Darfur (2009) Online

This is my first Uwe Boll film. I have only ever heard of his movies, which mostly flop and are derided by critics and audiences. Recently, I heard about this movie, and I saw familiar faces in the cast. I wondered if this might be the film that convinces audiences that Boll has ability to make a good movie. I watched the trailer and researched production information behind the project, and all of it seemed to point towards a great film in the making. Boll appeared a calm, reflecting instructor in front of the camera. He spoke about the issues of Darfur and expressed hope that the UN and NATO would finally get involved somehow. All this added to my eagerness to see the movie for myself.

I finally got the chance today. One night in my city, special screening in the cinema, with the assistance of STAND Canada. All the profits this movie makes on this tour will help fund STAND Canada and its attempts to raise awareness of Darfur's genocide.

Let me just say, the film is shocking. The film is ghastly in its realism, and many a time came where my hand flew up in horror and I struggled to continue watching the film. Boll does not tone down anything for the audiences, and gives us a vicious film that is simple in showing us what happens in Sudan.

In the midst of this are six Western journalists, being led by a small group of military units from UA. They take the journalists to a small village where they see for themselves what is happening here in this region of the world. Darfuri speak to them in hushed voices, restraining tears or speaking with quiet resentment towards these people who promise to show the world what is happening.

Much of the dialogue was improvised, and most of the people playing the villagers are themselves survivors of Darfur. The knowledge of this lends an eerie sense of realism to the film, and it is fascinating to see how the American and British actors prepared and developed their characters in the film.

Most prominent are Malin (Kristanna Loken) and Freddie (David O'Hara). Malin is moved by the plight of the people as she asks them questions with terrible answers. Freddie observes the village and the attitude with some hint of disgust at this endless cycle of violence, where both blacks and Arabs are guilty of killing each other. As a journalist, he is relentless, bombarding the captain who is supervising them with questions on why nothing is being done, though he is himself reluctant to put himself on the line for the people. This leads to a revelation in his character that leads to perhaps the strongest performance of the journalists. O'Hara's gravelly voice and his grim face dominate the scene where he is present, and his character develops well as he is exposed to this world.

Also present are Billy Zane, Matt Frewer, Edward Furlong, and Noah Danby. They all give their characters specific quirks and opinions on the topic of Darfur. Zane is emotionally moved by the answers he gets from the villagers. Furlong's character remains aloof and tries to escape the horror of it all emotionally. Danby stares at all around him with a determination to tell this story to the world, while Frewer's character is most concerned with the safety of his camera and taking pictures for his daughter.

What happens next is evident in the synopsis; a group of Janjaweed arrive with an intent to massacre the village. The journalists must decide whether they stay and attempt to protect the villagers with their status as foreigners, or flee to tell the world of what is going on. In two of the strongest performances in the movie, we are given the Captain (Hakeem Kae-Kazim) who is ultimately responsible for the safety of the journalists, and the leader of the Janjaweed band (Sammy Sheik) who has no need for subtlety when dealing with those who oppose him.

The film is brutal, violent, and graphic. The issues it tries to show are real and the film is very effective in giving us this scene of terror and carnage. It is certainly not for all to see; do not come in expecting to feel fine walking out.

Uwe Boll gives us a mighty film about the issue of Darfur, and relating to his previous filmography, I don't care if he made ten times as many flops as he has. All that is forgotten while watching this film, at least for me.

It is interesting to see how some people give this film a rating of 1 or less than 5 points, much of them, I am sure, without even seeing it. I guess it has to do with the fact that is a movie by Uwe Boll, and yet they can't overcome this stage of hating everything the guy does, even if it is a serious matter like this. Even if someone does not like the movie (which is perfectly valid) rating should not be less than 5. Just because daring to show something so painful, this movie has a value in itself. But is not my case. I really loved this movie and should I say: If you are human, watch it. It is very difficult to watch, that is true, is also disturbing and shocking. But that is precisely what this film aims. We, as the six journalists in this story, become witnesses to the slaughter. This is not a thriller or an action movie. Do not pretend to find suspense in this film. It is a Docudrama. A very effective one. Many talk about what is happening in Darfur, but no one shows us what actually happens in a way that really affect us and make us move.

