 "Movie: 4.75/5 Picture Quality: 2.75~4.25/5 Sound Quality: 4.75/5 Extras: 3.75/5" | 2008-08-26 |
| - Reviewed By User: AHABFECTNE15I |
Version: U.S.A / Region Free
VC-1 BD-50
Running time: 2:23:21
Movie size: 22,440,222,720 bytes
Disc size: 30,563,539,040 bytes
Average Video Bit Rate: 12.71 Mbps
LPCM 5.1 4608Kbps 16-bit English
DD AC3 5.1 640Kbps English / French-Quebec / Spanish
Subtitles: English SDH / English / French / Spanish
* Audio Commentary
* Documentary
* Featurettes
* Music Video
* Theatrical Trailer
* Video Diary Vignettes |
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 "American, who loves this movie" | 2008-08-06 |
| - Reviewed By neildiamond11790 |
Others have stated it, great movie. Is there some America bashing, maybe a little. But what all these people reviewing harp on is a scene in a bar with Danny and Maddy first meeting. She kind of attacks him for his role in this and he comes back at her with an analogy of how they are in the same business, only she is American so he tells it in relation to her nationality. Thats pretty much it and that when they first meet a TV is on with the whole Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky fiasco going on.
Now, is that America bashing? Its all in context to what is going on in the story. Especially the Clinton part. Thats pretty much there to show 2 things:
1) When this whole RUF, Sierra Leon conflict was going on. Most people know little about it, let alone when it happened. This just puts in our minds when this is going on and most people remember roughly where they were in there lives at that time.
2) It also is there to show the viewers at how certain things get more attention than others. The line was something like this "The world is falling apart and all people care about is BJ's" Now that was coming from an American journalist in Africa reporting on Blood Diamonds, who knows more of what is going on in the world than most people. And she wasn't watching this in America, they were watching this in West Africa, so its not like we Americans were the only ones to focus on that.
That all goes down in about 2 minutes, so I am not sure why everyone takes offense to it. As for the stats they give I don't know if they are accurate, there are diamonds and then there are industrial diamonds, I think they are referring to consumer diamonds. And if you want to more on this do a little research on the subject. You will find it was pretty ugly, the diamond business in general is pretty ugly, and in fact diamonds are really not all that rare. Do some research on DeBeers and see what you find. I watched a documentary on this conflict before seeing this movie, and I thought it was pretty true to the conflict.
Just my thoughts. |
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| "Wore Out My Recliner" | 2008-07-28 |
| - Reviewed By d_mikels |
No doubt diamonds have been smuggled out of Africa at a deadly cost. No doubt many African nations have been torn asunder by civil war. No doubt there have been horrendous atrocities. And no doubt preteen boys have been literally snatched from the arms of their parents and turned into ruthless killers. But when a movie, BLOOD DIAMOND, depicts all of the above in such a brutal, graphic nature, the question is begged: Is it really that bad over there. . .or, perhaps, has there been a little embellishment?
But I digress. Whether the quest for a 'Mother Lode' diamond in war-torn Sierra Leone is slightly exaggerated in terms of its gratuitous, mind-numbing violence, the fact remains this movie is pause-everything-else-in-your-life riveting. When a filmmaker has completely and unequivocally drawn in his viewer--makes the viewer forget about everything else other than what he/she is watching on the screen--then cinema magic has been captured in a can. So kudos to the always-innovative Edward Zwick: His astonishing, gasping scenes had me flinching and weaving and jumping so much the springs in my recliner are creaking. By the time the credits were rolling I felt mentally and physically drained--and grandly entertained.
As the lead (a former mercenary turned diamond smuggler with a heart of gold), Leonardo DiCaprio continues to surprise. For the longest time he was an annoying scarecrow; now he's morphing into an accomplished thespian right before our eyes. I really enjoyed his Rhodesian accent (or whatever they're calling Rhodesia these days). And has Djimon Hounsou ever been lousy in a movie? Absolutely not, and his portrayal of a fisherman trying to find and salvage his family is certainly no exception. Jennifer Connelly looks good--even after a couple of nights in the jungle. The on-screen tension between herself and Leo is fun to watch. In fact, BLOOD DIAMOND, even if all the chaos and blood lust is a tad over the top, is fun to watch. And if not fun, riveting works just fine. Five 14-karat gold stars.
--D. Mikels, Author, The Reckoning
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| "WOW! Africa exposed! Finally!" | 2008-07-16 |
| - Reviewed By User: AXOFODORGNUQX |
Great story, great acting, superb director, unbeatable (for once)historic accuracy! this is the way movies handling conflict zones should be made!
