Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful & Believeable
Review: This is the most beautifully filmed movie that I have seen in years. The acting is unusually good; the storyline is believeable. Filming was done onsite and director Madden's commentary on the movie is excellent. Not being a romantic, I am seldom moved by relationship tales but this one is different. The relationship between the girl and father, the girl and captain, the girl and child, and all others ring true. These are people that you will care about. The war scenes and the intimacy scenes add to rather than detract from the movie. Not much more to say but that "this is a winner".
Rating: 
Summary: Nick....Get a Dialect Coach
Review: Director John Madden has quite a track record. Films like MRS.BROWN, and SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE were triumphs; artistically fantastic transfers from a novel to the screen. I'm sure that he approached this film with the same enthusiasm. He probably loved the book, and it was a good one. This is a classic tale, full of romance, war, betrayal, seduction, ethnic music and dance. The locales he picked for the film certainly looked like the Greek Isles. Penelope Cruz radiates as Pelagia, the village doctor's daughter. She managed to be intelligent, sexy, earthy, and vulnerable all in the same breath. She loved her father, and she had studied medicine with him all her life. She could have been a nurse. She could have studied to be a doctor. She loved her betrothed, Mandras, a young muscular fisheman; played very convincingly by Christian Bale. But World War II intervened, and its dark shadow blot out the idyllic qualities of her dreams, and her lifestyle; stomping on them like a Nazi jackboot. John Hurt found the pulse of his role as Dr. Iannis. His portrayal was touching, funny, profound, and tragic; a tribute to his skill as an actor. His became the pivotal role in this story. The movie is worth seeing just to experience his talent.
Christian Bale found the simplicity, strength, and patriotism to play Mandras. We believed in him ( though we secretly felt, as the doctor did, that his intellect was beneath Pelagia's, and that someday she would rue marrying him ), and we cheered him on when he ran off to become a resistance fighter. Irene Papas, always reliable, was wonderful as Drosoula, the mother of Mandras. She is, of course, as Greek as olive oil, and her mere presence gave credibility to the tale. And then, sadly, we come to the Achilles heel of the production, the flawed edifice known as Nicolas Cage. Mr. Cage, despite his academy award, is the kind of narrow-range actor whose talent has specific parameters. When cast appropriately, he can be extremely effective. Not so this time. Now he has been bad, or had weak moments in many of his movies, but he is flat terrible in this one. His attempts at an Italian accent were ludicrous. Cage, whose real name is Coppola, has the blood of the Mediterranean running through his veins, and he should be ashamed of himself. His accent was so bad, it sounded like a fledging thespian in their first high school play. Even so, his Antonio Corelli had its moments. The guy can be charming. But there was no real depth, no truth in his technique. Captain Corelli was made of cardboard. No matter how sumptious the rest of the production may be, and actually all of the supporting cast, the art design, the writing, and the musical score for this film were very good; when the point man, the lead singer is weak, the whole project sinks like a rowboat with a slit seam. The movie was appropriately critically slammed and panned. Even the trailer could not disguise its flaws. One can, if they really try, overlook the poor performance delivered by Cage, but unfortunately the heart of the film, the great romance, the love story between Corelli and Pelagia, was as listless and lifeless as flat stale beer; no sparks, no chemistry. And a body of work without a beating heart is just zombie art; a still birth. For lovers and readers of the book, this movie is a must-see. For most of us, though, it turned out to be lukewarm experience. But always remember, watching a film is a very personal journey into tens kinds of Art. So if you like Madden as a director, or Cage as an actor, then give this lovely, albeit flawed, film a viewing, and see what you think.