The main cast is composed of well-known actors, but the others are all survivors, victims of genocide, who wanted to be part of this project. Then, we can see how they interact with each other. We can see Kristanna Loken speaking in Arabic or David O'Hara listening to a victim who speaks English with difficulty. Another interesting aspect of the film is that there is no script, just 30 pages of guidance. The actors had to improvise their lines. This film does not focus on the origins of the conflict in which each side can give their own version. Does not delve into political issues or say who is right. Only presents the conflict and shows its consequences: people dead. Women raped and murdered children. I heard that there is also a debate about what is the actual number of victims and each group provide its own numbers. But this film does't mess with that either. Simply tells us that there is a conflict, that has killed innocent people as a result. I have read reviews of some of the real victims who participated in the film, pleased to be able to tell their story and read comments from people who watched the film and confirmed that what it shows is exactly what they lived. It is not a matter of numbers.

6 journalists will document the situation in Darfur and suddenly, they become witnesses to the attack by a group of Janjaweed to the village where they did their interviews. Then, must decide whether to leave or stay and try to help. It's OK to get angry, feel indignation, close your eyes with some scenes. That's what happened to me. I even began to mourn before the real drama begins, only to see the faces and eyes of these people. This is a film very well done. It highlights David O'Hara, Kristanna Loken and Sammy Sheik and this does't mean that others do not fulfill their function. They do it perfectly. Hopefully more people can see this and feel affected. Personally, I congratulate the people who dared to tell this story, despite what these things generate and commend the victims who have the courage to share their own experiences hoping that, some time, things change.

Finally, if it will still appear the inquisitors of Uwe Boll to rate this movie with a 1, let me tell you something: Open the doors of your houses, take a deep breath, go out to see what happens in the world beyond video games, and grow up. It is time ...

I firstly have to say - I have watched a few of Boll's films - and have laughed with most about how he is an awful, laughable, fly-by-night director of cheesy adaptations of game-to-film movies.

Within watching the first 30 minutes of this film - almost immediately and forever that preconception had truly passed.

What Boll and others have achieved here is sheer honesty of the current, and sadly continuing, situation in Sudan - regarding the Jangaweed's ongoing islamofascist genocide of the peoples of Sudan.

This film truly disturbed me in ways no other had, it at once shows the desperation of the indigenous people and the inability for the AU or the UN to do anything to resolve the current issues, something that should resonate in any sensible persons mind.

This film shows the paradox between the violence of faith and the ceaseless happiness, love and essence of survival of a small community.

As others have said, this is not a film for the faint of heart or weak of mind, this is sheer honesty postulated against your preconceptions and prejudices about these issues.

There are NO "good guys" to save the day here. Though a few try. Only good people trying to forge some kind of life from harsh, foreboding nature - violently persecuted by "bad guys" who have no feeling of remorse in what they do.

I know that this is fiction, but the message it represents in its methodical way of presenting fiction as fact is truly honest, respectable and noble.

And that is why I give this film full marks.

This film may mark a time when we remove ourselves from pointless fantasy and self-interested "WOW" factors and use cinema as a reflection on our own evil behaviours.

Uwe Boll now has my ultimate respect as a film maker. As have ALL the actors who worked - without script - in a situation by situation experiential way making this film.

If you shed no tears, if you feel no pang of self-hatred as a human being whilst watching this film, I heartily suggest you remove yourself from the genepool.

Because, you are truly not worthy of being called a human.

This is my 4th Uwe Boll film review. I've slated the guy in the past - and rightly so - for some of the atrocious and bad films he's made. I gave up at one point watching his films hoping he'd get better....but, as my last review about 'Rampage' stated, Uwe had made something that wasn't complete rubbish and was actually entertaining. Whilst not converting me from a hater, this did give me an open mind to any future works. Which leads us to Darfur.

This film can't be called entertaining. It wasn't made to entertain but rather to raise awareness and send a message to people about the atrocities happening in Darfur. I for one had heard of Darfur in the news but knew nothing in detail until looking into to it thanks to this film.

This is simply Uwe's best film to date. This is a powerful, gritty, 'in your face' piece of cinema about the situation in Darfur. There is no happiness, no Hollywood ending. I've never found myself so angry and frustrated whilst watching a film. I don't want to watch it again - not because it's not good but because it's not nice to watch. You will feel uncomfortable and rightly so....and herein lies what makes this film very good - it will illicit emotion from you with it's non-sugar coated story telling.

