I too loved the mountain scene - the look of it as well as Leo's performance. And I can see how the film could have ended at that moment... However, I think those last 10 mins were vital due to the fact that the audience needed to be educated about the Kimberly process. I personally liked the ending with the focus on Vandy - it was rather hopeful and I think that was probably the best way to end a very upsetting and thought provoking film such as this one.

Video interview with Chuck the MovieGuy (he really loved the movie :wink: ) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UtTmk8Tkv4&mode=related&search=

Thanks Courtney. Nice to see at least one critic really getting how great this film is.

you're welcome ArtReborn - though, more than this one critic really loved Blood Diamond. It's also been named on some top ten movies of 2006 and LD's performance in it has been nominated for quite a few awards, namely GG and SAG as well as Djimon Hounsou. It's gotten more positive reviews than say, The Good Shepherd and The Holiday (61% positive vs. 55% and 50% positives at rotten tomatoes which compiles reviews) and not so far off films like Apocolyto and Pursuit of Happyness (65% and 67%). At Metacritic where the range of reviews is narrower, BD is scored at 63, GS 62, TH 52, AP, 68 and PH, 64.

Courtney Thanks for Movie Guy video link :) Also very much appreciate information regarding it'soverall critical standing in terms of other Dec releases....las ...like you ..have read many excellent reviews of film And ..yes...one only need to glance at info on 'awards & nominations' thread to see nods for "BD" for 'top ten film'....acting...visuals

Yeah, even Kris Tapley at Incontention.com, who didn't have much good to say about the film (except for DiCaprio's performance, which he sort of liked) and thinks it's mostly bad, actually put a comment about it being very watchable all the same on his blog. Very big of him, doncha think?

Courtney~ Thanks for the MovieGuy link. I'm very happy to report that BD has climbed back into the top ten as of yesterday...#9 for Monday, after being out of the top ten since just before Christmas. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2007-01-08&p=.htm Go Blood Diamond! :)

BD climbed into the #8 slot as of yesterday! http://www.showbizdata.com/dailybox.cfm It also showed the least percentage drop of all of the Top 10 films yesterday. :) All this, despite having lost theaters last week.

Good news, Nota Bene. Thanks.

Sure thing, ArtReborn. :wink: It held onto the #8 slot on Wednesday, and dropped back to #9 on Thursday. It's been holding up very well, considering it never had as many theaters as the others in the Top Ten. If it drops back out of the Top Ten over the weekend with the new releases, I hope it can rebound again. We'll see.

I just hope it makes it above the 50 mill mark at least (in the US) cause I want studios to feel they can make these kinds of movies and make profit as well as say something important. Ya know?

I hear you, ArtReborn. :wink: As to the 50 million mark (US), I don't think reaching that goal will be a problem. According to the estimates, it pushed up over 48 million over the weekend. It did lose about 300 some odd theaters before the weekend started, but it's still in about 800 plus theaters. Depending on how well it holds, it should reach 50 million by the middle to end of next week.

Oscars
Big Congratulations to Leonardo and Djimon and the rest of the nominees involved with Blood Diamond :)