Rating: 
Summary: Good, but could have been great
Review: This was very close to being a great film. Very, very close. You might ask, then, why don't I rate it higher? Because its mistakes, while few in number, are jarring enough to make me think more about what could have been instead of what actually wound up on film.It's beautifully filmed and (generally) well-acted, but I never thought the director of "Trainspotting" would pull his punches. But almost every time the movie is on the verge of great statement or the same kind of stinging indictments set forth by a truly great film like "Fight Club," it flinches and pulls back. It's not by mistake that I invoke "Fight Club;" the films are thematically congruent in their exploration of an individual's dissatisfaction with society (some of DiCaprio's narration sounds eerily like that of Edward Norton's in "Fight Club"), and with a little more passion, "The Beach" could have been in the same class. The sunny-side up ending doesn't help. Stylistically, anyone should know after "Trainspotting" that Boyle is a visually adept but sometimes overly indulgent director; he clearly fell in love with the idea of putting DiCaprio in a video game to show the character's obsession with the unreal and his deteriorating mental state, but the result is unintentionally comical and should have been cut. On the plus side, the showdowns with gun-toting farmers in the island's copious marijuana fields and the aftermath of a shark attack are some of the most harrowing scenes I can remember. I like this movie and have overlooked the flaws to give it a permanent spot on my shelf. But every time I watch it, or even look at the case, I think about what could have been.
Rating: 
Summary: Worst book to film EVER
Review: I would have given this movie 0 stars if there was an option, but there's not. I don't have a problem with people liking this movie if they have not read the book, but if you have read the book there is NO WAY you could like this movie! For starters, they cut out important characters, important scenes, changed the way over half the characters acted and recreated a storyline that perfect to begin with. For example in the book the french girl and Richard never have sex and are never a couple, she stays with french guy the whole time. But of course in the movie they insist on having a sex scene with Leo, how revolting and sick is America? The book is amazing and nothing like this movie, so I ask that you don't judge the book by this movie! I was so upset and disappointed in this movie that I almost demanded my money back! NO one such have to pay for such trash. I can't believe someone took a great book and made this movie. So if you have read the book don't watch this movie it will leave you feeling sick!
Rating:
Summary: Excrement
Review: The picture and sound quality is fine. Everything else, however, doth surely blow. I have seldom seen such poor acting. The writing is even worse.
Rating: 
Summary: moving
Review: It's rare that I ever see a movie that moves me. No matter what level. This movie left me in a different world for days after I saw it. I can't describe how much I love this. Hope you all enjoy it as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Indulgent Film About Paradise Gone Wrong
Review: I ran to a theater when this movie came out, hungry for action and adventure, lush, breathtaking scenery, and pretty Leo as the lustful American lead. Though I am in the minority when I declare it, I was not disappointed - in fact, it's one of my favorite movies. Almost everything about The Beach made it a guilty pleasure: the overacting in some scenes, the naive divergence from the novel's ending, and the use of pseudo-poetic narration ("You have to suck in the experience", "And when it happens, you want it to be more visceral, more real"). However, something about the film outweighed these elements. It was probably the combination of cinematography, a trippy, ethereal soundtrack, and the message to Gen. X, that our pre-conceived notions of a "plane-ride-away" utopia are not founded on reality. It was a delight. Ignore the pretentious, Leonardo-bashing critics; buy the DVD, take the phone off the hook, and don't tell any of your friends what you're watching tonight.
Rating:
Summary: A difficult film to satisfy the Hollywood audience.
Review: Many were disappointed with Leo's latest film as soon as it was released in theatres. Not me, I enjoyed every moment of the film. The plot was the biggest challenge to satisfy the Hollywood audience. However, it's not a surprise that Leo would choose a film with a difficult plot, his previous films have been critically acclaimed but not always praised by the audience. His performance as Richard in this film is quite impressive, probably better than the character he played in Titanic. The deleted scenes is satisfying, with a behind-the-scenes look and the alternate opening sequence.
