Blood Diamond

I saw Blood Diamond tonight.  I didn't find it to be too preachy and it had a decent story.  I think it was a little too "happy" of an ending given the situation -- but all in all a good flick.  Granted it has lots of violence; that goes without saying.  Similar to "Lord of War" in its portrayal of the situation while still selling a story (ie not a documentary or news footage), I find it to be wrong in its conclusion.  Real peace only comes from the Prince of Peace.  The bumper sticker is truer:  Know Jesus, Know Peace; No Jesus, No Peace.  You can't buy peace with dollars or form it through international coalitions.

But what to do about this movie?  Should you go see it?  The review from Plugged In suggests that it may be too rough. (Pardon the long quote)

[Blood Diamond] makes the emphatic statement that the abuse of natural, monetarily beneficial resources should be condemned and restricted as much as the world community can possibly do so. And to make that point, it introduces us to child soldiers. The kids shown here aren't being taught by their parents to hate and kill, they're being kidnapped, imprisoned and brainwashed. And the movie unequivocally preaches that when things like this happen, lots of people die. And everybody loses. Even those who think they've won.

In this regard, Blood Diamond screams out a protest that should be heard and well-heeded. How does it do it, though? With graphic, sometimes gratuitous images of violence, and obscene and profane language.

A postscript: I've reviewed many poignant message movies over the years, most of which rely on extreme content—obsessively detailing brutality, gore and death—to seal the emotional deal. And most of them, Blood Diamond included, leave me wishing they weren't flagrantly R-rated so that more people could be exposed to them...

An onscreen epilogue of sorts shows gem industry execs and human rights groups, among others, gathering in Kimberly, South Africa, to confront the death and destruction that follows in a blood diamond's wake. A speaker begins the conference with: "Let us ignore it no more." Agreed. But neither should we ignore the intricate moralities entangled in the ways in which we choose to teach future generations about right and wrong, peace and war.

Perhaps I'm too jaded -- I've seen too much fake violence.  I won't be tormented by nightmares.  I'm not sick to my stomach.  I don't relish in the blood-spilling.  I won't copy-cat any of the action.  Are there other ways to learn the message of the movie? Yes.  And if you fit into any of the previous four categories, you should not see this movie.

However:

If you find yourself too easily passing over the reports from Sudan, Cote d'Ivory, Uganda, Somalia, etc you SHOULD see this movie.  If only to put a face (albeit, in this case, a forgery) to the real troubles.