My only complaint....and a common one when watching Boll films....is the hand held camera. I don't mind it's use but still Uwe overkills this method. Too much shaking makes little sense.

I thought the way this film was made - barely any scripting, the production values - was excellent. So, bravo to you Mr Boll. I think you should step away from video game adaptations and work on original projects as I think when you do this, you can actually show that you are a good film maker.

A great, impressive and very, very important movie! And I think it is really no wonder that Amnesty International will showing an official screening of the Darfur movie. It is very important to show the world what's going in Darfur / Sudan. That really happens right now. So don't close your eyes, watch it! I think that this is the best film of Dr. Uwe Boll and I hope that this movie will start something in some heads. It shows the horrible and brutal reality and the Darfur movie shows it very obviously. Thanks to Uwe Boll, Chris Roland and Dan Clarke for producing this stirring movie. Kristanna Loken, David O'Hara and Billy Zane doing their very best. Congratulations!

Bash Uwe Boll all you want, but I think the man's starting to learn that when he uses his own material (or at least something that's not a video game) he can do great work. Rampage, Postal, Stoic, and now Darfur...all great movies. Sadly, a lot of people will probably overlook them just because Boll has directed some bad movies. OK...truly awful movies...but still.

The movie itself is pretty straight forward. It follows a group of international journalists into a small village in Darfur. The interview people, take pictures...you know, the stuff you'd expect journalists to do. When the village is attacked they have to decide how much of a difference they really want to make (especially given the impotent security detail they're given). Yes, the violence in this movie can be pretty brutal, but I've seen far worse and all Boll is really doing is telling the truth. As troubling as it is to watch, it really is worth it. I guess my question is where all the "A-list" celebrities like Clooney who won't shut up about Darfur...yet haven't made a movie about it. Seriously...it took Uwe Boll to do this? That's almost as depressing as the subject matter of the movie.

After watching this movie, I googled Uwe Boll and found that most of his movies were flops. But for me, all his flops meant nothing and I give him a resounding 10! What a superb story he has told! The cast members which included real survivors were simply amazing!

Uwe Boll didn't focus on a blame game in the film. Instead, he focused on the horrors and the effects of the problem. He painted a heart wrenching picture of the sufferings.

Director Uwe Boll was successful in waking a feeling of helplessness, anger, and an urgent need to do something about the current situation in Darfur. I think everyone should watch the movie and get a feel for what's happening in that country, and hopefully that will generate enough movement to end the misery of innocent people there.

I would have never expected Uwe Boll to pull this off. This is an important movie that uses similar methods like Stoic to transport a dark subject into the viewers minds. I always considered Bolls takes on serious matters as a cash off (like the despicable PETA reference in Seed) but with Darfur I think the motivation came from the heart. I am all for showing things like they are and not sugarcoating reality... you really have to hit people with a sledgehammer to make them look at issues they'd rather not look at. Hats off to Uwe Boll for Darfur and the massively underrated Stoic. There is still too many haters around (and believe me I used to be one too) but with so many good movies lately (um... except the ridiculous Final Storm of course) I hope people start accepting Bolls output for what it is and not put a tag on it. This is a well done movie, so don't bitch about the shaky cam style... its in there for a reason and along with the improvised style adds to the realism of it. Both movies Darfur and Stoic managed taking extreme subjects and making people take decisions in these situations in a way that anyone can relate to, no matter how distant these situations are to his real life... and I think this is quite an achievement.

With depressing regularity, the behavior of humans on this planet devolves into something so far removed from those qualities which are supposed to set us apart from the other species that it truly boggles the mind. This movie is an attempt to portray one of those instances of inexplicable behavior, the Darfur Genocide, and it does an excellent job of it.

The cover art on the Video release is deceiving, you will not see Billy Zane as an action hero, ala Bruce Willis in Tears of the Sun or Leonardo DiCaprio in Blood Diamond - there is more than enough "action" in the second half, however.

