Rating: 
Summary: Lady Croft does it again
Review: Angelina Jolie in this movie reminded me of Barbra Streisand's role in "The Way We Were." She's desperately fighting for a cause she believes in and falls in love at the same time. The images in this movie are frightening and really calls attention to the help these poor people need. Roger Ebert said in his review that the reason Angelina Jolie's character is even involved is because of her crush on the handsome doctor. I disagree. He opens her eyes to the problem but the whole reason why she goes to Africa is to help. Not to get a date. Angelina's performance is wonderful. You really believe she is a woman who wants to live her life to help others. Perhaps that is because she actually is that way in real life. She is a woman to truly be admired. However, the one thing I didn't like about this movie is the story leaps forward too much. At one point it goes forward four whole years and you have no idea what happened during that time. It keeps doing this. The scene where a baby is given a grenade is incredible. If only the scenes were tied together and the story played out more smoothly it would have made for the perfect movie.
Rating: 
Summary: not a movie for the impatient
Review: Being a huge Angelina Jolie fan, I skipped "Mystic River" to check out this new movie. Some of this movie touches you deeply on important life issues and sends tingles up your spine(not scary tingles, but impressive and deep tingles). Its hard to rate a film like this, because its so touching and meaningful, but it fails to make you interested. The storyline is
boring and a little unbelievable and it lasted 2.5 hours. As much as I tried to enjoy this movie because I love and deeply respect Angelina, it really never hit the mark of excellence. It had its moments and ended well, but never really came together.... acting=4 stars
FX=NA
ending=5 stars
atmosphere=4 stars
Directing and Editing=1 star
storyline=2 stars
meaningfullness=5 stars
replay value=0 stars OVERALL=solid 3 stars -ps-to be serious, I couldn't see it twice....(VERY POOR REPLAY VALUE).
Rating:
Summary: Could have been better
Review: This film was kind of disappointing. Of course, I shouldn't have expected much from a wannabe Hollywood blockbuster. Instead of exploring the nuances of international conflict and international organizations, the film portrays Jolie as a UNHCR poster-child in a wishy-washy love story. As if the UNHCR or UN in general for that matter is all that great. Furthermore, this film was not clearly researched. Jolie dies at the end because she steps on a land mine. Not realistic at all. Land-mines are anti-personnel. They generally don't kill but are tactical and/or strategic tools meant to demoralize and occupy the enemy with wounded personnel. I'm probably being over-critical because this film presents itself with serious subject matter and purports to be a serious film. But a documentary could have done a much better job getting the point across. Finally I figure the theme was supposed to be "beyond borders." This was the title of the film afterall. Maybe the directors should have capitalized on that theme with something more concrete than trite flitting around to places like Ethiopia, Cambodia and Chechnya. Oh, and one last point. I'm not sure how I feel about viewing the emaciated Ethiopian mother and child in the film. Did they get compensated? Did someone take care of them? Were they exploited? Too many questions of morality in a film that's out to make money.
Rating:
Summary: A very moving picture.
Review: Before I say my praises, I will advise for anyone who enjoys not having their movie spoiled, not to read a review by BANANAGURL, who totally spoils it by giving away the ending! Anyways, I found this to be more of a heart moving, touching movie, than a love story with a war/refugee backdrop. It made me realise and appreciate all that I have in my life. The warmth, safety, food and cleanliess, that 50 million people, such as those portrayed in the movie lack. This wasnt a boring, draggin-on movie, but a moving drama, that really shows the raw and deep pain of human suffering that goes on, out of peoples minds and awarenss. Hunger and pain, spreads through those people like a great colossos of doom. Great perforamnce from Angelina, and Cliwe. I'm very glad I got a chance to experience this visually moving project.
Rating:
Summary: Mixed reviews, good & bad
Review: Great chemistry between Angelina Jolie and Clive Owen.
Poor ending, I did not like the ending, it was too vague and made all her efforts for naught.
Mixed reviews on whether the "message" gets through. I found myself not really caring and getting frustrated with the doctor, Nick, for putting everyone in danger all the time. It was worth seeing if only for that incredible scene when Sara says "why don't you say my name?", and he explains. Clive Owen's performance was heart-wrenchingly beautiful. Clive Owen outdid himself; his actiing was stunning. I think I fell in love with him at that moment I was so deeply moved. Angelina should have squeaked out some tears. She stood there looking forced and confused. But the movie never again reaches that beautiful, deep touching moment. It never quite captures it again although you know they care. A terrible ending, a lot of physical chemistry, Owen & Jolie are amazing just to watch look at each other, but not a terrific love story. I ended up feeling sorry for the husband and children more than I felt any compassion for Sara and Nick. After all, Sara and Nick made their own choices. The husband and the poor children got stuck with the consequences. Sara's irresponsible actions got her kids nowhere.
