Tears Of The Sun (2003) Movie Information:

Tears Of The Sun (2003) Directed by: Antoine Fuqua Tears Of The Sun (2003) Written by: Patrick Cirillo, Alex Lasker Tears Of The Sun (2003) Cast: Bruce Willis, Monica Bellucci, Cole Hauser, Eamonn Walker, Nick Chinlund, Fionnula Flanagan, Malick Bowens, Tom Skerritt, Johnny Messner, Paul Francis

Tears Of The Sun (2003) U.S. Distributor: Columbia TriStar Tears Of The Sun (2003) U.K. Distributor: Sony Pictures

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Tears Of The Sun (2003) Synopsis:

Navy SEAL Lieutenant A.K. Waters and his elite squadron of tactical specialists are forced to choose between their duty and their humanity, between following orders by ignoring the conflict that surrounds them, or finding the courage to follow their conscience and protect a group of innocent refugees. When the democratic government of Nigeria collapses and the country is taken over by a ruthless military dictator, Waters, a fiercely loyal and hardened veteran is dispatched on a routine mission to retrieve a Doctors Without Borders physician, Dr. Lena Kendricks. Dr. Kendricks, an American citizen by marriage, is tending to the victims of the ongoing civil war at a Catholic mission in a remote village. When Waters arrives, however, Dr. Kendricks refuses to leave unless he promises to help deliver the villagers to political asylum at the nearby border. If they are left behind, they will be at the mercy of the enormous rebel army. Waters is under strict orders from his commanding officer Captain Bill Rhodes to remain disengaged from the conflict. But as he and his men witness the brutality of the rebels first-hand, they are won over to Dr. Kendricks' cause and place their lives at risk by agreeing to escort the villagers on a perilous trek through the dense jungle. As they move through the countryside on foot, Waters' team, experts at evasion and concealment, are inexplicably and ferociously pursued by an army of rebels. They are confounded until they discover that, among the refugees, is the sole survivor of the country's previous ruling family, whom the rebels have been ordered to eliminate at all costs. Waters and his small band of soldiers must weigh the life of one man against their own and the refugees they feel obliged to protect.

Tears Of The Sun (2003) Movie Review:

As civil war grips Nigeria, a US Navy S.E.A.L. team commanded by Lt. Waters (Willis) is sent into the jungle to rescue American doctor Lena Kendricks
(Bellucci). She refuses to leave unless the team agree to take the refuges she is caring for with them. Reluctantly straying from his orders. Water's agrees guide the people to the safety of the Cameroon border but he doesn't expect a battalion of rebel troops to be on his tail.

Opening when America's role of World peacemaker is making them a target of controversy and resentment in Iraq and Afghanistan, Tears of the Sun is another US take on how everyone else on the planet should see the US military and its fight for democracy.

Directed by Training Day helmer Antoine Fuqua, the movie isn't all gung-ho, relying on a more realistic "Saving Private Ryan", "Black Hawk Down" approach to movie military violence. The fighting is quick, calculated and precise in the early confrontations, as you'd expect modern Special Forces troops to be but a quite exciting and brutal all out battle in the run up to the finale is the highlight of the film.

The performances are decent. Willis and the rest of his team play career S.E.A.L.'s as you'd expect them to be, there to do a job. Willis himself doesn't really have much do say in this role but gives a better performance here than most of his last few efforts. Monica Bellucci proves again that she is more than just one of the most beautiful women in the world but also a great actress. This is another chance for her to showcase that talent for English speaking audiences. Cole Hauser is also good as Red Atkins and shows again that he has a talent for action.

What lets the movie down is its underlying pro-democracy and Christianity stance. Again the enemy is the Muslim faith with the finale offering hope for the Nigerian's to embrace the American way of life. This makes the movie more of a political statement than a piece of information cinema, as it
never offers an alternative point of view from a faceless and relentless enemy.

Tears of the Sun is not a bad film. The performances are very watchable, the set pieces are well shot and the final battle is exciting and dramatic but the message does tend to be shoved down your throat a little too far.

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Tears Of The Sun (2003) review written by: Jamie Kelwick