Movie Review: "Blood Diamond" (B+)

The overall story and premise are quite good. Archer, a white African solider of fortune (Leonardo di Caprio, who, for the first time, looks older than 13) uses a black, displaced fisherman (the always amazing Djimon Hounsou) to find an enormous diamond. The former fisherman, Solomon Vandy, lost his family during a violent raid by rebels who are mining the diamonds to fund their violent war. Vandy's son has been conscripted and brainwashed as a child solider, and Solomon will do anything, including abetting Archer, to find and save his family. The action and scenes directly supporting the story are well-acted and well-paced. But there is way too much talking and making of profound points by the actors, to the detriment of the movie. The story is quite didactic enough without stopping to explain and preach so much. I would recommend the movie, but it is a lot more watchable if you know what to expect. But most of all, I left with a conviction and desire to do something! My beautiful engagement ring is already bought, so Alex and I pray it is not a "blood diamond" (mined to finance senseless violence and conflict). I suspect that even if he'd asked for a "conflict-free" diamond when he bought it, it would be impossible to be certain it wasn't. And all throughout the movie I remembered what I've read about similar pain brought to African families when oil is discovered in their region. I don't hear many calling for a stop to buying oil...I am praying that God will change the hearts of those causing and contributing to the violence.