Blood Diamond

By forgoing the peachiness and politics we expected from a Hollywood movie about a real-life atrocity, and focusing on the action and intensity behind conflict diamonds, we were sold throughout. The guy who should have won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar, Djimon Hounsou, is incredible as a fisherman tortured by rebels in a quest to get his family back. There's also an impressive turn by Leonardo DiCaprio as a South African-accented diamond smuggler. The child soldier portions of the movie paint a horrifying picture of how life is a billion times cheaper than dirt in a war-ravaged Sierra Leone. We admit that it does get off track with some heavy-handed messages at times, but the sheer scope and fast-paced story justify the two-hour-plus running time. The second disc offers up all the background you need to know of the jewelry industry's dirty secret. We're also relieved because this provides a legitimate excuse as to why we won't have to pony up the cash for an expensive engagement ring. Sorry, honey, we know you want to impress your girlfriends, but we'd rather a young African boy keep his arm. This conversation is over!