My highest regards and compliments to the director, the producers, the cast and the staff!!
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| "Good movie for a political cause" | 2008-07-14 |
| - Reviewed By User: A23LK95G7TWHZ9 |
| Surprisingly good movie. Decaprio played the part well and Jennifer Connelly had a movie she actually had to act in. Obviously the movie was for a political cause - not supporting diamond smugglers because of the atrocities they commit. And thats not a bad thing for Hollywood to do as long as their up front about it like this. |
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| "Nice and Safe Subject...." | 2008-07-04 |
| - Reviewed By mikoyan |
I enjoyed this movie alot but it seems that they picked a nice safe topic to rant about. Diamonds? I suppose that they are being used to fund those various brush wars in Africa. I did like how they also brought up the topic of child soldiers.
What I didn't like was how they seemed to blame the west for much of the strife in Africa. We buy the diamonds. We arm them (never mind the AK's). Etc. Yet at some point, don't they have to take responsibility for their future? |
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| "Powerful and Unforgettable" | 2008-07-01 |
| - Reviewed By wolfdreamer1112 |
I may be alone here, but this is really one of the best films of 2006. Loads of action, bits of melodrama, and amazing performances from Djimon Hounsou as Solomon Vandy and especially Leonardo DiCaprio as smuggler Danny Archer. This is the kind of role DiCaprio needed to prove his talent.
As usual with Zwick films, there just isn't enough time for him to tell the tale he is supposed to tell. The film would be better if only a little longer. Instead, much of the intended plot is drowned out by the action (which is still impressive). And, in order to give the impression of how Africans were victimized, the screenwriters chose to make Solomon and his family the victims of nearly everything that befalls many African citizens: slavery, child abduction, exile. The movie does get a little preachy, but not so much that it overwhelms the viewer.
In spite of its faults, Blood Diamond is powerful and unforgettable, a movie to watch again and again for its pulse-pounding action, unbelievably talented performances, and important look at a more recent dark part of African history. |
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| "I will never buy a diamond" | 2008-06-08 |
| - Reviewed By User: A9OWSQ3QR871Y |
To start off let me go ahead and say that Blood Diamond is a excellent film and a must-see. The setting is 1999 Sierra Leone, at that time ravaged by civil war. Danny Archer (Dicaprio), a ex-mercenary turned diamond smuggler joins forces with Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou) to recover a rare pink diamond, and to rescue Vandy's son, who has been forced into being a child soldier under rebels. This was all around a great movie, the best of 2006 if you ask me. Its stellar cast also includes Jennifer Connelly as a journilist that tags on part of the way. The movie is overall very powerful, well casted, directed, written, and filmed. Be warned that it is not an action movie that is made to entertain, it was made to make a point, and it has a good message. My only gripe is that the end is so predictable and unoriginal that it takes something away. I felt that the bland ending did not fit the rest of the film. Bottom line is if you liked "Hotel Rwanda" than you will like this.
****1/2 |
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| "Africain misery in HD DVD" | 2008-05-13 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2OFSDJB3MVQ16 |
| There are quite of lot of people out there who are not sold on Leonardo Dicaprio's acting abilites--I am not one of them. He delivers a strong performance in this topical drama and deserved an nomination for Best Actor as well. The picture and sound in HD DVD is superb and I whole-heartedly recommend you buy this one to show off your system!! Dijmon Hounsou is also superb in this and I believe he was also nominated. The only flaw I can see in this is the beautiful Jennifer Connelly--she has no chemistry with DiCaprio and the film could have been better without her character. Not to put down her acting ability (remember she did win for "A Beautiful Mind") but her character just wasn't really needed in this fine film at all!! Ed Zwick's direction is on target and he captures the plight of the Africains as they are being exploited by the mercenaries and Europeans for profit. A visual and aural feast for all you HD DVD enthusiasts!! |
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 "Over-rated" | 2008-04-23 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1TEMNM9ZEOLJ6 |
| Typical Hollywood shoot-em-up. Lots of fairly nauseating violence. The pc message resonates with some, but I found this all predictable fare. The white man/black man buddy/partner genre has been done to death. Here it is again. Throw in some S. Africa and Western guilt over what Westerners imagine must be going on in Africa and you have the usual formula. This has to be DiCaprio's worst movie, five Academy Award nominations or not. Still, it can hold up to a viewing if you get it out of the library for free, as I did. Avoid if you don't like an endless hail of bullets as your entertainment. |
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![Blood Diamond [HD DVD]](product_images/4925000/4925185_medium.jpg)
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