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Amazon.co.uk Review
Leonardo DiCaprio puts a handsome face on an ugly industry: In parts of Africa, diamond mining fuels civil warfare, killing thousands of innocents and drafting preteen children as vicious soldiers. DiCaprio (The Departed) plays Danny Archer, a white African soldier-turned-diamond-smuggler who gets wind of a large raw jewel found by Solomon Vandy, a native fisherman (Djimon Hounsou, In America) recently escaped from enslavement by a brutal rebel leader. Archer offers a deal: He'll help Vandy find his war-scattered family if Vandy will share the diamond with him. Drawn into this web of exploitation is journalist Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly, Little Children), who agrees to help if Archer will tell her the details of how conflict diamonds make their way into the hands of the corporations who sell them to the Western world. DiCaprio is compelling because he never flinches from Archer's utter ruthlessness; Archer ends up doing the morally justifiable thing, but only because his desperate greed has led him to it. Hounsou and Connelly, though saddled with all the moral and political speeches, rise above the cant and keep the movie's treacherously formulaic plot rooted in human characters. But in the end, the story won't stick with you as much as the dead stillness in the child soldiers' eyes; the horror of African civil strife refuses to be contained by Blood Diamond's uplifting message--and the movie is all the more potent as a result. --Bret Fetzer
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
As far as the film goes, it's great. The story is captivating, and the writing is excellent. And as much as it pains me to say, Leonardo di Caprio's acting is top notch! I'm not going to talk about the story, I'm going to review the HD experience you're getting:
Visual: Blood Diamond looks really, really good in HD. The landscape shots and action sequences are so crystal clear it makes you think you're a part of the action. I didn't expect the film to look as good as it does, and I recommend it highly. There is no visible grain, pictures are clear, sharp and the colours are well saturated. Definitely better than expected!
Audio: The uncompressed 5.1 surround is truly breathtaking! Sound is clear, deep and well equalised to deliver a near-cinema experience. There's no distortion, and the sound is well levelled throughout (so no theatrical sound needing you to turn it up and down constantly!)
Overall, I'm very happy with the way this turned out. It's a beautiful film that's written very well and looks incredible on blu-ray.
Visual: Blood Diamond looks really, really good in HD. The landscape shots and action sequences are so crystal clear it makes you think you're a part of the action. I didn't expect the film to look as good as it does, and I recommend it highly. There is no visible grain, pictures are clear, sharp and the colours are well saturated. Definitely better than expected!
Audio: The uncompressed 5.1 surround is truly breathtaking! Sound is clear, deep and well equalised to deliver a near-cinema experience. There's no distortion, and the sound is well levelled throughout (so no theatrical sound needing you to turn it up and down constantly!)
Overall, I'm very happy with the way this turned out. It's a beautiful film that's written very well and looks incredible on blu-ray.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a meaty and compelling film set in the heat and conflict of war-torn Sierra Leone at the turn of the last century. Africa's problems are graphically displayed here - where there's a commodity, be it gold, cobalt, copper or in this case, diamonds there is bloodshed. The diamond trail leads from the slave gangs of the brutal Revolutionary United Front to the vaults of respectable diamond dealers of London who stockpile the excess gems in order to maintain artificially high prices. These dealers are careful not to be seen buying "blood diamonds" or "conflict stones" from the Sierra Leone but do so from the neighbouring Liberia into which they are smuggled.
The story centres on Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou) a fisherman whose village is raided by the RUF. Many are killed and families dispersed in the panic. Solomon's own son is given an AK47 as big as himself and brainwashed into becoming a boy soldier while his wife and other children fortunately make their way to a refugee camp. Forced to work in the diamond mines, he discovers a huge gem, which he manages to conceal during a shoot-out with government forces.
A rock of that size does not stay secret for long and he soon finds himself thrown together with "Rhodesian" mercenary cum diamond smuggler Danny Archer (DiCaprio) and American journalist Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connolly), each with very different agendas (escape money, a story) and methods. They have to fight for their lives, his family and the diamond in an epic story that is both moving and brutal. The backdrop of Africa is spectacular but the soil is red, locals say from the rivers of blood that flow through the country.
DiCaprio and Hounsou give towering performances, Hounsou as the humble family man who only wants the best for his family, DiCaprio finally comes of age and delivers as the sleazy and violent Archer. The contrast and chemistry between the two is excellent and the opposites come together in an emotional finale.
Not for the squeamish, this film informs without preaching but tells a great story so well that makes it unmissable in my opinion. I'm just gutted I didn't see it on the big screen.
The story centres on Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou) a fisherman whose village is raided by the RUF. Many are killed and families dispersed in the panic. Solomon's own son is given an AK47 as big as himself and brainwashed into becoming a boy soldier while his wife and other children fortunately make their way to a refugee camp. Forced to work in the diamond mines, he discovers a huge gem, which he manages to conceal during a shoot-out with government forces.
A rock of that size does not stay secret for long and he soon finds himself thrown together with "Rhodesian" mercenary cum diamond smuggler Danny Archer (DiCaprio) and American journalist Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connolly), each with very different agendas (escape money, a story) and methods. They have to fight for their lives, his family and the diamond in an epic story that is both moving and brutal. The backdrop of Africa is spectacular but the soil is red, locals say from the rivers of blood that flow through the country.
DiCaprio and Hounsou give towering performances, Hounsou as the humble family man who only wants the best for his family, DiCaprio finally comes of age and delivers as the sleazy and violent Archer. The contrast and chemistry between the two is excellent and the opposites come together in an emotional finale.
Not for the squeamish, this film informs without preaching but tells a great story so well that makes it unmissable in my opinion. I'm just gutted I didn't see it on the big screen.
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
This really is a fantastic film. Tense and thrilling from the start. It tells a shocking story and despite its length keeps you entertained. I would say that it is on a par with the Last King of Scotland and Hotel Rwanda. Excellent
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good Political Thriller
Blood Diamond is a very fine political thriller about diamond traffic and the civil war in Sierra Leone. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Janis Livens
A powerful message, but flawed screenplay
Maybe it is the fact that I've seen Leonardo DiCaprio in many other movies. But somehow, I just couldn't buy into his character throughout the movie. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Griesmayer
The Thinking Mans Action Movie
The best aspect of this film is its success at combining a block-buster action movie with a humanitarian message without appearing to exploit real life suffering the way Bruce... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jack Woodley
Excellent movie
I watched this based on the reviews it had been given, and it really is an insightful, thought-provoking film. Very graphic and realistic, and excellent acting all-round. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Endlessly
Great film
This is an Amazing film. Really recommend this. Something i could easily watch again and again. Some parts are quite shocking though.
Published 4 months ago by Imogenrose12
suprisingly interestimg
I never really liked Leonardo... until this film. When I saw it for the first time few years ago, I had to notice that he is not only a 'pretty face'. Really good film. Read more
Published 7 months ago by SKK
Brilliant
I watched this film over a year ago. To watch it again - it is one of those keep you on the edge of your seat. Read more
Published 7 months ago by fergs
Caprio Schmaprio
He does some pretty good films, this is one of them. And it was so well delivered! And the packaging! To die for!
Published 8 months ago by Stu
Very good, quick and as described
The product came exactly as it was described, was dispatched very quickly and arrived way before the estimated arrival. Very happy with the service, thank you.
Published 11 months ago by Ealexandria
Blood Diamond (DVD) Dicaprio/Connelly/Hounsou
Djimon Hounsou plays the role of Solomon Vandy, an African Mende Fisherman who wants his son Dia to be educated with the prospects of a better life. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Derek Vernon-morris
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