So, Is Africa Just Portrayed Badly In Film Or Is It Really This Much Of A Shithole?

" Welcome to Africa, I hope you enjoy our corrupt republic of prejudice and poverty, because you probably wont be leaving here alive. Thank you and again, enjoy your short stay here."

That's the vibe I get from Africa, thanks to the world of cinema. Every film about Africa is about how shitty it is to live there. I swear, if it wasn't for The Gods Must Be Crazy, I would have no evidence that Africans knew what comedy even was. Or joy. Or laughing of any kind.
Which isn't very sturdy evidence because I didn't find The Gods Must Be Crazy the least bit funny whatsoever, in fact combined with it's sequel/s, I regard it as being possibly the worst franchise ever created. Still, the fact the Africans at least attempted comedy speaks volumes.

Surprise surprise, Catch a Fire is hot on the heels of Hotel Rwanda, The Constant Gardener, The Last King of Scotland and countless others to inform the Earth that African regions are extremely turmoiled and unpleasant, and unless you are an armed mercenary, to stay away. There's an explosion at a plant one evening, and some guy and his family are victimised as a result. I watched this trailer really late last night with way too little focus. But I think that's the basic plot. I hope that's that's the basic plot, otherwise that extended insult to an entire continent was all for nothing.
Anyway, Tim Robbins is on a hate-crime spree, and the innocent victim decides to stage an uprising... I think. Once again, I could be remembering what I WANTED to happen. But I am pretty sure I clearly remember Derek Luke planting a makeshift remote mine to blow the shit out of something. It might have been a pressure cylinder, it might have been a fuel tank, it might have been the back of Tim Robbins head. Catch a Fire is a blurred combination of every deprecating movie centred on African politics swirling around in my brain.

But whatever the monotony, makeshift bombs are cool, and this film does look pretty good. Tim Robbins has made many interesting career choices as of late. He's into darker villains I notice (and doing pathetic Will Ferrell movie cameos, like he's some sort of comedian? The only thing that's ever been hilarious is his delivery of the 'vampires and werewolves' speech in Mystic River). It's directed by Philip Noyce, who I must say, chooses the most dissimilar projects ever. But he lends even more competency to the whole project. It looks expectedly strong, it has a decent trailer and it should be an interesting, or to a lesser extent, an important film.
But how about giving Africa a break and expose the untold atrocities and depravities of Greenland next? Huh?

Catch a Fire - Focus Features
Anticipation Level: Medium.
Look out for: Just basically look out for all the collateral damage that ensues. Oh, and Tim Robbins going all CIA Operative on a local village.
US Release date: 27th October, 2006.
Trailer Source