Diamond Hunters (2001)

Set against the backdrop of Africa’s Emerald Coast and diamond mines, Diamond Hunters traces the torrid fortunes of a family unable to forgive and forget. Johnny, a successful diamond hunter, gets sucked back into a family that had been his own, before the patriarch, Jacob Van der Byl, abandoned him 20 years ago. Painful memories of an unjust father and a long lost love come back to reality as Johnny is pitted against his own half-brother Benedict in a fight over two women, a diamond empire and ultimately, his very survival.

Great cast! Lousy story!

I felt that this movie was completely pointless. It is about a family who searches South Africa looking for diamonds. The main character, Johnny, gets taken in by this old man, aka Jacob Van der Byl, who treats him like a son for the first twelve years of his life than promptly (and quite brutally) kicks him out of the house for no apparent reason. Obviously, Van der Byl must've sensed the upcoming attraction between Johnny and his daughter Tracy and tried to put a stop to it before anything started!

Fast forward about twenty years and Van der Byl contacts Johnny and invites him to join in the family business because 1) Van der Byl is dying, 2) his biological son is too incompetant to take over the family business and 3) he no longer cares about keeping his daughter Tracy and Johnny from getting it on. Why Johnny would even want to get back involved with a swarmy guy like Van der Byl is beyond me. Even stranger, nice guy Johnny trusts crooked "bro" Benedict. Talk about family loyalty!

Too much talent(literally) got swept away in the water in this movie!

Note: Those of you who are wondering what happened to Tracy's husband after he "slipped" in the the pool and was left for dead, fear not! Later on, it's revealed that Tracy gives him a divorce. I didn't see that one coming!



June 23, 2007

Definitely NOT worthy of Wilbur Smith or the actors

I'm a Wilbur Smith fan, so I bought this DVD thinking it would be interesting...silly me...are movies EVER comparable to the books? Despite the excellent cast, the acting was third rate and the movie came across as sort of Danielle Steelish, not Wilbur Smith. Given the talent involved in the film, the film makers could have done MUCH better! October 3, 2006

Very sub-standard Wilbur Smith Lite

The only good thing in this movie is Jolene Blalock as a femme fetale. The problem with this film, to paraphrase an old quote, is that there is a lot of nice scenery but no engaging story put in front of it.

Truly only Wilbur Smoth knows how to pull off South African Grand Guignol and have you care. Unfortunately Wilbur Smith has nothing to do with this. And it shows. September 10, 2006

Ok for a rainy day

Bought DVD mainly cos am a Alyssa Milano fan but to be honest she was completely wasted in this film. Quite a good story but seemed to have a really rushed ending. Probably an ok television movie to watch on a rainy day and worth getting just to have a laugh at the acting from the guy who plays Benedict. If your an Alyssa fan stick with Charmed. July 6, 2006

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