Part action epic, part heavy drama, part message picture, Blood Diamond is an incredible movie-going experience. Aside from certain scenes that feel unnecessary towards the middle, this tight, constantly gripping affair is a near masterpiece from director Edward Zwick.
Shot on location in various parts of Africa, Blood Diamond is a fictional story set in the real Sierra Leone civil war. Performances are powerful from all three leads, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, and Jennifer Connelly. Hounsou is the show stealer though, giving a powerful, gut-wrenching performance of a man with nothing left but his family, and desperately searching for his son.
The depiction of African rebels is unrelenting, and as the characters continue their personal journeys, Zwick finds new ways to increase the tension. The goal is a large, rare pink diamond with a heavy cost. The tragic loss of life over a simple mineral is the message here, but the script never slaps the viewer with a long-winded dialogue about the situation. Blood Diamond makes its point without resorting to manipulative discussion.
Filmed on location is various parts of Africa, cinematography is gorgeous. The open plains, distraught villages, and incredible vistas all combine to show the best and worst in the country. Bloodshed is high, and obviously big budget action scenes are equally stunning in their choreography, combined with the emotional impact.
The action is also well placed in terms of the scripting. Each is set up flawlessly, and many are unpredictable. Timing in terms of the story and the characters situations leads to rare dull moments. A number of characters are introduced and then dropped for various reasons, leading to some scenes that feel unnecessary in terms of the narrative, Blood Diamond’s only fault.
The running time of nearly two and half hours simply flies by. It’s impossible to look away from Blood Diamond’s story, and you’ll never look at diamonds the same way again when it’s over. This is unforgettable filmmaking. 
The transfer to HD DVD does service to the film. Remarkably clear, clean, and sharp, details come forward without fault. Long shots of the African landscape are maintained without any loss of detail, and contrast is stunning. Black levels are rich, color vibrant, and the minor film grain adds character to the presentation.
Blood Diamond would receive numerous acclaims for its audio, and it’s Dolby TrueHD capturing every aspect of this award wining sound presentation. A powerful bass line is only the beginning, as bullets and scattered debris immerse the viewer inside the film’s locales. Aggressive surround use is evident even during non-action scenes, as the jungles feature animal calls from all directions, and crowded cities fill the sound field with random chatter.
The in-movie experience is an HD DVD exclusive, featuring production diaries and behind-the-scenes featurettes via a picture-in-picture window as the film plays. Combined with a commentary from Zwick, there isn’t much left for the viewer to learn about the shoot itself.
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