IMBD says, "Set against the backdrop of civil war and chaos in 1990's Sierra Leone, Blood Diamond is the story of Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio) - a South African mercenary - and Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou) - a Mende fisherman. Both men are African, but their histories as different as any can be, until their fates become joined in a common quest to recover a rare pink diamond that can transform their lives. While in prison for smuggling, Archer learns that Solomon - who was taken from his family and forced to work in the diamond fields - has found and hidden the extraordinary rough stone. With the help of Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly), an American journalist whose idealism is tempered by a deepening connection with Archer, the two men embark on a trek through rebel territory, a journey that could save Solomon's family and give Archer the second chance he thought he would never have."

It was an amazing, powerful movie. I know when people say powerful and amazing the buzz words aren't given much credit. This movie is the epitome of powerful. The descriptor above states that the movie is "Set against the backdrop of civil war and chaos in 1990's Sierra Leone". That's definitely an under statement. Solomon's son, Dia is taken and trained to be a toy soldier (a.k.a child soldier).

They portrayed a very holistic view of the life of a child soldier. At first, they are beat, trained to believe that their families do not love them and are against the "revolution" (that the rebels are trying to create). The highly realistic situations of the rebel captains giving these kids of 8, 9, 10 years old food, CDs, booze, inter venous drugs and guns is shown often. They also show the toy soldiers looting, plundering and burning villages after killing all of the villagers point blank.

Since the movie is named blood diamond, you can expect graphic portrayals of the diamond mines and fields.

Horrific is another word to describe the movie. It is so sad what humans can do to one another for money, weapons and power. It is so sad what "the man" will sacrifice to make a buck - other people in third world countries. The continent of Africa has a gorgeous landscape and to a first time viewer of the continent - Utopia but it is stained by all of the blood shed, wars and corruption.

Must admit i shed a tear because of the inspiration characters in the movie provoke and the signing of the Kimberly Process. Moral of the story? Don't buy diamonds but if you need to - buy Conflict Free Diamonds.

Listening to The End of Medicine by The New Pornographers off of the album Electric Version