Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful
Review: This is a movie that really makes you think about our world today. It is an amazing story. The actors do a great job portraying these difficult roles also. The movie shows what is really going on in these third world countries. Sometimes me live so blindfolded, we do not consider others not nearly as fortunate as we are. This movie should be shown to all those who do not fully appreciate how great their lives are, and to not take things for granted. This is an absoultly outstanding movie and I strongly recommand it to all.
Rating: 
Summary: Beyond Borders - A good but unfocused film!
Review: For quite some time now I've been more or less hooked on Angelina Jolie and her films and can definitely say with some authority that had this film not had her in it, it probably wouldn't have garnered much attention from the movie going public. Having said that, "Beyond Borders" is a good film, not spectacular or overwhelmingly poignant, just good! Given Angelina Jolie's personal passion towards helping children from third world nations it's easy to see why she chose to do this film. That personal passion does translate to the film however, the script in and of itself just doesn't translate into an overly impressive film.Performance wise, Angelina Jolie delivers another solid performance but she comes off as somewhat subdued for the better part of the film. She is such strong and versatile actress that her part in this film, despite a couple of strong points, just doesn't suit her talents. Clive Owen delivers a strong and memorable performance as does the majority of the cast. I believe the only other film I've watched that was directed by Martin Campbell was "The Mask of Zorro" which was a pretty good film. His direction of "Beyond Borders" clearly shows that he can make the best of the film despite a weak script. The Premise: Sarah Jordan (Angelina Jolie) is an American married to a Brit. At a fundraising gala, Nick Callahan (Clive Owen) crashes in dragging behind him a young Ethiopian and turns Sarah's world upside down as he delivers a strong speech about the suffering the Ethiopians are going through and haranguing her father-in-law about pulling his funding. Sarah soon finds herself taking every last penny she has and buying relief supplies to personally take to Ethiopia... What follows from there is a mildly poignant film in which Sarah and Nick carry on an odd relationship as she is unhappily married and he continues to follow his passion of relief work all over the globe... Without trying to sound too harsh, I would rate this film at 3.5 stars if it were possible as it is a good story it just doesn't live up to its billing or its leading actress. I would definitely recommend it but more as a rental than an actual purchase. {ssintrepid} Special Features: -Commentary by Director Martin Campbell and Producer Lloyd Phillips
-Behind the Lines: The Making of Beyond Borders, Part 1
-Behind the Lines: The Making of Beyond Borders, Part 2
-The Writing of "Beyond Borders:" A Conversation with Screenwriter Caspian Tredwell-Owen
-Angelina: Goodwill Ambassador
Rating: 
Summary: DO NOT THIS FROM BESTDEALDVD SELLER
Review: MARK JOLLY SELLS BOOT;LEGS AND WRITES VULGAR EMAILS.
AVOID THIS SELLER AT ALL COSTS.
Rating: 
Summary: Tomb Raider meets Proof of Life meets English Patient
Review: Think Tomb Raider meets English Patient meets Proof of Life meets U.S.A for Africa.
1-Tomb Raider because:- Angelina starring(obviously), her hairstyle and pouting, some of the action sequences, Asian location, brooding English/Scottish/ Welsh co-star with similar character to Nic's, with the love scene even located in Asia
2-Proof of Life because:- some of the subject matter in terms of civil and political unrest, the rescue scene, brooding emotionally unavailable male lead character.
3- English Patient because:- English characters, sweeping romanticized desert scenes, posturing in flowing clean white garb (though Sarah's in the middle of a dusty refugee camp), landmines, brooding emotionally unavailable male lead character
4- USA for Africa because:- obvious.
But having said all this, this wasn't a bad movie- I'd thought it would be worse. It started powerfully but by the end deteriorated into a "movie" in terms of storyline, dialogue, action sequences. However, the second to last scene is an unexpected gem- it made the movie for me.
Clive Owen is the best thing about the movie- a powerful gritty performance. (No offence- I think Kevin Costner is an excellent actor and one of my favorites, but he would have made the role a different animal.)
If you'd never seen an Anglelina Jolie perfomance, she would have moved you, but essentially (and like a lot of other actors) she pulls out her usual range of emotionions and pouts and falls slightly flat and two dimensional. A grittier actress would have been better in the role. If this movie had starred Catherine Zeta Jones as planned, or a Nicole Kidman, or a Julia Roberts, with Kevin Costner or a Russell Crowe lead, Oscar would have been falling over it's feet to worship. But the lack of A-list leads (by Hollywood's standards)and the uncomfortable guilt- inducing subject matter for most Americans was enough to keep audience's away.
To conclude...You'll enjoy this movie more if you watch the special features and watch the movie as it was intended according to the author -"an epic romance set against the backdrop of humanitarian work", not as a documentary on relief work or the UNHCR. (I must say, though, I was very disappointed and surprised at the director's repeated use of the word "Africa" when referring to Ethiopia, given that "Cambodia" was referred to as Cambodia, not Asia, and "Cheznya" was referred to as Cheznya, not "Europe" and the Art director's comment"...Namibia on the Ivory Coast" What does that mean?!)
