Blood Diamond better than is being said!

Rating: 10/10 (10 December 2006)

While I was looking at various negative reviews for Edward Zwick's "Blood Diamond", I realized that while most critics didn't like it, not one has come up with a plausible reason why except one. They all say that Zwick tries to hard to pound the film's ideas into your head. That's no reason to give it two stars, or C's and D's, just for being a little preachy. And yes, it was a little preachy, but that doesn't take away from the fact that this is an exceptional film with stunning performances. "Blood Diamond" isn't preachy in a bad way either, the director just wanted to make sure the audience was educated to what was happening with the diamond trade in Africa.
I'll explain; the film opens with rebels going into a village and taking young kids and men to go work in the diamond mines, and then destroy the village. The rebels mine the diamonds and sell them to American jewelry dealers who then sell them to us. In the process, the rebels destroy innocent villages, capture the men, and train the children to use weapons for their cause. Djimon Hounsou plays Solomon Vandy, who is taken along with his son. While working in the mind, Solomon finds a large diamond, which he hides. Before he is discovered hiding it, American troops arrive and drive out the rebels. Solomon escapes and joins up with Danny Archer, a diamond smuggler Â–played by Leonardo DiCaprio- who promises to help Solomon find his son in exchange for the diamond. Chase scenes galore ensue as Danny and Solomon make their way across Africa.
Before seeing this film, I never realized how some diamonds were come by, and the things done to the African people for them. Though, it is true, that at times it seemed like an exciting history lesson. The acting is superb and is all Oscar worthy. Leonardo finally breaks his pretty boy, sissy mold and becomes a macho, man's man, reminiscent of Indiana Jones. The cinematography is amazing, especially since Africa is already beautiful. The camera work accentuates the action scenes just so, that it makes it all the more exciting and intense.
So even though critics are being dumb again and bashing Zwick for making a "history lesson" film, it is still important to see. Even if it's just to see Leo and Djimon's Oscar worthy performances, and the insanely intense action sequences. I give "Blood Diamond" 8 out of 10. It is rated R for strong violence and language.