Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Tears of the Sun Blu-ray Movie Review

An emotionally-driven War picture delivers superb video and audio presentations.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman October 28, 2009

God already left Africa.

It's an old adage but it generally holds true, and Tears of the Sun is its defining movie. It says that the best War movies don't glorify combat but instead frame it in a deeper context, depicting not only the horrors of combat but digging into the souls of those thrust into its jaws, forced to discover who they are, what they are made of, and examine their core values in the face of danger, conflicting orders from superiors, and a conscience that must struggle with right and wrong, the chain of command, and the moral compass that guides every soul. Indeed, Tears of the Sun, by that definition, is the quintessential War picture. Though not depicting the events of a declared War or recognized conflict from a U.S. perspective, Tears of the Sun does focus on the War that rages within a man's soul when faced with the atrocities of genocide and the moral quagmire of going against everything that's ingrained into a soldier's conscience and instead looking deep into his own heart and the eyes of those suffering needlessly at the hands of those that derive pleasure from pain and choosing a course of action that may not follow the strict guidelines laid out in the briefing room but does reflect what is not only good, but right.

America's best.

The African nation of Nigeria is in a state of upheaval. A rebel faction has murdered the Presidential family and is rampaging through the nation, brutally slaughtering anyone with differing ideologies. With an American-by-marriage relief worker, Dr. Kendricks (Monica Bellucci, Shoot 'Em Up), and several others Westerners in immediate danger, a Navy SEAL team, led by Lieutenant A.K. Waters (Bruce Willis, The Fifth Element), is tasked with retrieving them and escorting them to safety where they will be retrieved via helicopter and returned home. Waters and his team find Kendricks easily enough but matters are complicated when she refuses to leave behind the refugees, many of whom are wounded and ill. Eventually, the SEAL team becomes witness first-hand to the genocide that plagues the nation. In direct violation of their orders, the team decides to escort both Kendrick and the band of refugees to the safety of the Cameroon border, but must contend with a heavily-armed contingent of Nigerian rebels hot on their trail.

As alluded to earlier, there is a difference between a "War" picture and an "Action" picture. Tears of the Sun goes several steps further than garden-variety "Action" pictures such as the admittedly fun but none-too-intelligent run-and-gun Action flick Navy Seals, for example. Tears doesn't gloss over reality, make action entertaining, or ignore the impact of the human condition in modern combat. While there is definitely a place in cinema for fare like Navy Seals, Tears of the Sun drives home its point with a sincerity and professionalism that allows it to rise through the ranks of more standard-fare cinema and into the realm of emotionally significant pictures that also deliver several wonderfully-realized action sequences that prove more engaging than many others found in lesser films thanks to Director Antoine Fuqua's (Shooter) insistence that they take on a far more realistic tone than those found in less authentic pictures. The violence in Tears of the Sun is unforgiving; it's hard to swallow and may upset some viewers in its depiction of genocide and modern warfare, but it serves the crucial purpose of reinforcing the soldiers' decision to face it head-on rather than ignore the brutality that they've become witness to.

An emotionally draining but certainly important slice of cinema for its depiction of the strength of the human soul and the courage to face the worst in the name of what's right rather than what's easy and convenient, Tears of the Sun is an unmitigated success, but Director Antoine Fuqua and the film's cast inject even more into the picture to round it into a complete experience. Fuqua is one of the best in the business and perhaps one of cinema's most under-appreciated Directors; second only to Training Day in terms of technical proficiency, Tears of the Sun is not only wonderfully shot but it captures early on a mood of fear, uneasiness, and danger, and the picture never relents. A palpable tension hangs over the film, not necessarily that the inevitable and deadly firefight will come, but instead in relation to the well-being of the people, both soldier and civilian alike. Though many of the faces are mere background characters, it's impossible not to become emotionally involved with every member of the party rather than just those with speaking lines or extra face time. Fuqua captures the despair and danger with much skill; while the movie's intended message and the emotional response it aims for are obvious, neither ever comes across as contrived or forced. Finally, Bruce Willis, Cole Hauser (Pitch Black), Eamonn Walker ("Oz"), and the rest of the SEALs all deliver performances that not only reflect the skill and professionalism of America's elite fighting unit, but they balance that with a heartfelt emotion that, perhaps more than any other factor in the film, sells its message of strength, courage, and morality no matter the situation or the odds.