Rating:
Summary: A Film of Quiet Beauty
Review: Director John Madden (Shakespeare in Love) has created one of the most beautiful films in recent memory in this visually gorgeous and emotionally rich story of the Greek island of Cephallonia and it's people during WWII. It is a slowly developing story of love and tradition amidst the awkwardness of war. It is an American film with a Foreign film sensibility. We get a hint from the very beginning what this film is about as we hear the voice of the island's doctor, John Hurt say, "Ask not why we are wounded, but if the wound can be healed". Hurt gives a wonderful performance as the island's doctor and wise father of Pelagia (Penelope Cruz), who he is training to be a doctor as well. Cruz's doe eyed and fawn like beauty only serve to enhance a fine and subtle performance of inner emotions changing gradually as her life changes. Pelagia is engaged to Mandras (Christian Bale) and their betrothal scene is one of the many traditions Madden lets us see as he slowly gives us a feel for the people of Cephallonia and their history. But war looms on the horizon and though the Greeks initially beat back the Italians in Albania they are overtaken when German reinforcements arrive. War finally comes to the island in the form of life loving and peaceful Captain Antonio Corelli and his men. Corelli and his men are Italians by birth and soldiers only by necessity. He and his troop sing opera and love life and when he comes to stay in Pelagia's home in exchange for medical supplies to her father, magic begins to happen. Again, Madden takes his time with their relationship. It does not happen overnight. Her betrothal to Mandras and the unwanted occupation of the Italians are stumbling blocks to their romance. Small and subtle things like Pelagia's sitting back down to listen to Corelli play the mandolin, and her picking up a picture in his room and smiling, tell us what is developing. After love fully blooms, forming a triangle, Hurt has a touching moment with his daughter, explaining what love really is. At the same time, the wise doctor has come to see in Corelli something he does not in Mandras, and tells him how when he was courting Pelagia's mother, he was forced to leave the island in order to keep from being killed by her fiance. Things become more complicated when the Italians surrender to the allies and the Germans are on their way to the island. Corelli comes to learn that the Germans will treat he and his men just as the enemy and must make a decision that will change all their lives. A promise made to Pelagia by one of Corelli's men saves him, but in order to save her, he must leave Cephallonia in a scene that is quiet and moving, like the entire film, which is filled with life and love. When things return to normal on the island after the war Pelagia becomes a doctor. But her wise father sees the pain inside and writes a letter to Corelli, in hopes that it will find him. Once again those words echo in our hearts, "Ask not why we are wounded, but if the wound can be healed". This is a rich and beautiful film, a visual feast for the eyes, and a glorious journey for the heart. This is something truly different and wonderful that you have to own. Nicolas Cage and Penelope Cruz are marvelous, as is John Hurt and all the other inhabitants of this magical place in time. We are so involved in this story that by the time Cage enters the picture we hardly notice his Italian accent. This is a film to lose yourself in and one that you will never forget if you will only take the time to see it's beauty.
Rating: 
Summary: how to make a terrible film from a great book
Review: on the plus side, the book of captain corellis madolin was a very original and enchanting book. it would have been possible to make many good screenplays from the material, unfortunately, the film is very very weak.
Cage in possibly his worst role, seems to be hamming it up with a terrible comedy accent, and just doesnt seem beleivable with the not terribly talented Cruz, one would guess she only gets jobs as there is some misconception she will pull in a male audience, an appeal lost on me through her terrible acting.
the scenery is nice.
John Hurt is competent but he just cant save this disastor.
The chnages in the plot to make the film more PC and not offend anyone, diluted the story to a pathetically weak love story between the two weakest players.
please do not put Cruz and Cage in another movie together.
Actually theres so many flaws im gonna cut this short, but just to mention that the action scenes in the A-tema were more credible.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific Adaptation Of A Great Novel!
