director have to say and why the movie was indeed made in the first place. I wouldn't simply call it an action or recruitment movie, I would call it a movie with a message that many don't want to think about whilst shopping at the mall.

This movie almost snuck by me without notice. Odd, I am a big Bruce Willis fan, not just Die Hard :~), but for whatever reason the first time I watched it was close to 3 years after its release.

I was impressed with the story and the acting, it is one of those gut wrenchers at the end and is enough to make an old war dog feel pretty good.