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Blood Diamond [2006] | ![Blood Diamond [2006]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51qSvyJuNgL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: Edward Zwick
Actor: Leonardo Dicaprio
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: £18.99
Buy New: £3.40
You Save: £15.59 (82%)
New (25) Used (31) from £2.50
Rating:  94 reviews
Format: Pal, Subtitled
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region: 2
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 138 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 7321902117621
ASIN: B000MQC92Y
Theatrical Release Date: 2006
Release Date: June 18, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Opened but new,
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| Editorial Reviews:
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:
 Leo DiCaprio finds his niche April 17, 2007
O. Doyle (Ireland)
23 out of 25 found this review helpful
I've never been a big Leo DiCaprio fan but was interested to see what the hoopla was about Blood Diamond and I have to say that I was not disappointed either in the storyline or the casting.
The story plots the true price of the search for diamonds in Sierra Leone and how the suits of Europe hide the true depths of diamond mining and smuggling and how the diamonds help finance and encourage civil wars throughout Africa. This is a film though that, while concerned with the political situation in Africa, focuses more on how the obsessive search for a large, rare pink diamond consumes those who get too close to it.
In Blood Diamond Leo DiCaprio has finally found a part that was made just for him. His portrayal of the opportunistic diamond smuggler Danny Archer was a cut above any other performance I've ever seen him do and may finally push the audience to stop seeing him as the floppy-haired hero of Titanic fame. He certainly won me over.
Djimon Hounsou is nothing short of incredible and the chemistry between him and Leo was evident throughout. Hounsou was able to make the audience feel the whole range of emotions his character experiences ranging from pride and hope to fear, outrage, resignation, mistrust, desperation, and determination.
Jennifer Connelly did as good a job as possible in her role as "the idealistic journalist who wants to make a difference." I thought she and Leo worked wonderfully together and along with Djimon Hounsou they make an engaging trio you can't help rooting for.
All in all a wonderfully engaging film that shows the brutality behind the diamond trade for all to see.
 Good film destroyed by the final scene October 7, 2007
J. S. Meins (UK)
20 out of 22 found this review helpful
Blood Diamond, such is the vogue these days, is set against a backdrop of civil war and human atrocity. Djimon Hounsou plays a man struggling to protect his family and the whereabouts of a priceless diamond, Leonardo DiCaprio the opportunist diamond smuggler who wants to get out of africa with one last payload. DiCaprio's character is a proper antihero with an immoral worldview which made for a refreshing change, sadly DiCaprio - despite some decent acting - is just too boyish to pull it off completely. Still, the action sequences work well and war-torn Sierra Leone feels real. If only though...if only...IF ONLY the film had ended when DiCaprio puts down the phone in the final act. But it doesnt, presumbly at the behest of the studio and following some unsympathetic early screenings, the makers were forced to tack on a final 5 minute epilogue. A terrible, terrible epilogue with Americans playing the goodguys, English the badguys and a courtroom full of people applauding a downtrodden man. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever and left me utterly hating the film.
 Performances give "Diamond" its luster June 23, 2007
Jenny J.J.I. (That Lives in Northern Nevada)
13 out of 14 found this review helpful
A rare and sizable diamond is found by a worker in a warlord's diamond mine. This adds even more turbulence to an already volatile situation as different forces attempt to seize the 'blood diamond.'
In a certain sense I found this film to comparable to 'Babel' - it tells s story that reveals an uncomfortable truth about our world, but remains grounded and personal with its perspective. Focusing of a few principle characters - with each actor/actress giving a solid performance - the film gives a really up-close look at a world fueled by greed and filled with violence. There is something rotten in the states of Africa and the 'blood diamond' of the title is practically a classic McGuffin - totally incidental to what is going on. But if people can get so worked up over just one diamond it gives you an idea about why the situation there is what it is - and just how expensive diamonds really are.