Review: I am always suspicious whenever a best-selling book is used as the vehicle for a big-budget movie, as too often they are poorly interpreted sand transformed from print to film. For example, although many directors have tried, no one has ever successfully transformed one of Ernest Hemingway's novels to the screen. The attempt to bring "Even Cowgirls Get The Blues" to moviegoers was an unmitigated disaster, as was "Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up To Me". Yet, perhaps because the siren call of the successful novel is so alluring, directors keep on trying. Here again they try to bring a masterful and long novel of over 400 pages to the screen. It some respects, this is a very successful adaptation. The depiction of both the romance and the dilemma the young officer faces is well depicted, and the director manages to recreate the quaint and provincial atmosphere of an Greek village masterfully, and one finds himself transported to this magical time and place through the magic of film. Yet in accomplishing this aspect of the story so well, the director gives short shrift to the rest of the story, so that the later parts of the novel get only brief and truncated treatments, undercutting the magic of the tale and seriously flawing the movie version of the story in the process. The cinematography, however, is spectacular, and the location on the island of Kefallonia is perfect suited to the tale, as are the local extras used, who add enormously to the genuine feel to the film's atmosphere and ambiance. Nicholas Cage shows his range both as a leading man and as a heroic leader and carries out both aspects to the role quite well. Penelope Cruz is a young woman who is so beautiful she doesn't have to do much to be believable, at least to male viewers of a certain age and disposition. Enuf said? All in all, this is a very satisfying film, although I must admit to being disappointed to see the director skip so many subtle aspects of the latter parts of the story based on what appears to be time constraints. Still, this is very well done, and it is something I can highly recommend. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Where's Roberto Benigni when you need him?
Review: Notable only for being the first feature film in which the mandolin player gets the girl. Most of the mandolin playing faked by Nicolas Cage is pretty simple, technically ... nonetheless you'll notice that the camera cuts away whenever he has to play eighth notes. Directed by John "Shakespeare in Love" Madden, but so full of sap and bombast and so lacking in chemistry between the leads that it might as well have been directed by John "NFL on Fox" Madden. Manages to leach just about all the poetry, suspense, colorful minor characters, and European Romanticism (yes, with a big R) out of what was a pretty remarkable book, leaving only a sodden lump. A fine performance by John Hurt--who may actually be more interesting as an actor when he isn't playing slimy, lecherous villains--is all but wasted in this disappointing clunker. Like ordering Orecchiette Quattro Formaggio and getting Kraft Dinner.
Rating:
Summary: Bad From All Angles
Review: This film is horribly long, badly acted, filled with a myriad different accents, and contains a story that can hardly be called sympathetic. Are we, the audience, supposed to sympathize with Nicholas Cages's annoying Italian fascist character? Should we like him because his accent is so horrid or because he delivers his lines with no believability? And should we fall in love with Penelope Cruz, whose acting and accent should only be forced on prisoners of war? The only time this picture becomes bearable is when none of the actors are on the screen, and just the vistas of the small Greek island are in view. And unfortunately, those vistas are few. Usually, the director submits his audience to the bad acting of Penelope Cruz, as she utters gems like "you think you can come here and turn my world upside-down?" Oh, the pure terror of it all. Whoever thought of making a story sympathetic to fascism anyway? Please, skip this film. It is not even entertaining as a popcorn flick.
Rating:
Summary: good love story
Review: this was not the best love story but my wife and i both enjoyed watching it together. we both also like war movies and this one was ok. but we both also like nicolas cage movies we have seen. and penelope cruz was very good in this movie. overall worth watching.
Rating: 
Summary: True Love & Friendship Transcend All Barriers!!
Review: ... Check out this cool little movie that shows the madness of war, the loyalty of brotherhood, and the betrayal of both love and political alliances! ... It may not rock your socks off, but it's a GOOD little movie, with excellent acting, a well-developed theme based on a true story, and beautiful location cinematography. It also moves along quickly, has
some interesting and surprising twists & turns, and is often very funny!
... I enjoyed it. ... It proves that TRUE love and TRUE friendship transcend all physical, emotional, political, psychological, cultural, and religious barriers of all kinds. For that lesson alone, I loved this film. ... John Hurt is fantastic, Nicholas Cage is great, Penelope Cruz is perfect, and Irene Papas is a hoot! ... Check it out! ... - The Aeolian Kid
Rating: 
Summary: Waste of time
Review: This film was crap! if penelope cruz wasn't in it i would have walked out of the cinema ages ago. There was absolutely NO chemistry between the lead characters. and Nicholas Cage's acting was HORRIBLE! he couldn't put up an accent if his life depended on it! The only amazing thing about the film was the scenery and the music.. Loved "Pelagia's Song".
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