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Old 12-30-2006, 07:14 PM   #1975
Melanie68
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Ohio
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I made it sound like I don't like movies in Lucien's best of 2006 thread but I really do when I finally haul my carcass out to see them. I saw Casino Royale with my dad on Friday and I saw Blood Diamond with my Mom today (Saturday). Here's my rambling review of it ():

This movie is not for the faint of heart or stomach. It involves a diamond smuggler, Danny Archer (Leo DiCaprio), a fisherman, Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou*) and his family, and an American Reporter, Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly) and of course diamonds. Set in Sierra Leone primarily (with a romp down to South Africa), it deals with not only the mining and trade of conflict diamonds but the bloody wars that take place between rebel groups and the government. This movie was incredibly violent but it wasn't violence just for the sake of it. It really brought home just how tragic living in certain places in Africa can be and it was very sad. I thought DiCaprio's performance was outstanding and Hounsou was absolutely remarkable as well. It was a visually stunning film and I loved the shots of Africa that showcased not only it's beauty but it's horror as well (the war, the refugee camps and the poverty). At times the film became a bit cliche and it took me out of it just for a moment but then it picked up again so it certainly didn't detract from the film for me. It took me a while to get into Jennifer Connelly's character. It seemed like she overacted it at first and then seemed to settle down.

Well worth a trip to the theater but be aware that it is a very violent movie if that sort of thing bothers you.

*Was he the guy in Lost or the guy who was in the slave ship movie - Amstad/Amistad (?)

Last edited by Melanie68; 12-30-2006 at 07:27 PM.
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