Does a zebra change it's stripes?

Rating: 8/10 (1 April 2008)

It's a Hollywood movie, so don't expect it to be some independent acting tour de force. Yeah the acting is slightly wooden, but it's not really the actors or director's fault that movies are made base on a statistical model. The clichés soon vanish because the movie is exciting, beautifully shot and brilliantly edited. The subject matter is so jarring that any stereotype quickly gets mowed down by children from hell. I forgive pedestrian writing in the cause of bringing to light the plight of Africans. I forgive Jennifer's stodgy lines because I am captivated by her eyebrows. If a movie draws me in and keeps me up past my bedtime, it has entertained me 80%. I don't recall a movie bringing to light the recruitment and training of children as well as this one, or that immerses the viewer in the expanse of Africa like this one, so the culture shock is enough to make me forget about the dialog.