What a beautiful movie!

Truly Dreadful Film

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Apparently in Angola, buried mines are a serious problem. There has been a civil war going on for over 30 years between the government and the rebels. American Jack Randall (Bergin) and his annoying jerk son Tom (Petronijevic) are working there trying to discover the mines under the ground and deactivate them. A local named Gabriel (Lovinga) and the token hot chick, Kat (Muschallik) are helping them out. When the rebels get out of control and become dangerous, the group must flee to the Namibian border, along with Kat's mother, a physician named Hildy (Nosbusch). An evildoer named, of all things, VanDamm (Roberts) is acting as General to the rebels. With mines aplenty and danger at every turn, will our heroes reach safety? Don't be tricked by the title or box art. You'd think a movie called "High Explosive" would be awesome, right? Instead, it's a weak, boring, tame tale, and you've seen it all before a thousand times. It seems like a TV movie commissioned by Amnesty International or even the wretched UN. There's no excitement, and you don't really care what happens to the characters. Especially the super-irritating son (which is just a cliché by now that the filmmakers naturally stepped into) who gives Esteban Powell a serious run for his money. Sure, there are some blow-ups, and maybe a violent incident or two, but they can't possibly hope to make up for this tough sit.While this did pre-date The Hurt Locker (2008) in terms of its subject matter, as is so often the case we can say "Dolph did it first!" in his African mine-sweeping movie Sweepers (1998). Even though that's not one of Dolph's best, it's a masterpiece compared to this, and if you must see one African mine-sweeping movie, see Sweepers.Of course the main baddie (who's not in it enough, established well enough, evil enough, or dealt with properly enough) is blonde - that's a nice shortcut to tell the world you've got an evildoer on your hands. But despite being a ruthless, sadistic dictator, he's partial to breaking out his electric guitar and rockin' out all by himself. When VanDamm (groan) did this, it proved to be a movie highlight. We know, it's not saying much. But the forces of good are led by an equally weak force - Patrick Bergin is just an odd choice for the "action hero" role, as he's looking a bit chunky with his expanding gut, as well as his hat with the comically wide brim.Sure there are flaws galore, but it's shot well so there's some semblance of quality, at least visually. But there are problems infesting everywhere else in this slog. One of the main problems is that they tried to split the difference and came up with nothing: As a PSA-like politically-correct cautionary tale, there's too much violence to show in schools, and as an action movie, it feels mishandled and watered-down. So there's nothing for any side to grab on to. So the best you can really say about High Explosive is that...it's a movie. It's definitely a movie, but, eh.Then after some portentous narration about how hidden mines are disemboweling innocent children, the credits roll with a wildly happy, upbeat and sprightly tune, "Dancing In the Moonlight" by Wozani. It seems odd and inappropriate. Especially in light of the loss of limbs. But Gabriel is definitely a fan, as he dances to the song earlier in the film.A computer game of Minesweeper would be more entertaining than this movie.

At first, I thought it was the terrible acting by Patrig Bergin and Dan Petronijevic. But the fault goes to the combination of the two and an uninteresting script. Did we really need to hear the pre-flight check list that went on and on to the point where the female lead went "That's interesting, but are we going to take off?" The script seems to answer itself. Try not to pay attention to the terrible teen, who I had hoped was going be killed by a landmine when he raced off on the motorcycle. Instead, after hearing one sad story of a local boy his age mutters "how can I help?" Unfortunately for me and anyone else who watches this piece of trash, the teen doesn't blow his head off right there. The issues brought up by the film don't get the justice they deserve. This film is best left unseen.

The only tv movie (or movie) I know about Angolan's civil war - that is still going on after more than 30 years of horror - is a missed chance of getting a serious view about one of the most fascinating conflicts and countries worldwide. Having spent 5 months of my life working on relief in Angola, it is just frustrating seeing such a failure. But the redemption comes from showing a nearly realistic portrait of that situation, specially how the Unita guerrilla works. So... I recommend giving it a chance. I wonder where did they shoot this movie (it certainly looks similar to Angola, although not like Luanda's surrounding areas).

1st watched 5/19/2001 - 3 out of 10 (Dir-Timothy Bond): Weak production and acting in what could have been an interesting story. This is basically about experts in disarming mines working in Algeria where there are thousands of mines placed by rebel forces to help their cause in a long 30-year war that they have been having with the government. The problem is that this Canadian production really had no strong actors or actresses to pull this off and make it interesting. Half the way through I was ready for the movie to be over. If you would take this same setting with the same basic story with a good director, and actors who worked hard at their parts it could have been an interesting look into a country whose lifestyle is not explored often, but do we get this? No way dudes!! These "hoseheads" didn't do what they needed to make it work, eh...