Rating: 
Summary: Watchable but falls a little flat
Review: Captain Corelli's Mandolin
***This movie deserved three stars, one for the setting and cinematography, one for John Hurt as the ageing doctor, and one for a certain degree of panache. In spite of its incongruity (a war film featuring warbling invaders) this film almost pulls it off. The movie was worth watching for the scenery alone. The broad base historical events really happened, which is tragic in itself. I would have adored this film when I was seventeen. I like Nicholas Cage as a rule, but he is miscast here. His so-called Italian accent is spotty at best. (His performance, when measured against his own yardstick, was wooden.) Penelope Cruz's naturally Spanish accent came across as less forced, although how it sounded to Greek audiences, I would not know. She is beautiful, so truly beautiful that one forgives her for not showing more raw passion. There is a definite spark there, and she should improve as she gets older. It is difficult to have a movie cast speaking in "foreign accents." It is why I prefer the real thing with subtitles... Possibly that accent hurdle is, to be fair, insurmountable. Why, then, was John Hurt believable? The film, despite all it has going for it, falls a little flat. I will read the book, which, although so controversial the author had to re-write a last chapter, is from all accounts much better.
Rating: 
Summary: You are great, Nicolas Cage
Review: I had sread and liked the book and was impatient to see the film.I have seen it twice and I think I'll see it more.Nicolas Cage is not only a very good actor but he has also got the most beautiful dark green eyes on earth. He was a wonderful choice for this film (maybe because he has something Italian in him), and he sholud have been given the Oscar for his performance. The island in the film is beautiful(very similar to the Mediterranean coasts of my own country-Turkey). The music is very nice, I always listen to the soundtrack whenever I need some peace of mind. The love story is so beautiful that one wishes to be a part of it(in spite of the Nazýs and the war. You should ignore negative criticisms(about accents,etc.) and see this film in order not to forget that:
1.Love makes life beautiful even in wartime.
2.We should all be like Italians-eating, drinking, loving, enjoying life and singing(because in every occasion there is something worth singing)
In an age where love affairs are experienced through computers-without once touching or looking into the eyes of the loved one, watching real romance makes one happy. Thanks to everyone who took part in the making of it.
Some films keep you under its spell long after you watch them, this certainly is one of them.
Rating:
Summary: Nicolas Cage was a poor choice
Review: This could have been a very good movie, but casting Nicolas Cage as an Italian officer was a very poor choice. Penelope Cruz was good, and John Hurt, as usual, did an excellent job, perhaps because he didn't work so hard at his accent. However, Nicolas Cage's Captain Corelli was more of a caricature than a three-dimensional character. Nothing fit--not his mannerisms, not his accent, and especially not his singing voice. Consequently I had trouble taking the whole thing seriously. It's unfortunate that American films can't rake in the big bucks unless they have a big name star. This film would have benefited immensely had they used a real Italian actor in the main roll.
Rating: 
Summary: "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" a Disappointment
Review: As much as a NORMALLY LOVE Penelope Cruz (that's sarcasm, folks!) her performance in "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" isn't so much acting as it is a series of gawky smiles or frowns accompanied by girlish squeeks and squaks. This terrible acting is accented by Nicolas Cage, whose performance makes it seem like he researched his Italian accent by playing "Super Mario Bros." games. Thus are the weaknesses of "Captain Corelli's Mandolin," a valiant effort of a film that, nevertheless, fails to sizzle. And while the film does have its strengths, they ultimately can't save this picture. Those strengths include John Hurt and Christian Bale. John Hurt plays the highly cliche part of "Wise Old Papa," and the part is, indeed, highly predictable and run-of-the-mill. But John Hurt is such a subtle and charming actor that he manages to rise above the part and make it a highly enjoyable performance, nevertheless. And Christian Bale does a convincing performance that makes him almost unrecognizable as Penolope Cruz's fiance before "Mamma Mia Nicolas Cage" comes into the story (It's hard to believe that this is the same Christian Bale who only a year before was playing an American WASP in "American Psycho"). These strong performances are coupled with beautiful locations and very smooth-looking cinematography. Still, these strengths cannot save a dulled-down story and terrible leads, and all in all, "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" is a disappointment. If by chance it happens to be on TV, I'd reccommend a quick watch of it, but if not, than you should probably save your money with this one.