Rating: 
Summary: When a Moviemaking Team Succumbs to the Hollywood Machine
Review: The only redeeming features of this film are its soundtrack, direction, cinematography and titles (done by London-based Tomato, the same team behind techno band Underworld's eyecandy, Trainspotting and various advertisements). I viewed The Beach in the cinema when it was first released, given that it was done by the same team as two of my favorite movies, Trainspotting and Shallow Grave (Director, Danny Boyle; Writer, John Hodge; Producer, Andrew MacDonald) and checked the DVD out from the library around a year later, because I wanted to hear the commentary by Danny Boyle while watching the feature. Watching it again compelled me to write a review... The first thing that the team did wrong was to cast an American as the protagonist, as opposed to a Brit, such as was in the novel (a rhetorical question: what's the ratio of American backpackers vs. Brits?). It didn't help matters that this American was Leonardo DeCaptrio, fresh out of his post-Titanic fame in its inevitable and well-deserved ebb. I speculate that they did this to win over the much-coveted American market. Big mistake. However, the other characters were cast well, albeit peripherally, against the lead role. The screenplay seems to be poorly adapted from the novel, although, having never read the book I can't really comment on the subtle differences. Unlike Trainspotting (adapted from the novel by Irvine Welsh) or his original screenplay for Shallow Grave, this seems to be a half-hearted attempt by John Hodge. The DVD itself is all right, although I found the fact that as soon as you insert it in the drive film previews appear on the screen fairly annoying - I thought that with DVDs, we had evolved from compulsory viewing of the omnipresent approved-for-all-audiences previews. The multiple extra features (hence it being labeled as a "Special Edition") are nice, most notably the commentary and deleted scenes. After this film's poor reception the talented aforementioned team who procured it decided to go on hiatus and do some solo work. In the end, what it comes down to is; if you want to see a good film by this talented team see either Trainspotting or the slightly-more-obsucre, Shallow Grave. This statement, and the whole review, has been entirely subjective, of course.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Superb
Review: Well, first of all and after reading the other's reviews, i will start by saying that it amazes me that you can't recognize the talent of Leo Di Caprio and the brilliant script of this movie. I guess everybody who's seen "the beach" have made it with a pre-made idea of "oh well, let's see another dumb movie, with beautiful girls and landscapes"... I'm very sad and surprised that no one shares with me the point of view that the director was able to put out on screen. we should all look at our lives and ask ourselves if this is it?!? About Leo, as my favourite actor, i have to say to all of you Leo dislikers: "watch Gilbert Grape, romeo & juliet, basketball diaries, titanic or why not...the beach!" this should be enough to change you mind. "The Beach" DVD is excellent, super complete, excellent sound and image, so make yourselves a favor and buy a copy ok? :)
Rating:
Summary: Overpraise the novel, and this movie is what you deserve.
Review: I had this running argument with a pal of mine about GenX'er Alex Garland's novel *The Beach* -- he liked it, I didn't. After seeing the movie based on the film, I'm afraid that I proved my pal wrong. The essential silliness of the story is laid bare by the celluloid. As is the unlikeableness of the characters, especially Richard. As is the purploid prose, captured for those who didn't read the book by Leonardo DiCaprio's narration. The fact that the novel received all sorts of critical acclaim only illustrates the current literary intelligentsia's penchant for knee-jerk postmodernism -- and interesting characters, to say nothing of logical narrative, be damned. I give the movie two stars because it's pretty to look at, and the actress who played Sal (don't know her name) turned in a fine performance, adding complexity to pretty thin role. Thankfully, Virginie Ledoyen, who is a model in real life I think, merely has to be beautiful and is not really required to act, the script giving her virtually nothing to say. Robert Carlisle, unfortunately, is in his Overacting Mode. And poor Leo . . . hey, it's really not his fault, here. What can he do with a role in which he's asked to change gears every ten minutes in the film? Near the end, the writers have him going absolutely bonkers for no good reason. Sal asks him to spend his days on top of a ridge, keeping his eyes peeled on unwanted new guests who have just found the beach. For some reason, this command sends our hero careening into some heart of GenX darkness, where Life becomes a sort of apocalyptic video game. If this isn't laughable enough, he finally ends up wearing a bandana, "acting out" as the psychiatrists might say, hissing at people and such. The writers seem to think this equates Richard with Colonel Kurtz. Oh dear. And as for the Beach itself . . . the film fails to prove its case, namely that it's a paradise worth all the trouble of finding. My idea of Paradise, let me vehemently state, is not hanging out with a bunch of Euros on a deserted beach, playing cricket while stoned on pot, with no air conditioning, no toothbrushes, and an occasional run for rice on the mainland. I mean, is this anybody's paradise? I could also have done without the cheap Thoreau philosophy, as cribbed from Cliff's Notes, i.e., when Richard makes a brief return to the mainland and is traumatized by all the people and the noise: "They're parasites, cancers, eating the entire world" . . . oh pleeeze. Did the writers come up with this, er, original insight after the third day of a meth binge? Spare me. Not godawful, but I wouldn't waste my time, if I were you.
Rating:
Summary: Fun and suspenseful, but some over-acting
Review: I enjoyed this movie once the characters were actually on their way to their beach. Some of the scenery was stunningly beautiful and the music was pretty nice too. As for the events in the movie, there were several things that I didn't understand. Maybe I need to read the book. Another complaint. I was once a big Leonardo fan back in his teenage days, but this movie seems very over acted in several scenes. Just as an example: Richard, played by DiCaprio, is holding the map that he no longer needs, when another character reaches over and ignites it with a lighter. So Richard, with an exaggerated expression of confusion, holds on to the burning paper as long as he possibly can, then he throws it to the ground before smiling his winning grin at the people around him. You'll see. He has more facial contortions in this movie than Jim Carrey.
|
