All Critics (211)
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Top Critics (44)
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Fresh (139)
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Rotten (82)
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DVD (30)
Both excitingly well made and dispiritingly formulaic.
DiCaprio proves himself the most watchful and watchable actor of his age.
[Director Zwick] is craftsman enough that the pace never slackens, the chase scenes thrill, and the battle scenes sicken. And if it makes viewers think twice about buying their sweethearts that hard-won hunk of ice for Christmas, so much the better.
Thanks to Mr. DiCaprio's raffishly dashing soldier of fortune, the movie is worth watching.
Blood Diamond is redeemed by its solid performances. Chiefly from DiCaprio, who is having a great year, and Hounsou, who is dignity incarnate.
Some might argue that the Connelly role serves as the film's conscience. That may have been the intent, but as with a lot of things intended with Blood Diamond, the audience isn't made to feel it.
Despite fine performances, Blood Diamond is an unfortunate disappointment due to heavy handed direction which dilutes its message.
Diamonds may be forever, but Blood Diamond hopefully will only last through the Oscar season
After centuries of raping Africa for its resources, now we exploit its misery for our amusement.
Blood Diamond is a movie zircon. It doesn't cut glass, but it cuts plot, character, and credibility. It could be Hotel Rwanda, but instead it's Motel Deep-Six.
From the first moments of the movie, director Edward Zwick (The Last Samurai, Courage Under Fire) establishes that Blood Diamond will not show the idealized Africa of lions and safaris you're used to.
Violent melodrama over-simplifies painful issue.
Yes, Blood Diamond is preachy, but it's a sermon we need to hear.
The more I see of their work, the more I realise that directors Ed Zwick and Sam Mendes have one thing very sharply in common -- both are filmmakers who make movies that they think are far more important than they actually are.
Never quite overcomes its mindless blockbuster mentality.
This is one powerful film. The shooting style is intense, mixing action with heart-wrenching drama with Leonardo DiCaprio's faux South African accent.
Beneath the shocking brutality in Blood Diamond is the story of father searching for his son which, thanks to Mr. Hounsou's work, is nearly worth the price of admission.
Truly offensive is the film's go-nowhere result, its purported liberal ideologies untapped beyond their potential for speedy, soulless entertainment.
Blood Diamond remains worth watching, especially in its new HD trim and with its added bonus features. (HD DVD Edition)
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