Beyond Borders (Widescreen Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Engrossing Story
Review: This movie was not nearly as bad as I expected it to be--in fact, it was quite engrossing and, like other reviewers, I found that it stayed with me after it was over. I would agree that Angelina Jolie was probably miscast but she did a respectable job and Clive Owen was dead on. The scenes of mass starvation, corrupt officials, rebel leaders destroying their own people, brutality and political connivance and venality were all stunning and very well presented--believable and appalling. I am glad there was a romance, however brief or star-crossed, to provide a little relief from the otherwise overwhelming grimness. Further, I can't imagine any American audience going to see a film of totally unrelieved misery, as one reviewer seemed to be suggesting they would do. The plot did have some gaps which could have been filled in better for the understanding of what was really going on in the bizantine world of international relief but I think they did the best they could without extending the film beyond reason. In all, I found the story held my interest and I actually cared about the central characters (and not just Jolie and Owen) and the romance, as are many in such circumstances, was quite poignant. Worth seeing.

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: Okay, I'll admit it....
Review: With that rich baritone voice and British accent, I'd pay good money just to listen to Clive Owen read the phone book.

That aside, I was genuinely drawn in to this story. It's hard for me to get wrapped up in a love story, so when I do, I remember it! Generally I find Hollywood's version of true love to be, well, Hollywood. Very clean and simple and a bit flat. This film was so full of characters with such altruistic personalities, it was hard not to want them to live happily ever after!

The film makers seemed to leave out a lot of plot either for time or budget purposes. It would have been nicer to have a more detailed explanation of exactly what the CIA guy was finagling. The viewer has to figure out a lot for him/herself. More background on the Angelina Jolie character might have been nice too. At first all we know about her is that she's recently married, then she goes to Ethiopia. Next thing we know she's working for the UN? What exactly was her UN function other than the very shallow scene we see of "setting up aid"? Maybe I need a second viewing, but without giving too much away --what exactly had the Doctor done to irk the Chechen warlord? I'm not sure that was explained. It seemed like a lot was missing and there should have been deleted scenes included on the DVD. Well, maybe a director's version will be released eventually.

All in all, it was an entertaining and thought-provoking film.