Metascore

Mixed or average reviews - based on 29 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 73 Ratings

  • Summary: Set against the backdrop of the Bosnian War that tore the Balkan region apart in the 1990s, "In the Land of Blood and Honey" tells the story of Danijel and Ajla, two people from different sides of a brutal ethnic conflict. Danijel, a soldier fighting for the Serbs, and Ajla, a Bosnian held captive in the camp he oversees, knew each other before the war, and could have found love with each other. But as the armed conflict takes hold of their lives, their relationship grows darker, their motives and connection to one another ambiguous, their allegiances uncertain. "In the Land of Blood and Honey" portrays the incredible emotional, moral and physical toll that the war exerts both on individuals and people as a whole, and the terrible consequences that stem from the lack of political will to intervene in a society stricken with conflict. (FilmDistrict)
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 29
  2. Negative: 4 out of 29
  1. Reviewed by: Eric Kohn
    Dec 19, 2011
    83
    The most impressive thing about In the Land of Blood and Honey is that Jolie makes you feel it.
  2. Reviewed by: Andrew O'Hehir
    Dec 22, 2011
    80
    Kostic, a Bosnian actor who has done quite a bit of British film and TV, and the Sarajevo-born beauty Marjanovic make a combustible screen couple, and Jolie knows it. Despite the film's generally somber tone, there's more than a hint of "Night Porter"-style perversity to their relationship, which at different times is platonic, therapeutic and highly erotic.
  3. Reviewed by: Owen Gleiberman
    Jan 4, 2012
    58
    In the Land of Blood and Honey captures the sickening way the war in Bosnia became a gray zone of genocide. Yet that, unfortunately, is not enough to make it a good movie.
  4. Reviewed by: Andrew Schenker
    Dec 18, 2011
    38
    When does intensity and commitment supersede historical understanding?

See all 29 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 28
  2. Negative: 15 out of 28
  1. This movie is intelligent, strongly executed, well-crafted, intense, graphic, and compelling. It is one of the best movies of the year. Jolie did an excellent job for a first time director. I will write a more detailed review later. She was brave for tackling this controversial subject. It is from the victim's point of view and should be viewed circumstantially instead of taking any sides politically or religiously. Zana Marjanovic gives an Oscar-worthy performance. It was so heartbreaking. I was horrified, moved, saddened, and even enlightened at times. It was such a powerful and thought-provoking experience. God bless those people affected by the Bosnian War. It also sheds a light on rape was used as weapon in war. It shines a light on atrocities and brings awareness. I decided to contribute to relief efforts in Bosnia and Yugoslavia after watching this film. This is a fine achievement and should be critically acclaimed especially when compared to fluff like The Artist which got high reviews and is incosequential in comparison. This is the type of movie that could have done well at Cannes. It is a shame she has to overcome media corruption, personal misconceptions, and slander. The nasty comments on Rottentomatoes was really upsetting. Plenty of users gave excellent reviews but the site is just displaying two inflammatory post from her haters who believe lies about her and those type of comments shouldn't even be allowed. You could tell some people were just flaming her and have not seen the film. She is NOT a homewrecker and that bs shouldn't even brought into discussion of the movie anyway. No other actress has to deal with that. That lawsuit had no legitimacy and was based on a false, far-fetched claim
    but now you have Fanistons bombarding Rottentomatoes & other sites with ugly attacks that have no basis in truth. Those inflammatory comments should not be allowed on that site. I also want to make note of the fact that Peter Travers review for Rolling Stone was labeled positive here but gotten a rotten rating on the tomatometer. He or the other site needs to fix that. The Salon review was also positive here and labeled rotten on the tomatometer. There is a discrepancy. The rottentomatoes site needs to fix this asap! I really hope by 2012, the ratings will be higher, at around 60% on both sites.
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  2. 8
    I think the background of the story is something well-informed people should be aware of. This was another Holocaust, although of a smaller scale. I love the fact that Angelina Jolie chose such a serious topic for her directorial and writing efforts. Kudos to her. Expand
  3. Ignore all the negative user reviews, most of them are made by ultra nationalists Serbs that are full of hate. This movie realistically pictures war crimes done by Serbs in Bosnian war. THESE CRIMES HAPPENED and whoever denies that is no better than people who deny holocaust. Sure directing could be better but this is Angie's first movie and she did a great job for a first one. As someone who lived on Bosnia during the war (and I still live here) I am surprised with level of Realistic details that are put together in this film. Thank you Angie for caring. A solid 7. Collapse
  4. For the trained or informed viewer the message becomes utterly
    predictable only after the introduction part of the story. After that
    it is hig
    hly insulting for the Serbs and all factually informed people
    who personally know about civil war, especially about that tragic
    region more than what the average Western viewer will ever be allowed
    to know via their usually available media sources that are not
    objective no matter how many times they are keen to repeat that fib.
    Seriously good acting and good standard directing for a cherry-popping
    movie for Jolie... I wish Angelina could have done it so much better
    and fairer with her not really informative story line in her debut that
    smells of dubious and occasionally even obvious subjectivity during her
    "research" period. On the other hand; if Madonna can get a Golden Globe
    for a song nobody really knows, I would not be surprised if she gets an
    Oscar for a movie nobody will remember. As long some positive PR spin
    done for US policy no matter how deeply stereotypically hypocritical it
    is. It's all a game for that part of that franchise; a cruel game of
    mirror-mirage distortion in pursuit of the Holy dollar no matter how
    dirty or otherwise contaminated the financier's banknote really is and
    where it is coming from. Really exposing debut for such a talented
    actress and director but from an unexpected and rather dark angle...
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See all 28 User Reviews