Rating: 
Summary: this flicck belondgs somehwre ona abeach far way!
Review: I honestly can;t get why epople have decdiedd to get behind this movie. I'm I the onlty one who thought the plot was laugyhable. the actintg by decaproalea is awful. he czn't act and never wuill be able. i didn't liekthe characters and i didn't want to spend oever too hours watchuing them. i thought the flick was two long! the story wasn;'t starong enough to keep are intterest. i don't thitnk i ever want to watch this flick again
Rating: 
Summary: Flawed but interesting
Review: Richard (DiCaprio) is an American in Bangkok, apparently trying to escape whatever he left behind. In his bug-infested hotel room, he meets a crazy Scotsman (Robert Carlyle) who calls himself Daffy Duck. He tells Richard about a secret island in the Gulf of Tonkin on which there is a sheltered lagoon. Crystal-clear water, pure white sand, and all the pot you can smoke growing around you. The next day, Daffy has killed himself, leaving behind a map for Richard. He goes to the room of a cute French girl at the hotel (Virginie Ledoyen), and asks if she and her erstwhile boyfriend (Guillaume Canet) would like to join him. They make it to the island, where they meet a small commune run by an Englishwoman named Sal (Tilda Swinton). The commune welcomes the threesome, but paradise, they soon find out, comes at a price.The Beach is far darker and more sophisticated than one might expect. The threats Richard and his friends face don't all come from outside - they come from everywhere, particularly from within themselves. The film explores what happens to a society built on a weak foundation, how power corrupts - even in paradise - and how our own grasp on reality can become tenuous. It's ironic that the most pleasant of environments can bring out the least pleasant in people. One thing I really admired about The Beach is that Richard is not a great guy. He's a morally flawed, lying, cheating, selfish chump -- and thus, utterly and believably human. Richard's descent into madness in the third act doesn't quite work because it comes right out of left field, but DeCaprio's performance is electrifying. Despite some of its steps in the wrong direction, The Beach has some very effective scenes scattered throughout. There's the horrifying aftermath of a shark attack, and a heart-pounding massacre in the cannabis field. An underrated and interesting film.
Rating: 
Summary: DiCaprio fans rejoice!
Review: I think "The Beach" is a wonderful movie, but it would be virtually nothing without Leonardo DiCaprio. Now, I'm a guy, so I don't see his movies because he's handsome, I see them to see just how well he performs. But let me tell you right now, of all the DiCaprio films I've seen, "The Beach" is by far the best. All the previous movies that Leonardo has starred in had scripts that didn't allow him to show his stuff as an actor, because they were very restricting, and were too plot-heavy, which means he had no choice but to just perform along with the plot and nothing more. But Leonardo finally unleashes his acting potential I'm sure he's built up for so long in this movie playing the part we were all born to play: an American. Leonardo adds zazz to every element you can find in this movie. You'll find Leonardo's best from every element in the movie that he acts out, like as little as showing tremendous pain being "flame-tattooed" in the first half of the movie on the beach (as I'm sure he really wasn't feeling any at all), or as putting on a really disgusted face from drinking a cup of "snake blood" in the beginning (which, again, I bet wasn't really disgusting, as it's actually a cup of red syrup, as pointed out by Danny Boyle in his commentary). And Leonardo adds a surge of emotion to as huge an element as showing tremendous anger when Francoise dumps him in the second half, tremendous fear in the "shark scare" scene in the first half, and to showing huge amounts of happiness, sadness, and anger in the "leap of faith" scene in the first half. But the biggest powerhouse performance of the movie by Leonardo was the way he can make every hair on your body stand up in the edge-of-your-seat ending. Leonardo's performance through the whole movie will have a smile forming on your face, tears falling from your eyes, and every hair on your body standing on end. If you listen to Danny Boyle's commentary through the movie on the DVD, he also points out elements where Leonardo shined as an actor in the movie. But for an actor to make all your emotions yo-yo like that all in one movie is pretty remarkable. (And yes, girls, Leonardo is very handsome in the movie!) The movie in general is like a bag of mixed nuts. I dare you to spot each of these genres in the movie: action, adventure, suspense, horror, drama, sci-fi, romance, and where you least expect it, comedy, because ALL of those genres are in there. This movie is sure to please every moviegoer, although this may be a good or bad thing (you decide). But through it all, don't let your kids see the movie, because the "F" word is used almost incessantly, and in the second half of the