Rating: 
Summary: Not great as no one will thought it would be but OK film.
Review: True the movie is a mixed bag itself but it`s has great scenery all the way of the movie. Leonardo DiCarpiro gives an interesting performance and also Robert Carlyle(in a small part) has a good role. The film is directed by Danny Boyle(Trainspotting), given a lot of amusing scenes(like he see his life as a video game) and some intense moments(a shark scene and some action sequences). The picture does slow down after the first half but still compelling. I did like better the alternate ending of the Beach, they should of left that scene to give an off-beat ending but Doyle chooses the happy ending instend. DVD does have a great widescreen format(2.35:1) and Dolby Digital is also impressive. Audio Commentary by the director and 9 deleted scenes with a separate commentary track also and another extras. Grade:B. Super 35.
Rating: 
Summary: don't expect films to stick to the book
Review: okay so i got this dvd right after reading the book it's based on which i absolutely loved. of course the first thing you'll notice is the many changes the movie makes, i.e. richard is an american, sally is british, some characters are missing, the ending is different etc., but then again movies based on books aren't made to adhere to the book 100%, that's just not the way a visual art-form works. having leonardo walk around with a british accent would have been ridiculous, and having someone else play the part would have been just dumb since leonardo is great in this role (as he usually is). the extras are nice, first off director danny boyle's commentary is insightful but then again he is not the most enthusiastic commentator (see also my review for 28 days later). the deleted scenes (with optional commentary) are great fun, with the exception of the incredibly stupid 'stomp' scene which thank god was indeed cut out of the final film. most noteworthy for me is the scene where guillaume canet's character does his french monologue (he's my favorite character in the book and the movie, and of course he's the best looking guy in the movie as well!). now although i love the pure shores theme by all saints i have to say the video seems like it was made by an 8 year old. the theatrical trailers are nice but the tv spots are lame (as usual), and the storyboards are dull (i don't know why dvd's always come with them). my advice, to which i'm adhering to more strictly nowadays, is always read the book before seeing the movie. the beach is a great film with spectacular scenery and a good adapted story, but garland's original novel has way more depth. i also recomment the soundtrack cd (which i own) and the cd of the score (which i intend to get soon) by the brilliant angelo badalamenti (of twin peaks fame).
Rating: 
Summary: open your eyes
Review: The Beach, although cliche filled, is in my opinion a fantastic eye opener. After veiwing the film i could not help but watch it over and over for the next month. The sense of adventure captured in the film had my brain racing. A journey, a search for something new and different, somewhere that takes us away from the comforts and also annoyances/distractions of home. Something so many of us can relate to, the want to escape normal life by exploring our world.
I did not see this film as just something to watch, yet found myself feeling the journey as though it were my own. The pristine beach takes you away to a whole new world, my own imagination running wild.
The charcters are well portrayed, and although some of Richards voice-overs are extremely cliche, most actually make you think and understand what is really going on. Not just voice-overs, yet an inner-monolouge helping us to feel the film as such, and not just veiw it.
Life for Richard,his two French friends and somewhat relations thanks to the Beach,and the rest of the 'villagers' seems to be getting better and better. Suddenly things take a down-hill turn when Richard bravely conquers a shark. From here on it feels like you are watching a crazy dream develop before your eyes. Death and insanity are what leads this plummeting life-stlye and it seems like everything will never be resovled.
The movie ends on a some what uplifting note yet makes you feel a surreal sense of loss. In a way you cannot really believe that this crazy adventure you have just viewed is simply a film and it really leaves you wanting more of its beauty and challenging adventure.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible Scenery and a Miscast Star
Review: Director Danny Boyle's adaption of Alex Garland's wonderfully taught novel is an exercise in Hollywood mistakes. The scenery is breathtaking and the premise of a bored American seeking utopia in Thailand is promising. However, all promises are broken when Leonard DiCaprio takes to the screen. The novel's character is a brash, bold, pot-smoking narcissist - DiCaprio is just a man-boy desperately trying to be tough. He just doesn't have what it takes to carry out this complex role and every potentially riveting scene falls flat. Tilda Swinton as the ruling matriarch of the commune does well with her flat, fierce control over the clan. Director Boyle injects a surreal 'game-boy' sequence which is simply silly and unneeded. This is NOT "Apocalypse Now" in any sense! It's a pretty film and the gore is real, but it wasn't until the end when DiCaprio breaks down that I thought he might be acting. Even then, he became his "Gilbert Grape" character. Garland's strong message of innocence lost never leaves the dock. Five stars for the soundtrack which give it a modern feel and another thumbs up for the supporting cast. P.S. The only ones who die are not the ones that deserve to.
Rating:
Summary: The best film yet!! Five stars it deserves 10 stars though!!
Review: This movie is one of the best films that I've gotten yet, of course we all know Leonardo DiCaprio acted in Titanic (1997) but this movie is actually better than Titanic put it that way but I still love both movies!!!! I saw this movie on Satelitte before and that's what made me want to really B-U-Y this movie. I HIGHLY reccomend that you B-U-Y this movie today, if not today then whenever you can!! It's the best! My favorite scene is when the 3 of them go swimming to the Island.
