The characters are too one-dimensional to begin with, in the film, which is okay, if the audience eventually learns more about them. Unfortunately, we never get to see any development or potential for characteristics. This leads us to believe that these soldiers are actually robots, who have somehow gained emotion.
Bruce Willis plays a subtle, cold-hearted Lieutenant who spontaneously gains a conscience after learning that he must leave behind a group of Nigerian Refugees. He turns back and stays with them, urged on by Monica Belluci's character (a humanitarian doctor from Spain). His troops, a group of about several men, follow him, some for the idea, some against it. At the climax of a slaughtering of the village from which the refugees came (by Nigerian Rebels), all the soldiers suddenly gain consciences along with their Lieutenant.
This film followed a lot of elements in the typical humanitarian war movie, but it also avoided many. An enjoyable melodramatic war film that redeems itself with lack of back story and the constant vulnerability of the protagonists.
I loved how it all took place in the Nigerian jungle and didn't have to track back to explain the soldiers' origins. But I did hate that it used unrealistic melodramatic moments to manipulate us to tears.
Bruce Willis plays a subtle, cold-hearted Lieutenant who spontaneously gains a conscience after learning that he must leave behind a group of Nigerian Refugees. He turns back and stays with them, urged on by Monica Belluci's character (a humanitarian doctor from Spain). His troops, a group of about several men, follow him, some for the idea, some against it. At the climax of a slaughtering of the village from which the refugees came (by Nigerian Rebels), all the soldiers suddenly gain consciences along with their Lieutenant.
This film followed a lot of elements in the typical humanitarian war movie, but it also avoided many. An enjoyable melodramatic war film that redeems itself with lack of back story and the constant vulnerability of the protagonists.
I loved how it all took place in the Nigerian jungle and didn't have to track back to explain the soldiers' origins. But I did hate that it used unrealistic melodramatic moments to manipulate us to tears.