movie, the movie turns into, for 15 minutes at most, an intense mind-game that is WAY too thematic for kids, and there are also brutal shark attacks and a very unsettling ending. But I would say the first half is probably the best part of the movie, with very little violence and is the most adventurous part of the movie before everything comes crashing down in the second half. This movie also makes an excellent DVD, too. Even though the picture and sound quality are good, I'm still a tad disappointed FOX didn't summon the picture and sound quality wizards at THX to touch it up. I know it's a lot of work to do it, but I think this movie definetly has earned its keep and is very worthy of THX treatment, because after all, it's not every day you get to own a movie that is sure to please every moviegoer and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, an actor who is rapidly making himself scarce in the world of movies. But the good news is, what this DVD lacks in quality, it makes up for in extras. I was pleased by the incredible amount of extras this DVD has! It has the "Pure Shores" music video, a mess of deleted scenes with optional directors commentary, optional director's commentary throughout the whole film, a storyboard gallery, and a featurette. And when it comes to publicity, this DVD has nothing to hide, which is obvious with the whopping 4 theatrical trailers and 10 TV spots included on the disc. So, to conclude, "The Beach" is a first-rate movie with a first-rate actor on a first-rate DVD. BUY IT!
Rating: 
Summary: Don't can't judge a movie by its trailer.
Review: "The Beach" boasts a flashy cast that meanders through a visceral and exotic island, all the while searching for a non-existent storyline that reaches high points in the middle, but ultimately flatlines. The film does have its salvage factors: scenery and music will keep viewers intrigued by the beauty of nature, as will camera shots and suspenseful moments. Director Danny Boyle does his best with what he is given in order to give us a film that is pleasing to the eye, but a psychological failure. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Richard, a vacationer in Asia who enjoys the laid-back culture of his host country. One night, he is greeted by Daffy, a pot-smoking lunatic who begins spouting random gibberish about an island that conceals a closed in beach and fields of marijuana. Richard later finds Daffy dead in his room, and a map leading to the island is taped to his door. He shows the map to two of his new acquaintances, Etienne (Guillaume Canet) and Francoise (Virginie Ledoyen), and they all agree to venture out to the island together. They depart two days later, but not before Richard gets high and reveals the secrets of the map to two other tourists, despite Daffy's warnings to conceal it. The three adventurers soon reach the island, and are greeted rather nastily by pot farmers who carry big guns. Escaping narrowly, they reach a small community of people who live on the island, and are welcomed by the people who live there. To sum up the rest without giving away the ending, they all get along, the right people fall in love, the wrong people have sex, all accompanied by multiple and very gruesome shark bites and maniacal delusions that are very confusing and make practically no sense to the story. The point at which Richard is exiled from the community is where the movie takes a sharp nose dive, because from here on out, there is no sense in what happens to any of the characters after the final showdown. The material of the script does boast some good qualities which require one to think in terms of putting things together. For instance, throughout the film, one begins to question when Richard will be found out for lying about the map, or what is going to become of the islanders when the tourists whom he gave it to make their journey to the beach. However, most of the story is laid out for the audience, and most of the real thinking comes in the finale, which is useless to even try to comprehend. The actors do what they can with the script, handling it in a serious manner. DiCaprio plays Richard's actions somewhat dry, his dialogue sounding dry in minimal places. Ledoyen shines in her role of Francoise, and is as beautiful as the lush scenery that surrounds her. Tilda Swinton must be commended for her role as Sal, the leader of the small island community who stops at nothing to keep it all a secret from the outside world. Music and cinematography also give the film a glossy finish. Songs by All Saints and Moby sound as though they were written directly for the movie, and are perfect for the atmosphere that the characters dwell in. The cinematography and physical settings are brilliant and quite striking, and it seems as though the filmmakers hoped to rescue the movie through this element. Overall, the movie looks like it is a good attempt to bring a novel to the screen, but sometimes it does not always work the way it should. I would give the movie a try, but only if you are willing to put on your thinking caps, or if you're as screwed up as some of the characters.