Rating:
Summary: Would be better if the film was more focused
Review: From it's troubled pre-production to it's schizophrenic storytelling, Beyond Borders has loads of promise but ultimately fails to deliver. Angelina Jolie plays an American woman living an unhappy marriage in London when she is drawn into humanitarian aid in various political hot spots by a very passionate doctor (Clive Owen, replacing original star Kevin Costner). The two end up having an affair (naturally) while helping out those in need, but the film's schizophrenic storytelling and lack of focus on one subject is where the film loses steam. The performances by Jolie and Owen are excellent and make the film worth watching, but the overly long running time and disappointing direction by Martin Campbell (Goldeneye, Mask of Zorro) ultimately drag the film along. Had Oliver Stone directed as he was originally set to, Beyond Borders could have been something special. It's still worth watching, just don't go in to it with high expectations.
Rating:
Summary: Good Movie, Weak Focus
Review: BEYOND BORDERS doesn't seem to know where it is going as a movie: an international love affair, a poster film for the courage of the human soul, a documentary, a promotional film for Angelina Jolie's laudable contributions to global charity, a study of the mismanagement of fundraising and fund disbursement for the victims of famine, starvation and war around the globe, etc etc. If you can get past the need to hone in on a single concept then there is plenty to like about this movie. For once Jolie is able to play a woman obsessed with aiding the unfortunate instead of towering above all others as a fictive comic book character. And there are truly fine performances by Clive Owen (wholly commited to his role as a physician for the masses), Linus Roache, Teri Polo, and Noah Emmerich and of course minor roles played with aplomb by actors from the various locales needing aid - Ethiopia, Cambodia, Chechnya etc. This film has the appearance of a Blockbuster in style and execution, but its real importance is in its depiction of the suffering that covers the globe. In a very touching passage physician Clive Owen addresses the quiet courage of the people in extremis and at that point the message of the movie is driven home with great impact. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Makes you want to be more.
Review: This is one of those amazing movies that makes you want to jump off the couch and do more for your fellow man. As an avid supporter and volunteer in arts and culture here in Des Moines, it made me think about human service needs here in our community and abroad. This movie was graphic and real. I recommend this picture to anyone who needs a break from the typical drama, comedy, and fiction filling our world and televisions today. Step out beyond your homes, beyond your sofa, and help with our world's problems!
Rating:
Summary: don't know why it got so low rating
Review: this is actually a very serious movie, seriously produced, directed and performed. the guy who once played the cool movie, 'the groupier' done a very passionate humane character in this movie, a.j. also performed well and we can just got her realistic passion about the love of people and kids. the script is not well paved, especially her relation with her husband. don't know how she still kept her old passion after she got a family and a kid, kinda unreal here. but all in all, this is a very good movie. it's not wrong that a specific film carries certain hidden agenda or not, all we have to weigh is whether this film was seriously produced, its castings were seriously chosen and well performed. filmcritic.com gave this movie only a star just because it carried certain agenda, to me, is deadly wrong.
Rating:
Summary: It isnt love... it's a message to have faith in the creator.
Review: when i went in to see the movie i was to tally shocked. we mostly know about such poor countries but we have never reconsidered and learned from what we saw... this a very amazing movie to let us know where we are in the time many others are dying due to hunger and disease... we must make also some moves to aid our brothers and sisters all over the world...
people, what will we say to god on the judgment day? we are all responsible for those poors...
Rating: 
Summary: Well-Intentioned, I Know, But Hardly Convincing
Review: "Beyond Borders" was originally to be directed by Oliver Stone, and to star Kevin Costner and Cathrine Zeta Jones. Keep that in mind before you watch it. The completed film by Martin Campbell starring Angelina Jolie and Clive Owen retains one of the initial intentions of the film -- namely, love romance. Angelina Jolie plays Sarah, a lady who accidentally meets her fate in Doctor Callahan (Clive Owen). To what extent she is led by the fate, you will guess in the first sequence in Africa. The globe-trotting plot is melodramatic, but thanks to the actors' good acting (and Ms. Jolie's off-screen personality we all know), we clearly know that the film is made with good intention. But the film is shot against the backdrop of the suffering of many refugees in the world, and it opens with the scene showing that nature of the film quite blatantly. Romance, is it? But can we relate to either of them in this situation? Please don't say the film opens your eyes. Surely, the locations that show the plights of refugees are convncingly shot. And Angelina Jolie knows these people in person, as you know. But when you see something (I won't name it) in the middle of African desert, and see it is used as a device to enhance the romantic side of the story, I start to doubt the authenticity of the film. I may be wrong here, but if I were the director, I would change that part, definitely. I sincerely hope that it does not symbolize what happened to the career of Angelina Jolie when "Beyond Borders" never even reached #10 of box ofice chart in America. I know the film is a well-intentioned attempt to show the misery of these people, but if you really want to see the authentic accounts of refugees' lives, see Michael Winterbottom's "In This World." That is more realistic and shocking, too.
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