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THE BEACH... a female point of view
OK... here's another look at THE BEACH, this time through a girl's eyes, and this Malaysian lass doesn't seem too sold on Leo's latest...
Father Geek,
Caught the beach last night. As folks Stateside probably know, it's
out one week before the US here in South East Asia. I was all real excited
about seeing it, as the local papers reviews were great and all. But now I'm
not so sure....
The Beach starts off with an okay premise. Leo plays Richard, an
American tourist in Bangkok, doing all the usual tourist jaunts in
Bangkok with one significant omission (I don't see any nude girls
bopping around). No offense to anyone, but one scene shows Leo walking
down the streets of Patpong, a shopping/sleaze district in Bangkok.
I've been to Patpong 4 times and all the doors of the clubs at street
level have always been open, showing nude girls bopping around. You
can't miss them.
Okay okay, ratings aside, Leo meets up with 3 people, 2 French
tourists and Robert Carlyle, who shows him the map to The Beach and
then ...
(Spoilers....don't read if you don't want to know what's happening!)
...
...
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.....kills himself in extremely bloody circumstances. Leo, Robert et
al are obviously budget travellers, as they live in very shabby budget
lodgings. And here I think the cinematography is wonderful, because
I've been to places like that, and they've NEVER significantly
appeared so .......(I'm searching for the word here).......vivid and
alive. The colors are magnified. The peeling paintwork is magnified.
Even the mosquito netting looks unreal, good enough to eat.
To cut a long story short,Leo invites the 2 French tourists,
Etienne and his girlfriend, the very luscious Virginie Ledoyen, who
should have been the muse for Eden's Eve (of Adam), to join him. I
particularly liked the character of Etienne, who is as real as the
millions of French tourists who ply South East Asia can get, right
down to the accent, affectations and all.
(And here, I don't mean it in a disparaging way. Etienne is as real
and warm a character can get without overacting in a way that B-grade
movie producers like to have French characters do in resistance
movies, like exploding in a 'Ah, tres bien, monsieur!' and getting all
excitable every 2 minutes.)
They finally find the Beach, where a community of tourists from all
nationalities are gathered. And here I think the film scores a high
note. All the Beach tourists seem pretty natural. In essence, none of
them seem to be acting. They're like tourists you get anywhere in the
world, allowing for cultural differences, whom you just meet in a
beach resort and catch a glimpse of what they want to portray, but you
don't really KNOW them, know what I mean? Kind of like the characters
in Short Cuts. No one here overacts or descends into cultural cliches.
The leader of the community is Sal, who has an intense obsession
about keeping the Beach secret so as not to turn it into another
Patpong or Koh Sa Mui (a neighbouring island well known for its beauty
and touristy beach resorts). So Leo et al settles in, but finds that
not all is well in the Beach.
I was one of those who were terribly disturbed by Lord of the
Flies, that movie where a bunch of schoolboys are shipwrecked on an
island; and without adult supervision, set their own savage rules and
society. The Beach attempts that premise. What happens to civilization
when there are no laws? How would you designate society of which you
were sovereign of your own community? But because the people here on
the Beach are adults, not schoolboys, the effect is muted somehow,
tempered with too much civilization.
In essence, the characters are still playing tourists and rational
adults, but ultimately tourists who don't want to be bothered by real
life. What was then a boon in the 1st and 2nd act is now impairing the
realisation of the 3rd act.
After a great set-up and so much foreboding, when you are left
wondering 'What the heck is going to happen to this beach utopia that
will horrify me so?', the 3rd act comes as a disappointment. This is
unlike The Fight Club, where the 3rd act is truly a shocker. But here,
instead of allowing Leo and the Beach community to take care of their
own problems ( as did Ed Norton), the solution is passed on to a group
of Thai farmers.
The 3rd act left me feeling as though I'd witnessed an episode of
Xena, or any other series which now and then offers a storyline where
the hero/heroine meets a secret Utopian community. Somehow, I expect
of a movie. I don't know. I just wanted MORE. Heck, I expected more, I
paid for MORE.
