Tears of the Sun

Tears of the Sun brings tears of boredom and incoherency with this so-called "action-adventure" by director Antoine Fuqua. Bruce Willis stars as a Navy SEAL lieutenant—with a permanent scowl as his only character trait—ordered to rescue a doctor, two nuns and a priest from the violent uprising that is tearing apart Nigeria. Why these four are the fortunate few chosen to be saved is not clear—only a mild hole in the gap-ridden script by Patrick Cirillo and Alex Lasker. The two nuns and the priest disappear into the screenplay’s Bermuda Triangle, although the doctor manages to surpass it with her supermodel looks and underdeveloped character, so that at least some sort of a plot keeps this film going. Several more feeble attempts at plot development get thrown into this jumbled mix when the dedicated doctor refuses to leave her patients behind. In other words, viewers must endure a laborious trek through the African jungles along with the maimed motley crew. Minutes before the inevitable barbaric showdown of bombs and bullets come in the third act, the ludicrous reason for this brutal battle is revealed. Don’t worry, I won’t tell you what this reason is so you can sit at the edge of your seats eager with anticipation.