Rating: 
Summary: No wonder the Italians lost the war....
Review: OK..I am not a Nicholas Cage fan(8mm was good in it own disturbing way..)but other than that I think the man is WAY overrated. this movie is just another testamonial of how bad his acting is. He is not a fluid actor, everything he does seems forced. A Singing Artillery Battery? No wonder the Italians lost the war......One of the best parts of the whole movie was the actual surrender of the village...to the Germans.
(Oh, and the singing arty men facing the German firing squad.) Penelope Cruz was very good...too bad she had to play opposite Cage.
Rating:
Summary: Any Similarity with the Book is Entirely Coincidental
Review: I have read Corelli's Mandolin & I can think of many recent works that compare as favorably on character development, realism, humor, whatever. I can only assume that the screen writer never read the book. The only similarities I can find are in the names of the characters and localities. Simply, it stinks. I also assume that the film crew never took much time to look around at the natural beauty of the Aegean, of the Greek islands, of the incredible light play on the water and the charm of the people. I wasn't expecting a great deal - really just hoping for some wonderful filmography. I visted the Aegean last summer & am adicted. I am SO disappointed in the film and the casting(excepting John Hurt). Those scenes from the book that are used in the film are so poorly visualised so as to entirely miss the author's meaning. If you've only got 2 hours to spend on this work, buy the abridged audio reading by Stephen Lang & close your eyes. It's wonderful - as is the unabridged audio version. Save your money & skip this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Corny
Review: For those fans of corny silly romantic stories set to the backdrop of WWII and a beautiful Greek Island, you will love this one.
My husband rented it because it was set against WWII. According to him it was not historically accurate. According to me, it is a lavishly beautiful film to look at, but the storyline is weak, the script is about as good as a harlequin romance, and Cage's acting is horrendous. How often does an american actor actually get any foreign accent right? Pretty much never.
Penelope Cruz is Pelagia, a woman who dresses like a nurse cuz she wants to be a doctor. She is a decent actress, Cage makes her look even better in their scenes together as I think this was just a bad choice for him as an acting role. I usually like him, but lately he's done no movies I find him appealing in lately. As the other reviewers are saying here, the characters are never developed so you don't really know enough to care what happens to them. I do think that Christian Bale's character, Mandras, is the only character that comes close to any development. You think he's bad for awhile, but he actually does end up being good..all for love of course.
It wasn't a totally terrible movie, but it wasn't great. I thought the script was just too corny and I couldn't believe the words coming out of John Hurt's character. He plays Pelagia's father. It's like Danielle Steel wrote this. He was very good in this movie as he is in everything I've seen him in.
This is also very predictable. If you LOVED Titanic or Pearl Harbor, chances are you will appreciate this film more than me.
I just have to really be in love with the script in a film to appreciate it and this script is drivel. I'm sure the book is much better.
Rating: 
Summary: VERY GOOD
Review: this movie wants me want to cry because it is about the universal theme.. love. I love penelope cruz and I think she's like the best actress to come out of europe since liv ullmann. Speaking of which, this movie remind me of bergman, the music and the close-shots. I just want to cry. buy the DVD when it comes out. you'll want to cry too.
Rating:
Summary: Good Wartime Romance
Review: No need to write 20 paragraphs about this flick. It's a war movie for couples, and it's pretty good. The "angle" that differentiates this particular movie is that Captain Corelli packed up his Italian passion for music along with his rifle when he went off to war. He leads an occupying unit to a Greek island. The Greek-Italian animosity is overcome by his humanity and his music. Then the Germans show up. Can't say much more without giving away the story. It's not a documentary but it's good storytelling. Cage is likable, Cruz is strong and sad, the Germans are very Teutonic. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: This Chick-Flck ...
Review: First, this is a definite chick flick. Second, this film ... rocks. Cage's corny accent is somewhere between an Italian with Down's Syndrome and Marlee Matlin doing an Italian accent. The film drags, has non-interesting characters, and is corny. The only thing that could hold a guy's interests is Cruz... and she has hairy pits... this movie is the pits!
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