This is also not The Killing Fields or Hotel Rwanda; it is somewhat more creative and poignant than those classics because it relies on unscripted dialogue, many actual survivors as actors and because this occurrence in the Sudan is still underway at the present time, unlike the Cambodian and Rwandan instances which were brought to the screen 10 years afterwords.

What you have here instead is a somewhat raw microcosm of genocide and the confusion of the world to deal with it; brought to you in a manner which is both immersive and which raises many legitimate questions. You could close your eyes for some parts or leave it out of your DVD player altogether - but you'll be somewhat less of a human for having done so.

I've just finished watching this movie and I've never felt strongly enough to actually write a review or commentary on IMDb before. However, after watching this movie, I feel compelled to.

Filmed in a style that could almost be mistaken as a documentary, the actors play their parts perfectly. As was said in another review here, this movie is not about the actors but about the people of Dafur and the struggle therein.

Uwe Boll has done an amazing job here. I won't go into any detail about the movie but will keep this short and sweet. Watch this movie, you may not enjoy it in the conventional sense but it's a movie that needs to be seen. Once you've seen it, then you'll understand why.

Hard to believe this was directed by the same man who brought us House Of The Dead and the execrable Alone In The Dark. However, it does seem that the previously very estimable Herr Boll is building himself a tidy portfolio of "issue" films to accompany his lacklustre video game adaptations and dreadful "comedies". Using a growing company of relatively accomplished players (Jurgen Prochnow, Edward Furlong, Kristanna Loken, Michael Pare, Matt Frewer)

Prior to this film, I had only seen one of his issue films. Heart Of America, a take on American school violence, it was ambitious but perhaps overreaching. Clunky performances (Brendan Fletcher, excepted), odd shot choices and an ambling real-time screenplay.

It also hugely oversimplified and misunderstood the motivations of the Columbine killers, if they were the inspiration (and considering lead actor Michael Belyea's remarkable physical resemblance to Eric Harris, it's a fair conclusion that it must have been).

Respect for the attempt, nothing more. Certainly nothing that prepared me for Darfur.

Don't be fooled by the advertising or its alternate title, this isn't Billy Zane and the Terminatrix save Africa. Darfur is a powerful, horrible, brutal, gut punch of a film that brings to life the very real and very recent horrors committed during the ongoing Afro-Arab conflict.

There is little in the way of plot, a group of British and American journalists and a Scandinavian aid worker are escorted by a consignment of African Union soldiers, there only in a peacekeeping capacity.

They are taken to a local village where through speaking to the locals they learn of the atrocities that have been suffered. The villagers speak in hushed tones of mass executions, rape with the threat of AIDS and abduction. Whispered atrocities that will soon become a vivid reality.

A consignment of Janjaweed approach the village and although initially confronted by the westerners and the AU force, it is all too apparent that they are impotent in the face of the warmongers, outnumbered and with no mandate to engage.

Forced to retreat and failing in their attempt to pry a small glimmer of hope from this awful situation, one of the group breaks on the journey away from the village and demands to be allowed to return to the scene of the slaughter. To what end, only he knows but he knows that he cannot live the rest of his life knowing that he turned his back and ran away (it is telling that the opening line of dialogue in the film is an American cameraman beseeching for someone to tell him how he can ever go home again – he is alive to tell the tale but at what cost to his psyche and soul?).

There could be a debate about whether Boll's take on this is exploitative, essentially making a horror film about a real life situation – accusations that could levelled fairly reasonably at movies like Men Behind The Sun and Nanking Massacre (I've yet to view Boll's take on WW2 atrocities with Auschwitz).

I fall on the side of nay in this metaphorical debate that I've just invented, the opening period of the film is at pains to paint the villagers as human beings and the atrocities depicted follow those documented by reporters who braved the region albeit using the device of a single village as a microcosm for the genocide.

If there is a criticism, it is that the politics, racism and historical conflict that have lead to this are ignored almost completely. The Janjaweed are presented as nothing more than faceless killers lead by a charismatic Commander (an excellent though underused Sammy Sheik)who could have wandered in from any number of action movies.

Whether the film should address these issues is open to debate.

The film does not blink away from the atrocities – they are depicted frankly and brutally – women are raped and shot, mass executions are undertaken by machine gun, babies are crushed and impaled, those deemed not worthy of a bullet are hacked to death with machetes.