Leonrado DiCaprio done an excellent job in his role-no exaggeration. He excels as the aggressive and also at times sensitive smuggler. 2006 has been exceptional year for him with two powerhouse roles - the other being "The Departed" - and his career should be highly respected for that. Djimon Honsou is one of my favorite actors, so, naturally, I liked his work in this. But it isn't that I simply "liked" his work in this--he gave THE best performance in the movie. He handles the role of Solomon Vandy as if he IS Solomon- a truly moving character. I think this is Jennifer Connelly's second best performance in her career (the first being Requiem For A Dream). She plays Matty Bowen, journalist for Vital Affairs magazine. She shows how great an actress she can actually be, but it will never top her Requiem acting.
As Richard Roeper stated: "Edward Zwick is the master of politically correct thrillers". Well, I wholeheartedly agree with him. "Glory," "The Last Samaurai," and "The Siege" were spectacular and suspenseful pictures with great acting, and I'm going to chalk this up onto that list as well. There are some great action set pieces that had me on the edge of my seat. But Zwick and cinematographer Eduardo Serra make it look easy. "Blood Diamond" is violent, gritty, suspenseful, poignant, and long which is why it is worth your time.
Great Hollywood drama August 3, 2007
A. Serrano (Zaragoza)
12 out of 13 found this review helpful
This great Hollywood blockbuster is one of a series of thought provoking movies along with the constant gardener and shooting dogs .Filmed in South Africa , London and Mozambique ,the result is excellent and the photography in this movie is a good as it gets .
It tells the story of two people who must find a very large diamond for very different reasons , one to save his son and the other to become rich . The action scenes are very realistic is terms of showing the brutal civil war in Sierra Leone as Saving private Ryan showed the landings in Normandy .
Leonardo DiCaprio deserves praise for his portrait of the South African mercenary he developed very convincing South African accent , he and Djimon Honsou work very well together and there is great scene when their characters clashed over racial issues .
Michael Sheen delivers another impeccable villain role as the unscrupulous diamond merchant who will buy anything from a war zone .
The only character that is not so good is Jennifer Connelly , also her relationship with Leonardo Dicaprio seems a bit far fetched and the romance is not very convincing.
4 and a half stars , only if it had a different female role ....
Di Caprio shines in diamond movie. May 2, 2007
Aidan Lucid (Co. Kerry, Ireland)
10 out of 12 found this review helpful
Before this film was released, I, like many, knew little about the diamond industry's dark history. This latest Hollywood offering highlights the issue unknown to most about the vast amount of blood spilled for diamonds. Di Caprio's current cinema outing may contain a strong moral message, but is it any good?
While walking his son home from school, Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou) becomes separated from his family when R.U.F. rebels attack his village. He is captured and forced to work in the mines where he finds a rare and valuable pink diamond. When government troops attack the mines, he is taken to prison. While there, Danny Archer (Leonardo Di Caprio), a soldier of fortune arrested for smuggling, learns about the diamond and befriends Solomon. The two also meet Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connolly) an American reporter when they are freed. Each has their own goal: Archer and his hunt for the diamond; Solomon and his hopes in being reunited with his family; and Maddy writing that elusive story about the diamond trade. But will they achieve their goals in the troubled land of Sierra Leone?
This is a great film but is not for the faint hearted. Directed by Edward Zwick, the action comes thick and fast with each scene moving at a rapid pace. The action however, may offend some viewers. Hollywood as of late, has decided to voice its own opinions on politics and war with such movies as: Jarhead, Syriana and Lord of War. Blood Diamond is no different, accentuating the bloody battles for the exporting of diamonds and the use of child soldiers in doing so. The director uses this in horrifying realism when young boys with Kalashnikovs open fire on defenceless women and children. It may be difficult to watch, but it's part of a sad truth. Despite the very interesting storyline, it does seem at times that the writers ran into a dead end and resolved certain situations in a rather unrealistic manner. Also this movie suffers from being slightly too long.
Di Caprio (The Titanic, The Departed) shows his excellent versatility as an actor and does a great job as the mercenary, Archer. Hounsou plays Solomon the courageous father, to perfection with the audience feeling sympathy for the character and his predicament. Connolly (The Hulk, Once Upon a Time in America), holds her own against the other two actors as Archer's love interest.
Combined with superb acting and splendid scenery, this film provides a murky insight into a multi-million Dollar worldwide business which makes for compelling viewing. When many elegant women watch this flick, diamonds may no longer be a girl's best friend.
Rating: 4/5
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