Nevertheless, the soundtrack is going to be one of the best and
most aptly disturbing collection you'll hear since the Matrix,
especially that All Saints cover. Watch it, and let me know if the
realisation of the 3rd act bothers you in the way it bothered me.
Lynette of
Malaysia
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+ Expand All
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Now there was a much better premise for a beach movie. Loved the dancing! Annette Funicello (sp?) could whoop Leo's ass anyday. This movie sounds SOO dumb.
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Whoop-de-do I'm first.
THE FACULTY was a godawful waste of time that tried mixing INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS and SCREAM. Won't somebody tell me why (SPOILER AHEAD) -
the queen of a conquering alien race, whose existence is crucial to the success of the invasion, would put herself at risk by fighting a group of teenagers by herself? Talk about idiotic!!
Anyway, back on topic...I loved LORD OF THE FLIES - both the book and the original black and white movie. The commercials for THE BEACH look pretty good and having a decent director can't hurt. -
Thats more like it; give your impressions, go a little into the technical side of things, and so forth. Nice! Don
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there was some controversy about the beach filming and production ruining the environment. after shooting wrapped leonard here formed some sort of charity to help save the enviroment. obviously this was done to cover his puss. i sure glad ewan mccgregor didn't star in this movie, he doesn't like leonard, like most fanboyz/fangirlz. i swear leonard's supporter's act like they have a tampon shoved up their azz.
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I'm sorry, I can't buy it. I'm haunted by the image of that turd on the beach punching the air real fast. Fuckin' embarrassing. That dude wants to be an action-type hero so bad. It's like "short man's complex"; except that Leo is overcompensating for his 12-year-old girl physique. Way to go, you pud; save the day. That french babe is tainted by his sissy touch; though I'd still be her human toilet if given the chance.
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Before people get started on the Leo-bashing that goes on on this site whenever DeCaprio is mentioned I'd like to say a word or two in Leo's defense. It's understandable that the teenyboppers are head over heels over him because if you look at the cover of Tigerbeat or any of those other mags that appeal to twelve year old girls you'll see that all the coverboys share that girlish, not-really-a-man-yet look about them that little girls just discovering boys admire. The thing that separates Leo from the likes of N-Sync or the Backstreet Boys is that he actually has talent and that Leo doesn't wallow in the adoration. He genuinely seems embarassed to be a coverboy unlike Ricky Martin or so many others who know that once the thirteen-year-olds are over them that their careers are finished. Before all the hoopla of "Titanic" Leo was considered one of the best actors of his generation with terrific turns in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" and "Basketball Diaries." Everyone knows that "Titanic" became the highest grossing film of all time because of Leo's presence even moreso than the special effects. Leo could've let that distinction cause him to abandon his craft and take the money and run. Instead he passed on most of the projects that came his way. True, he made a major misstep with the lousy "Man in the Iron Mask" but maybe "The Beach" will put him back on track. I think that other actors could learn a thing or two from the example that Leo and his "Titanic" costar Kate Winslet have set. Either one of them could've made much more money by capitalizing on their post-Titanic buzz. Instead they've held out for projects that they found interesting. As much as some of you hate Leo, consider yourselves lucky that he hasn't jumped on every role that he could. After all, if he wanted them, Spider-man and Anakin could be his for the taking.
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I guess you didn't hear about DiCaprio's chain smoking problem while shooting the film. Apparretly the little twerp smokes so much both in real life and in the scenes that it was causing continuity problems while shooting. Little Leo wouldn't listen to the director or producer, so the one of the studio heads got on a plane and flew to the set of "The Beach" to ask the punk nicely. Basically, DiCaprio told the studio guy to go f*#& himself.
Oh, did I mention he doesn't have any acting talent either? I mean, come on, did you see Titanic? You call that acting?