At no point, though, does this feel like an attempt to titillate the viewer with violence, it presents itself to bludgeon and sicken the viewer with its sustained violence for over half of the films running time, there is no attempt to comfort the viewer.

This is how it is. This is what the TV news means when it uses the euphemism "humanitarian crisis".

How do you feel about it? What are you going to do about it?

Despite a fairly unrealistic redemptive coda, the westerners attempts to intervene acts as a metaphor for the West's historically clumsy and misguided attempts to intervene in African politics: impotent and inept, only caring when its too late.

The intervention itself ends savagely also: all are equal in the eyes of genocide.

An aside: interestingly I'd also recently watched Adam Curtis' excellent documentary All Watched Over By Machines Of Loving Grace which, amongst other things, explores the horrific results of America's intervention in the Congo and the Belgian governments' inextricable links to the genocide in Rwanda. Both of these were brought to mind during the westerner's ultimate confrontation with the Janjaweed.

It may well be that the film is simply as impotent a howl of tragic, existential fury as its opening line. How can any of us go home again knowing what is going on and doing little or nothing to stop it?

A final nod to David O'Hara, as excellent as always. Salute, Sir!

One thing is for sure though, you can't dis Uwe Boll any more. He's done more than you have.

Chapeau, Herr Boll, Chapeau.

This is one of those rare films where you are one with the film and it emotionally wipes you out. If you're not a fan of his, my advice to you is forget that Uwe Boll made the film but remember that he made it when you're finished watching it: it seems like he actually can make good films.

Filmed in South Africa, DARFUR (aka ATTACK ON DARFUR) deals with a group of journalists ~ among them David O'Hara, Billy Zane and Kristanna Loken ~ who travel to a Darfuri village in the Sudan. The people there live in fear of the marauding Janjaweed militia who attack the villages, killing, raping and pillaging and the journalists are there to expose the horrors of the Janjaweed. While the journalists are there, the Janjaweed arrive and the journalists are forced to flee, leaving the villagers at the mercy of the looters. While on the run, the journalists are faced with either getting back home or going back and making a stand............

I saw this film at its' premiere in Cape Town on March 18th 2010 and was shocked, horrified and deeply disturbed by it ~ the violence is unrelenting, the you-are-there camera-work puts you in the centre of the action, Jessica de Rooij's music prepares you for something bad to happen (when it does, you are totally unprepared) and the acting is topnotch.

Several people walked out of the screening as they couldn't take the violence and the horrific images: I burst into tears at the end where, in the midst of so much violence, death and destruction, a tiny, heart-rending sound of life is heard and I couldn't sleep that night, nor could I eat. The producer Chris Roland addressed us that night, apologizing to us if we came there to be entertained as "Uwe and myself didn't set out to entertain anyone".

Brilliant is too weak a term for how great this film is.

I saw this film at the Cape Winelands Film Festival in Cape Town last week. I was shocked and stunned by it, so much so in fact that the final scene where there is a spark of life found amongst so much death and destruction made me cry bitterly and for real. I could not sleep nor eat that night ~ the film's brutal imagery ripped my guts out.

The basic plot of the film involves a group of international journalists visiting a village and interviewing the inhabitants, so that the atrocities committed by the Janjaweed can be exposed worldwide. When the journalists leave, the Janjaweed arrive and wreak havoc. The journalists are left with a damned if we do, damned if we don't choice: flee or take a stand.

All the cast and crew should stand up and take a bow for making a film which highlights the Darfuri genocide by the Janjaweed when no one else would or could. Kudos especially to producer Chris Roland and definitely also to Uwe Boll.

I really hope that more countries get involved with the situation in Darfur. The U.S. needs to get more involved too. The national and international media also need to report less on Iraq & Afghanistan, and focus on the real tragedies being made everyday over in Africa. The percentage of innocent killings has to end before it gets any worse. I saw Uwe Boll's Attack On Darfur, and he did a good job of depicting the situation with a low budget, nowhere near what people like a Michael Bay, James Cameron or Steven Spielberg have on their hands. Boll does an excellent job of combining a fictional story of journalists arriving to report on the sad situation with visually graphic depictions of innocent victims being killed. With the movie being filmed in Africa, it brings the cinematography to life in an entirely different way. Uwe Boll also has the support of an awesomely great cast with Billy Zane, Edward Furlong, Kristanna Loken, Hakeem Kae-Kazim & David O'Hara. Boll haters need to stop panning this guy because he has a masterpiece on hand. Apparently even director Ron Howard believes so. The film is coming out on DVD Oct. 26th.