Rating: 
Summary: ????????
Review: This film is so boring that I'm going .......... to fell ...... a .. sleep................zzzzzzzz
Rating:
Summary: Not great, but easy on the eyes
Review: "The Beach" is nearly devoid of any real worthwhile content, but visually it is a great film. Leonardo DiCaprio (the best actor under 40 working today) plays Richard, a bored American with adventure and excitement on his mind. While on holiday in Bangkok, Richard finds a map left by a strange man who has commited suicide (creepily portrayed by Robert Carlyle). The map shows how to get to a secret island. Richard decides to follow the map and see where fate takes him. Along for the ride are a French couple who have befriended Richard, Francoise and Etienne. Once the trio reaches the island, the movie quickly disintegrates into an odd, irritating, bewildering montage of strange people, conflicts, death, and danger. I won't give away anything for those who haven't seen it, not that it matters much. Needless to say, I wasn't much impressed with anything that happened. There are a few plusses to "The Beach", however, which warrant giving it 3 stars. It is, visually, a beautiful film. The dark and mysterious locations in Bangkok provide a nice mood in the first part of the movie. The soundtrack (which is worth getting just on its own) is extremely well incorporated into the film, providing a great background to the events transpiring on-screen. The beach locale is gorgeous. There are many shots of the water lapping-up onto the sand, and the sights beheld are exquisite. The cast is nice to look at, too. You may be bored, or even annoyed, by the story unfolding, but at least you'll have some beautiful people to watch. Virginie Ledoyen, who plays Francoise, is quite gorgeous. Leonardo DiCaprio is stunningly attractive as Richard. He is muscular, tan, and without his shirt for most of the film. If for no other reason, you can enjoy "The Beach" for this alone. I saw "The Beach" in 2000, when it was released in theaters. It was the first major Leonardo DiCaprio film since the Titanic phenomenon, and I was quite anxious to see what it had to offer. As stated earlier, the movie quickly disappointed. Do I recommend it? Not really. But would I suggest it if you were in the mood to watch an odd film which features a good usage of rock and chill-out music, beautiful scenery, and good looking actors? That would be a yes.
Rating:
Summary: This review is for fans of the book.
Review: I am a huge fan of the book, and was actually quite pleased with the film. Why I enjoyed it was I happened to read some of the original script. It was a travesty.*SPOILER* It ended with Etienne and Bugs fighting to the death on the ocean floor and Richard commiting suicide at the same hotel where he met Daffy. The jaw dropping sound you're hearing now was my exact reaction. I was overjoyed when they changed it to what it is now. I was dissapointed how Jed was melded into Etienne, but other than that, I have no complaints. It's good to see Danny Boyle getting back to his Trainspotting-type of directing. The DVD is nice-Good picture and sound. 9 fairly interesting deleted scenes which aren't as yawn inducing as some other DVD's. One which could have stayed was an earlier meeting with Etienne and Francoise which makes more sense as to why they joined. Also a scaled down version of Richard's escapade in the underwater caves. About 4 trailers and 10 tv spots. I could really care less about the All Saints video. Haven't watched the commentary yet. The alternate ending is kind of closer to the book (No insanity stew, though). Just some of Richard's dialogue is closer and the tone is slightly more downcast. So, if you loved Garland's book and hated the film, just think what it COULD have been with the earlier script.
Rating:
Summary: Well, I enjoyed it....
Review: As a preface/disclaimer, I am a film studies major who appreciates inventive directing etc., but I also enjoy a cheap thrill...In terms of writing and style of directing, I wouldn't say it was the most original. However, it brings up an interesting moral dilemma, much like that of the great high school read "Lord of the Flies;" being, how much should you sacrifice for the good of your society, or whatever you would title the somewhat primitave infant island culture. Besides this question, it also delves into the life of Leo's character, who is at the age where he's not young anymore but not ready to settle into a career or a life role when he is still searching for his identity. As a college participant, I can certainly identify with this problem and I am sure that many others within 10 years of my age can as well. I wouldn't say that I would grant this movie a best picture nomination but it is worth viewing for the ideas that it brings up, not to mention the sites it depicts are well worth seeing. I guess girls who went to see Titanic 20 million times would like it as well, just so long as they could mute the movie and giggle with their friends about DiCaprio's pouty lips.
Rating:
Summary: Paradise Lost...Again
Review: The reason I'm taking a star off is because I've read the novel by Alex Garland. The novel is more intense and I was stunned by the hippie meltdown Armageddon at the end. If you liked the movie, definitely check out the book. Like FIGHT CLUB and DONNIE DARKO, THE BEACH is a challenging film, and what makes it different is that you're watching a movie from the point of view of character who cracks up. You're drifting into dangerous new waters when you can't trust the star of the movie.
I also loved how paradise was, again, defiled by human beings--no matter how noble their efforts were.
If you're looking for Leonardo in a lame BLUE LAGOON-ish bit of tropical fluff, forget it: THE BEACH has something deeper and darker to say about this world's "paradise."
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