I do like the comments about cinematography in the review. The DP is the one who shot Evita and Stealing Beauty among other things, which are both visually stunning movies, especially Evita. -
You may notice that I somewhat bashed Leo above. That is because I thought the teaser I saw awhile back was so hilarious showing him doing punches and climbing out of some port-a-potty while shirtless. It was poor use of footage to convey this movie, and even worse, made him look like a buff heart-throb he is not. NOW, in defense of Leo, I think he's a fine actor. I enjoyed him in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Quick and the Dead, Romeo + Juliet, and yes, even Titanic (despite the lame lame dialogue). But I still think Annette Funicello could kick his butt. ())CRAYOLA))>~~~
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I'm glad to see some people still like to *think* when they talk films rather than regurgitate mainstream opinions. Leo has talent, and has proven that much by acting a variety of different roles and playing each one exactly to character. Yes, this includes his role in "Titanic". He played the part like a professional. You don't see any teeny-boppers flocking to see "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" because the role he plays isn't the image they want. He has great depth as an actor.
Good job Naughty Sauce and Psyberia! I like to hear intelligent statements once in a while. -
whats eating gilbert grape is a JOHNNY DEPP movie. dicrapio got so much acclaim for this role because he played a mentally-retarded person and they are underrepresented in the media at large. furthermore, many fanboyz(even some fangirlz) despise him because he 'acted' in baseketball dairies, which he was a boy prostitute/monica lewinsky for drugs. oh by the way, i only slag overpaid/overhyped movietypes, not other posters, who seem they are in 'period' and shove tampons up their azz when it comes to leonard/nstync. kenny died for your sins.
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whats eating gilbert grape is a JOHNNY DEPP movie. dicrapio got so much acclaim for this role because he played a mentally-retarded person and they are underrepresented in the media at large. furthermore, many fanboyz(even some fangirlz) despise him because he 'acted' in baseketball dairies, which he was a boy prostitute/monica lewinsky for drugs. oh by the way, i only slag overpaid/overhyped movietypes, not other posters, who seem they are in 'period' and shove tampons up their azz when it comes to leonard/nstync. kenny died for your sins.
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well?
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the lord of the flies was made into a movie at least twice, once in 1963 & again in 1990 and since this is a movie review it makes sense that the reviewer is using comparisons to other movie plot lines & not to the william golding novel.
so what if she's not familiar with the book...? that hardly disqualifies her opinions or hinders others from gaining some insight from her review. (it's a tad ethnocentric to assume everyone in the world has read a single book, regardless of the author's literary ranking)
i especially appreciate a review from someone who is native to or has visited the land a script takes place in. the reality presented by a director can often give us the wrong idea about a culture. i want to see this film for the location more than anything else... -
And we wonder why the Thai have such an attitude against US films. The tropical paradise is now a blemish on the coast of Thailand, with "irreparable" damage. Irreparable in the sense it won't look the way it does at the beginning of the film again within our, our childrens' and our childrens's children's lifetimes.
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please keep these pre-pubescent fukups off this site
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why are we talking about this film only in terms of the fact that Leonardo is in it. Why don't we discuss the fact that this film is further proof that Danny Boyle and Friends have run out of steam, and credibility? I happen to think DiCaprio is like most famous Hollywood actors. He's got talent, but chooses to be in crap. His supporters here try to give him credit for "holding out" for something decent, but when this film appears not what it was cracked up to be, it makes Leonardo look like even more of a fool. THIS is what you waited for? Why don't we talk about the fact that the filmmakers totally changed the end of the story? Whatever. Piece of crap...even if it does beat out Scream 3 next weekend, Leo's days of being the reigning king of the world are over. Just like the Backstreet Boys will be one year from now, DiCaprio's yesterday's news. That's not to say he won't be in any more good films or turn in good performances, but I don't think they'll be making such a big deal about his NEXT film. BTW, Man in the Iron Mask was done before Titanic came out (not that that excuses it being a cinematic turd), and the cinematographer of The Beach is Darius Khondji, who also shot Seven (or maybe it was The Game), and was chosen by Bertolucci to do Stealing Beauty, the first time Bertolucci had worked with someone other than than Vittorio Storaro (the greatest cinematographer of the last half-century) in a long time. In short, he's the nuts.
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Feb 08, 2000 4:25:02 AM CST
niiiice| they are mighty psychopathic in s.e. asia over numerous
by darthpsychotic
i.e. jodies fosters' anna & the king, they are still psychotic over rogers & hammersteins the king & I. also the 'sex tourists' and the spreading aids epidemic that comes with it. you see, young boys and girls are 'sold' to become sexslaves. i'm shocked elian gonzalez's grandmothers haven't visited there yet.