Rating:
Summary: Good movie....bad rap....
Review: It is a true shame that this movie got slammed at the box office. What the box office wasn't able to pull off, the DVD more than makes up for it. A beautifully mastered and feature packed disc, and a spectacular movie make this disc a must buy. I was truly impressed with the acting, directing, writing and overall producing of this movie. Although the idea of this hidden society on a beach paradise seems more fitting for an episode of Saved by the Bell, the movie was so well done, the concept never once seemed silly. Plus, talk about features! This disc is chocked full of stuff you actually want to see! So many DVDs have tons of features, but they aren't that cool, so you never actually use them. Between the storyboards, alternate ending, alternate opening, and many more, this is a must own!!
Rating:
Summary: A DVD review
Review: I didn't think that I would like this film because I didn't care for the book and I'm not a DiCaprio fan. I rented it because I'm taking a vacation to the area where the film was shot. However, I was pleasantly surprised. The book does make a better script as I suspected. I was really surprised by DiCaprio's acting. Previously I thought of him as just another pretty boy actor, but he plays the slightly sinister Richard very well. The soundtrack is very good. Good enough that I got the CD. The film does have major plot changes from the book, but for the better in my opinion. I won't belabor the film and will mainly discuss the DVD features. The deleted scenes are mostly extended scenes already in the film. They give a little more background into the characters. The alternative ending I thought was better. It made the ending much darker and pessimistic than the original ending. The music video is okay artistic-wise. The song is a very catchy tune. It sounds like something that would be on a Madonna CD. Many trailers, spots, and photos are included but once again not much worth more than a single viewing. The commentary is very, very good as well as funny. The director of 'Trainspotting' gives hilarious insights to making the film such as Leo's shorts were filled with lead weights during the underwater love scene so he didn't float. That is just one of the many witty insights the director gives. I didn't think I was going to add this one to my collection, but the excellent soundtrack, interesting story with better ending, surprisingly good acting, and very funny commentary made me add this one to my collection.
Rating:
Summary: A cult classic
Review: This movie was judged even before it was released because of Leonardo DiCaprio (who's only fault is that 14-year-old girls like him because he played in one stroppy movie, although his earlier movies as 'Total Eclipse', 'Who's Eating Gilbert Grape' and 'The Basketball Diaries' were brilliant and rather alternative), but 'The Beach' is fantastic and really impressing. The acting is great, there's humor, there's the most breath-taking scenery possible, there's a strong plot, there's fabulous music, and there's an shocking end that makes you realise some things you normally don't think about. That's the reason why this movie was a flop, I reckon, because most of the viewers didn't get the message of the movie and considered it as one big publicity for Thailand. But the characters are not superficial at all, they are on the contrary terrifyingly recogneisable. Also the statements about western life and our way of travelling is stuff for reflection. This movie certainly has potential to become a cult classic. I consider it as 1999's best film.