Tears of the Sun Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Tears of the Sun delivers a strong and healthy MPEG-2, 1080p, 2.39:1-framed transfer. Despite its status as one of the earlier releases during Blu-ray's infancy, Tears of the Sun delivers the expected high quality Sony transfer that's virtually problem-free. Only a smattering of white speckles here and there and a few nighttime shots that take on an odd purple rather than black background, the transfer impresses all around. Said blacks are, generally, a strength; inky and true for the most part, nighttime or otherwise shadowy scenes are beautifully rendered throughout. Fine detail is often extraordinary as well. Whether frayed or loose threads on uniforms; general stitching in caps; beads of sweat and patches of dirt intermixed with camouflaged face paint; the wear and tear on the weapons; or the various leaves, stones, grasses, tree trunks, and other assorted objects found in the many jungle sequences; the transfer reveals an often stunning level of detail and palpable texture throughout. The image is also consistently clear and sharp in both the foreground and background, and it features a solid sense of depth in most every shot. Film grain isn't at all heavy, but there's no sign of any serious post-production digital manipulation, either. All things considered, Tears of the Sun features an incredibly strong 1080p image that's only bettered by the stunning uncompressed soundtrack that accompanies it.

Tears of the Sun Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Tears of the Sun engages listeners with a robust and reference-quality PCM 5.1 uncompressed soundtrack. There's nary a dull sonic moment to be found here; the entire soundstage is consistently active throughout, and whether the track is engaged in a full-fledged firefight or simply recreating the feel of the jungle through completely immersive atmospherics, it delivers a consistent and quality mix that, even several years after its initial release, remains one of the finest listens on Blu-ray. Full, robust, and clear describe the tribal beat that opens the film; its delivery is crisp and it's accompanied by a subtle but strong and tight low end for a fantastic pace-setting introduction. Surrounds are fully utilized almost immediately as well; not only does music enjoy a hearty back-channel presence, but the sounds of helicopter rotors buzzing through the listening area, a cargo plane rumbling across the living room, or the rattling hull of said plane's interior as it prepares to drop the SEALs into Nigeria, all bring the track to loud but focused and impressive life. Once in the Nigerian jungle, the soundstage enjoys a consistent and breathtaking presentation of the sounds of nature penetrating into every corner of the soundstage; various creatures regularly buzz, cackle, and hoot, effectively placing the listener in the middle of the jungle locale. Tears of the Sun features an extended action sequence during the final quarter of the film. Gunshots ring out from every corner; in-flight bullets zip through the soundstage; explosions thump from every direction; and screams and shouts permeate the listening area. It delivers an awe-inspiring sense of danger; the clarity of the moment is undeniable, and this action piece makes for a true reference-quality segment. Also featuring unwavering and strong dialogue reproduction, Tears of the Sun's uncompressed soundtrack ranks amongst Blu-ray's elite.

Tears of the Sun Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Tears of the Sun features a few extras, the package headlined by a commentary track with Director Antoine Fuqua. His voice relaxing and confident, he begins the commentary with an introduction to the film's title and moves on to discuss some of the documentaries that served as inspirations for the film, the tone, how the film differentiates from typical Bruce Willis Action pictures, Hans Zimmer's (Angels & Demons) score, shooting onboard a real aircraft carrier and the Navy's cooperation in making the film, the actors' training for the roles and the involvement of real Navy SEALs in the production, the film's themes and the real-world problems plaguing Nigeria, and much more. This is a strong commentary that's well worth spending a couple of hours with. Also included is a "Writer's Observations" track that features Alex Lasker and Patrick Cirillo and plays for a total runtime, according to the menu, of 16:46 (it begins with the film and ends just after the 17-minute mark). This track is primarily focused on the political and social influences that helped them craft the script. Next is Africa Factoid Track (available in both English and Korean), a standard text-based trivia track that presents many factoids in a blue box across the bottom of the screen. Also included is a collection of eight deleted scenes (480p, varied runtimes) and 1080p trailers for xXx, S.W.A.T., and Black Hawk Down.

Tears of the Sun Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Not only a quintessential War movie but also a journey into the human condition, Tears of the Sun is a story of both physical bravery and emotional courage to do the right thing in the face of pure evil. Director Antoine Fuqua's film pulls no punches; the brutality of the picture serves not to entertain but rather to reinforce the positioning of the moral compass that finds its true course in the heart of men that choose to do the right thing rather than take the easy way out of a deadly but also amoral situation. Wonderfully acted, skillfully directed, and emotionally charged, Tears of the Sun gets it right and engages its audience with a powerful and superbly-realized picture from beginning to end. Sony's Blu-ray release does the film justice. Featuring a strong 1080p transfer, a first-rate uncompressed soundtrack, and a few extras, this disc comes strongly recommended.