Let me begin by saying this movie was totally implausible. For starters, the General would never have broken mandate by returning back to the village, much less with two foreign nationals who's wellbeing was his responsibility. If Belgian United Nation troops were able to follow their mandate and withdraw, leaving behind thousands of condemned Tutsis and moderate Hutus to certain death, then the General would too, especially since he was under the command of the domestic government (which, by the way, is largely suspected of working with the Janjaweed). Of course returning to the village was the moral thing to do, but don't we value soldiers because they follow orders without question (despite the fact that these orders may come into conflict with moral obligations)? Secondly, and perhaps less importantly, if were ever to lay my entire body weight onto a newborn, hungry, scared, and tired baby, I guarantee you, the child out scream his lungs out. I don't understand why the Darfuri baby in the movie did not.

Despite all it's flaws, however, Attack on Darfur had me, gripping the edge of my seat- out of either terror, revulsion, or anger (either that, or I was literally covering my eyes and plugging my ears). It's a compelling story, and although it does show some ghastly and graphic scenes (eg. a Darfuri baby getting impaled, screaming, on a wooden stick by the Janjaweed), and depicts some truly gruesome images, ultimately, it's the expressions of the actors that really got to me- the sorrow and grief of the women getting raped, the coldness in the eyes of the Janjaweed commander, the utter panic on the faces of the children in the burning hut- while some movies like Blood Diamond tug at your heartstrings through its violence and impressive CGI effects, Attack on Darfur 's focus on sentiment is what makes this film so haunting. It's hard to believe that in it's entirety, the movie took place over the span of only one day. The reason why the movie moved so slowly, I think, is because the camera lingers on the zoomed in faces of the actors, or scenes more emotionally relevant than scenes to move the plot forward. At one point, the movie dedicates about five or six minutes on portraying what the village was like before the Janjaweed attack- peaceful and serene, in order to sharpen the contrast compared to what the ravaged village looked like a few hours later.

I can not say that I enjoyed this movie, since it's not a movie that was made to be enjoyable. I can say, though, that it has been nearly a week since I first saw this film, and I haven't stopped thinking about it since. It has the potential of being disturbing, but that's what makes this film so powerful. After watching this, I did ask questions about the legitimacy of this story, as well as questioned the plausibility of the end, but this movie ultimately guided me to more significant and consequential questions- such as why we pride ourself as being so different from the common beast, yet, when looking back in history, we are more savage, and less 'civilized' than any other creature in the animal kingdom. All in all, yes, there are aspects of this movie that could have been improved, but not recommending this would be doing movie-goers a disservice.

Take the world's so-called worst director and a bunch of washed up actors working from a non existent about the Darfur conflict and you would imagine "Darfur" to be a ceulloid travesty, but oh how wrong you would be. Uwe Boll (yes he of Alone In the Dark and Blodrayne fame!) has crafted a movie that is both poignant and thought provoking and once you have seen it it will remain etched in the memory forever. I doubt that a lot of film makers would have the balls to tackle a subject of what has gone on in Sudan but Boll having zero reputation to uphold, really had nothing to loose by making this movie and so has gone full steam ahead with a portrayal of the genocide that is truly harrowing to watch but is presented with such realism and I think that the graphic scenes had to be such as to truly drill the message home to the world. Credit also must go to the cast which includes the likes of Bily Zane, Kristanna Loken and Edward Furlong who were not working from a script so all had to develop their own characters and each one brings a brilliant sense of realism to the movie and I doubt that any of today's crop of Hollywood talent could have done a better job. If "Darfur" had been made by anyone else I think it would have been the talk of the town and a true Oscar candidate but sadly I doubt this movie will ever reach a wide audience as it should and that in my opinion is a true travesty.