Rating:
Summary: Leo Likes It Wet
Review: What is it with Leonardo DiCaprio and water? You'd think this charming fellow would yearn for some terra firma now and then. But in his first movie since Titanic, he's back in the drink, this time splashing around in the warm, azure waters off a remote island near Thailand. There may not be any icebergs in sight, but who needs them in this thought provoking glimpse into more than just grains of sand. DiCaprio plays a footloose American who travels to Bangkok looking for new experiences. At his fleabag hotel the drug-addled fellow (Robert Carlyle) in the next room starts jabbering about a secret island paradise, then thoughtfully tacks a map onto DiCaprio's door before slitting his own wrists. Undaunted and with map in hand, DiCaprio and his new best friends, an attractive French couple (Ledoyen and Guillaume Canet), set off for their tropical Eden. Find it they do, discovering that it is occupied by a motley international crew of dropouts who have created a self-sufficient community. "I settled in," DiCaprio says in a voice-over, "and found my vocation: the pursuit of pleasure." Paradise, he soon discovers, can be a real drag. Even in this ostensible idyll, there are rules and hierarchies, and lies can still catch up to you. The Beach, directed by Danny Boyle (Trainspotting) has visual flair and edgy psychological profiles. DiCaprio works himself into a lather, emoting mightily, and is succeedingly seductive. One to watch again to appreciate fully.
Rating:
Summary: An odd, but not ineffective, hodgepodge of a movie.
Review: I'd heard nothing but bad things about this movie, from people who'd apparently come to it expecting "Titanic II." It's certainly not that, but it's also not a terrible movie. The problem is that it's the "Trainspotting" director giving us a story that's an odd hybrid of "Six Nights, Seven Days" and "Trainspotting" -- with a contempt for ordinary travelers that even the movie eventually acknowledges if fatuous -- that veers off unexpectedly to become "Lord of the Flies" or "Apocalypse Now." Which isn't to say that there's nothing good in the movie. The setting is breathtaking, and many of the performances -- by a who's who of indie film regulars -- are extremely well-done. Even many of the story and directorial conceits work well, most notably a videogame sequence late in the film. But ultimately, the movie's lack of focus makes for a frustrating experience. There are flashes of a great film in here, although too often they're flashes borrowed from other, better movies.
Rating:
Summary: A truly brilliant movie!
Review: "The Beach" is one of Leonardo DiCaprio's best films, and deserves to be compared with his performance in "Titanic". This movie all starts with a man named Richard (played by Dicaprio). Richard is your average city boy, and now he's looking for something new. Richard attempts to seek paradise by looking for a mysterious beach listed on a map, and later learns the urban legend about it. So later, him, and two teens from France, Etienne and Francoise, go looking for it. And when they finally get there, they discover a tribe that's more than happy to let them in, and then basically have a world of paradise all to themselves. From that point on, it may seem to you like this is just a serene little movie, but you'll find yourself wrong. Dead wrong. Earlier, on their way swimming to the beach, Richard and Etienne have a little shark scare plotted by Francoise, and that's that. But later, when they three have integrated with the island, the threat of sharks becomes horrifyingly real. Richard has a face-to-face encounter with a shark, and lives to tell the tribe about it, which is no surprise since it the shark was a rather small one, as pointed out later by one of the tribe members. But that was just the beginning. Later, the tribe witnesses the horrifying aftermath of several bloody shark attacks that leaves Richard white as a sheet. But the worst is yet to come for this island, and it won't be because of sharks. When Richard takes advantage of the paradise he has in his hands, all hell breaks loose. And Richard will regret the bad decisions he's made. Richard is banished from the tribe and forced to stay on a desolate hill for weeks to come until he can get back the maps he made available to the public, making their secret beach a tourist hot spot, which is about the worst thing that can happen for the tribe that has lived there for who knows how long. Then, Richard finds out his decision to introduce the beach to the public has also introduced the beach to a gang of ruthless Swedish hunters that will stop at absolutley nothing to keep the beach under raps by ridding it of all the people on it, which leaves Richard witness to the horrific killings of 4 innocent American tourists that makes it abundantly clear that he and everyone else on the beach have to get as far away from it as possible before it's too late. So, if you like movies that are completley unpredictable, see The Beach and be prepared to be blown away.
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