My COMMENTARY of In the Land of Blood and Honey

I have never been a violent person. When I was little I would only get in trouble for what I considered just "spreading the love" but my teachers called "kissing boys". Thus, I have never been interested in violent movies.

Tonight I was led blindly into The Athena to watch In the Land of Blood and Honey.

Red flag #1: The word "blood" in the title. I don't like things involving blood.

Flag #2: It was written and directed by Angelina Jolie. She's a badass and somewhat scary.

Flag #3: Last time I went to a movie at The Athena that I didn't have a pretense for I ended up watching Drive. Drive = VERY scary.

Reflecting on the past five hours I am kind of ashamed that I dreaded this movie because I absolutely loved it. Not only did it keep me guessing the entire time but it had an earth shattering message. Blood and Honey is one of those movies that you think about in the back of your mind for the next week.

You would think as a future journalist I would have walked out of that movie inspired to report on issues like this. Instead I felt guilty. And shocked... very, very, shocked. The Muslim genocide of Bosnia began in 1992. That was the year I was born. That really put things into perspective.

The reasons why I feel guilty are extensive, but here are the top two:

1) I am a able-bodied 19 year old woman. Not a 35 year old mother and wife with a house and mortgage. I have no responsibilities, heck, I don't even have a boyfriend. Why am I not DOING something about this? Why am I content in my safe little bubble of Athens when there is so much wrong in the world?

2) I waste so much time thinking about stupid stuff - especially my "problems". Finals week stress doesn't hold a candle to the genocide of thousands of people.

Alright, I guess I'll step down from my soapbox now. I recommend this movie to anyone who's a pansy like I am. Real life involves death and gore. Good luck on your finals everyone. It could be worse. You could be in the Congo.