It's one amazing story, right up there with Hotel Rwanda, even better. There's no Roméo Dallaire for humanity to save face although there is some heroism, but certainly not from the UN or the AU. Unfortunately, also not from Matt Damon, George Clooney and all the pretty faces in Follywood who've showed much concern for the democide in Darfur publicly and turned their backs on Boll's fine contribution, but that's the great thing about Darfur, there's enough shame to go around for everyone. There is also enough murder and rape to go round, both in Darfur and in the film, and it's not as graphic as it could be, but the slaughter is horrific and upsetting. You just want to get in a spaceship and hurl yourself a million light years from earth.

a reviewer here called it "badly made exploitative violence pornography". and thats exactly what it is.

To be more specific: Mr Boll took "idi I smotri" /check it on IMDb/ and thought: lets copy the ultra violence village burning scene 1:1 and stretch into 1 full hour. then we sell it as an "eye opener" and ride the same wave Schindlers List did in the early 90ies. There will also be a whole generation of people who have never seen "Idi I smotri" (or similar movies) and thus will think "Darfur" is unique.

furthermore: how could ANYONE possibly ever doubt or criticize the "moral message" Darfur pretends to convey? those people must be either blatant racists or plain inhuman retards. no? perfect!

oh .... "SPOILER WARNING"... the first half of the movie is a cheese feast that would almost pass as a parody. one thousand color filtered close ups of smiling children and happy, peaceful villagers. Even the plumpness of "i wear glasses, thus, I am civilized" is not withheld. Some reviewer pointed out,that Boll doesn't care a fart about darfur and their people, and I found this blatantly obvious as well.

The other half of this movie is a chaotic gore feast. Boll, always a pioneer in misstepping, has a hundred children and babies slaughtered. And then some more. and why not? its the simple formula of all pornography: "its disgusting and despicable, but i just cant take my eyes of this woman's lovely breasts. lets have some more". Darfur is indeed a truly cheap attempt to harvest money from the naive, and boll does -again- and admirable job of having no shame to violate anything that is exploitable.

I would assume only the very young or blessedly unknowing of any mass market popcorn media truly fall for bolls petty ploy. Everybody else should feel insulted by this fraud of a film.

Only the truly nasty laugh and laugh about this movie. like Mr. Boll, when he reads the user reviews by people who felt "truly moved".

Since 1988 and the war continues and stinks of genocide. It has taken so many thousand lives before any kind of intervention can be made. Why do the Arabs want the Africans wiped out? Why does Janjaweed think raping and killing or butchering is the best way to get their land back? When did they loose it? Why kill? I have read but not scene the killings and this film made me wake and say something needs to be done and if I can help in any way I will. No journalist's voice is loud enough, no victim's cry is loud enough, no AU soldier's petition is loud enough. The guns and power remain with the Janjaweed, we need all the voices in the world to make them hear us and stop, just stop this inhumane war. Save Darfur and various international organizations are trying their best, I wish it was enough. I can only hope and pray.

This is my review on Uwe Bolls movie Darfur. If you guys know anything about Uwe Boll he uses shock moments to make a movie. Let me say that this is the first thing wrong with Bolls movies. He fills the movie with blood and gore and 0 story line and 0 character development. The only reason I watched this was because i read many reviews on here that said it was good.

This movie is about American reporters who go to Darfur to document the atrocities being done to the people. They go to a small village and soon make friends with the towns people. As they are leaving they see a group of arabs who are going to the village (most likely to wipe it out) some try to play hero as others go back to camp.

This movie is just absolutely awful. There is zero character development and of course for Uwe Bolls common style of a shaking camera that is constantly moving around. You can never fully tell whats going on in the picture. It makes the movie unwatchable. The only reason for the 3 stars was because it did what it intended to do. It does shock and awe at some points but if your looking for gore skip this. 20 mins of gore 70 mins of bore. Skip this one folks

I just want to say that I hope high ratings of Uwe Boll's non-gaming movies will encourage him to do such kind of movies only and stay out of Crysis, Wolfenstein and other adaptations (I have trown one star more for future efforts). This is 3rd Uwe Boll's movie above average I have seen (others are "Tunnel Rats" and "Rage"). All are engaging, not easy to watch, and left you with wondering, which is what makes film memorable. Can't say this about most of Hollywood's mainstream. Of course this is second league movie-making in technicalities, but less is better if you want to keep it real. Big bow for actors that had to developed their characters without dialogues lines.

All and all, give Uwe a chance.