Rating: 
Summary: Worldly and Depressing
Review: Movies are supposed to move you. However, Beyond Borders did not do that at all. It was like watching the evening news with a little romance added in. The romantic resonance that centered around Angelina Jolie and Clive Owen's characters appeared detached and incomplete as a result of the conflicting plotlines. There was too much going on, and it looked like the filmmakers were trying to make two films in one. If the movie was attempting to be another English Patient, but with late twentieth to twenty-first century issues, it failed. The most memorable aspect of the film was the attempt at presenting issues that have occurred or are occurring within the eastern borders both in the pacific and the baltic or in between. It had been unfortunate that the climax of the film ended with the loss of one of the major characters. However, it leaves you thinking why one of the lovers survived. There's no happy ending here.
Rating:
Summary: Miscast. But well ploted. And it's also eye-opening.
Review: The worst thing about the film is the casting. Angelina Jolie is very pretty and I've enjoyed her performances in several films. But she's way over her head here, cast as a socialite U.N. worker who thrusts herself into danger, not only for her empathy with the suffering that goes on. She's also attracted to a fearless outspoken doctor, played by Clive Owen, who dedicates his life to helping people and advocates their causes loudly and bluntly. For example, in 1984 he crashes an upscale London charity event and brings a starving Ethiopian child with him. That's how he and our heroine meet, of course. And as she is married, this adds to the complexity of their romance. We then see the couple in Ethiopia, where Jolie is a novice in the ways of the world. It's all very sad but she does manage to rescue a child. This part of the film was shot in Namibia and I was a little shocked at the casting because they obviously used people who are really and truly starving. Ms. Jolie's lips, however, remain perfect throughout and they are so unnaturally large that I couldn't help wondering if she has them cosmetically enhanced. This kind of thinking distracted me from the very seriousness of the situation. She and the good doctor respect each other but don't really get together in a romantic way at this time. Years later, in 1989, they meet again in Cambodia. This section of the film was shot in Thailand and is action packed. There are guns and double dealing and very bad people and one of their friends is murdered. Here's where their romance really begins but, alas, they are separated again. Fast forward to Chechnya in 1995 where the good doctor is captured by bad guys and the beautiful woman tries to rescue him. This part was shot in Montreal in the dead of winter. It's a very scary segment and the ending is not a happy one. It's a good story held together by the couple but it just was a little too artificial for me. Also, it tried to say too much in too short a time. I would have rather they focused in just one place. It did hold my interest throughout, however, and the pace kept me interested. I also think that it should be seen just to keep us aware of what is going on in the world.
Rating:
Summary: Love Story or Social Commentary?
Review: Generally speaking, I found Beyond Borders very entertaining. However, I felt it suffered very significantly from an inability to decide whether it's a love story or a piece of social commentary. In the end, both the romantic plot and the social commentary suffered. Clive Owen does, as per usual, does a spectacular job. And Angelina Jolie, as per usual, gives a more than adequate performance. The relationship between their characters, however, lacked heat I was expecting. From the perspective of the audience, their relationship also seemed to lack a bit of history. They went from barely knowing each other to being secretly in love. Perhaps some scenes were left on the cutting room floor or perhaps it was supposed to be "understood." Either way, it didn't work. The social commentary does get fairly heavy at times. However, with the love story struggling to maintain the interest of the audience, I can understand how some critics would feel that the movie trivializes the struggles of international relief workers. Overall, I would recommend this as simply an entertaining movie for a Friday night or an enjoyable piece for someone who lives either Clive Owen or Angelina Jolie. If you're looking for something beyond that, keep looking.
Rating:
Summary: Mixed reviews, good & bad
Review: Great chemistry between Angelina Jolie and Clive Owen.
Poor ending, I did not like the ending, it was too vague and made all her efforts for naught.
Mixed reviews on whether the "message" gets through. I found myself not really caring and getting frustrated with the doctor, Nick, for putting everyone in danger all the time. It was worth seeing if only for that incredible scene when Sara says "why don't you say my name?", and he explains. Clive Owen's performance was heart-wrenchingly beautiful. Clive Owen outdid himself; his actiing was stunning. I think I fell in love with him at that moment I was so deeply moved. Angelina should have squeaked out some tears. She stood there looking forced and confused. But the movie never again reaches that beautiful, deep touching moment. It never quite captures it again although you know they care. A terrible ending, a lot of physical chemistry, Owen & Jolie are amazing just to watch look at each other, but not a terrific love story. I ended up feeling sorry for the husband and children more than I felt any compassion for Sara and Nick. After all, Sara and Nick made their own choices. The husband and the poor children got stuck with the consequences. Sara's irresponsible actions got her kids nowhere.
Rating: 
Summary: 'Beyond' Logic
Review: I admired the political messages of "Beyond Borders," but I can't say the same for the love story. It seemed out-of-place and forced. Sara (Angelina Jolie) was a troubled housewife who was deeply moved by a doctor's efforts to feed starving children in Ethiopia, Cambodia and Chechnya. She journeyed to those countries over a decade and eventually fell in love with the doctor (Clive Owen). The movie tried very hard to be a politically motivated film and I respect that. They should've left out the love story but kept the level of passion for their cause to rise throughout the movie. You don't know whether to feel for the characters in the end or the whole charade they went through to make a difference, to help. But, it's worth your time and it's a lot different than most movies.
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