Darfur is a terrible movie. Plain and simple. There are a myriad of reasons why Uwe Boll needs to stop making movies. Somehow, "Darfur" maybe worse that Uwe Boll's "Blood Rayne" movies (and that is saying something). I can go on and on about how the pacing in the movie is wonky; how everyone's characterization is lacking; or how it is the most disorganized movie I've ever seen. The most annoying thing about the movie was the cinematography. In a misguided attempt to make it look "realistic", the movie is shown like it was filmed on a camcorder. The camera sways to and fro constantly, even in places where the camera shouldn't be wobbling. It looks more like the camera man was drunk and losing his balance. This is a poorly made movie that is mockery on the subject matter and proof that Uwe Boll needs to stop making movies.

Unwatchable.

This movie was filmed using overblown, overdone "subjective camera" technique. The camera swoons from ground to sky, constantly jiggling and wobbling.

All in all, this movie is very tedious to watch. Typically, an "over anxious" camera is used throughout throughout a movie, constantly, in every scene, the purpose is to mask bad sets and bad acting. That holds true here. This entire film could have been made in a single field.

Low budget and amateurish are words and phrases that do not reach down far enough to accurately convey this movie.

Such a shame that important subject matter would be given such shabby treatment.

I'm always the last to get around to seeing many movies due to my schedule, etc. This movie was incredibly shocking and I must admit I had no clue as to what the movie might entail. I found myself covering my eyes at certain points, yelling at other times and wanting to grab a weapon and fight for justice the rest of the time! I was sickened by the Muslim rebels and their disgusting lack of humanity or compassion. Then when they revealed their racist attitudes I couldn't believe what they were saying! I kept hearing a voice inside my head saying, "Is this for real? Did this really happen? Is this still happening? Oh my God! You have to do something". (Naturally that voice was my conscience slapping me around for which I am eternally grateful). I recommend this movie to anyone wanting to be forced to deal with the reality of people outside of the US or other countries where life is more free and holds value. This movie is going to stick in my head for a long time to come. I can't say that it has improved my liking for radical Islamists however. It has only made me dislike them more than I already do, I'm sorry to say but it is true. But I thank God that people did survive these atrocities and lived to tell their horrific story. Let's hope that President Bashir has his day in court. He will I supposed unless the UN continues to postpone it. Great movie!

You people amaze me.

Because someone films a woman getting bludgeoned to death with a hammer in unflinching detail (as Boll has done in a recent film) does not mean he's making some eloquent statement on violence, or shows atrocity in Darfur, does not mean he cares anything about Darfur, or is a humanitarian, particularly if the film is nothing more than a showcase for horrible actions, with no real moral compass.

It's an exploitation film people. He's using a serious topic to feed a ravenous, hungry, gore obsessed film audience, their shock and awe. He's giving you your 'horror' movie.

Are the profits to this movie going to a NP working in the region such as Okfam? Did it spur you to donate money? Is there a plea to call your congress person.

It's all but a snuff film, it is true pornography. Violence only for violence's sake. And you praise him for it? And then incite others to see it, as if you're leading some humanitarian charge? Be honest.

Just a little while, with yourself... be honest You are titillated.

If you really want a film about the civil wars ravaging Central Africa, one of the best is DARESALAM by Issa Serge Coelo, filmed in 2000, it's a masterful film, that gives a surprising amount of depth to the fighting, specifically in Chad, but its truths resonate throughout the continent.

And beyond.

However perhaps all you want to see is the money shots. Perhaps all you want to see is people suffer and die.

You sad hypocrites.

He's feeding your need, for gore. Don't make anything more of it than that. You want to know the situation in Darfur, there are lots of non-profits out there that will inform you, and could put your money to better use, than you renting or buying a DVD filled with just people's suffering. Than faces of death.

Our fictions have to spur us toward some higher calling, some higher ideals, something not unlike hope, Because if our fictions don't make that leap toward hope, towards a better way, our facts never will.

If all our fictions can offer us, is to profit in the horror of our facts, than we become conspirators in those acts. Confused, gibbering applauders of the deeds.

You want do something about Darfur. Join Oxfam, or your NP of choice, and give. But don't praise an exploitation movie and director, and think you've done anything... but sully your soul.