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I assume that, being a psychotic, saying something else is psychopathic is a good thing right? Or does psychotic have different connotations than psychopathic? Either way, what the hell are you doing up this late?
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The beach that the movie was shot on USED to be an ecological disaster. It had to be cleaned up before they could start filming.
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Uh, yeah... I think I'll pass on this one. Here's a brief Leo-esque story. I lived in Halifax, Nova Scotia (in CANADA morons, it's the big pink thing on the map) while parts of Titanic were being filmed there. A few graveyards have a bunch of Titanic plots, and one of the plots is marked "J. Dawson". I am not making this up. Anyway, the grave is constantly covered with flowers, poems, cigarettes, panties, etc., etc. Now, what does this have to do with anything? Nothing. I just wanted to point out that the ad campaign for The Beach seems to be focused on Leo's shirtless chest. That's all. I have the conch! Piggy goes squish! Gee! Wizard! Like a bomb!
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The Beach is an amazing book filled with the suspense, wonder and horror. Danny Boyle's version of this novel looks horrid! The protagonist in the written version is BRITISH and less gung-ho and heroic which lends to the quality of the book. Boyle should be ashamed of himself, a British director casting a famous American actor for the star power is sad. Hell, Garland should be just as ashamed. I hope their movie bombs, but knowing that most people like their movies dumbed down it probably wont.
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I actually really enjoyed the Faculty, it managed to poke fun at itself in a world of dire teen-horror flicks.
As for the Beach the premiere doesn't happen in the UK till tomorrow but the feeling and reviews are all for an OK average movie but stunning visuals. Leo does have talent though and 'Basketball Diaries' was a very good pre-Titanic movie but to say that his acting in Titanic carried the movie is outrageous. SFX!!!!! -
Let me start by saying, I love this book. But there is something that bothers me about a large percentage of the reviews of this movie, as well as the book, that really bothers me. The theme of this novel is opposite that of Lord of the Flies, not the same. Golding's book dealt with the idea that without civilization, man descends into madness and inhumanity. He had boys from one of the best, most prestigious English schools turn into savages to show how great Europe's culture really is. The point of the Beach is to say that we have created a world where we cannot ESCAPE civilization. No matter where we go, we are followed by Gameboy's and Coca-cola. The world has shrunk and we cannot get it back. The members of the Beach community are trying to keep civilization out artificially, and are forced to realize that this is not possible. I just wish people could look past surface similarities to understand the true point of a particular work.
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For those talking about the after-effects of the actual beach... Yes, Boyle did have to remove rubbish from it before they filmed. But then he went and pulled up trees, planted different ones (better looking) etc. He promised to put them back, which he did... As soon as the tide washed in, everything fell over (no roots etc) and washed away. The beach doesn't exist anymore - there is about 4 foot of sand left when the tide is OUT, and a bunch of undergrowth. Now as for Boyle... this shit is really funny. Boyle ditches Ewan to go with Leo, citing that he want's to make a "hollywood" picture. Now he's done it, including the usual hollywood trick of changing the ending of the book, he gets back to the UK and says "If we (his producer friends) were offered The Beach now, we'd say no". He gives this massive sob story about hollywood and how nothign went right. Well... to be honest he fucking asked for it. Nothing against Boyle's directing - Shallow Grave was OK and Trainspotting was cool. But honestly, he's fucked up and he knows it. Still, hope to enjoy the film. Cinematography work looks stunning. As for Leo, he's talented - let's face it far more so than 99.5% of you peeps posting here - but he has his problems (asking to remain in Thai for a week extra after filming for a holiday - meaning Boyle and the crew had to stay and look after him, since he was the studio's responsability. Bet that annoyed him). He may be a complete jackass, but he IS talented. When you peeps run out screaming he isn't, well... bit of envy that a prick is talented perhaps? You're a prick but aren't?
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Ewan or Leo. Leo or Ewan. It really doesn't make a difference. Poor 20th Century Fox. Banking on a star who is most likely to be a one-shot wonder was a risky proposition. Why they greenlit a movie by Danny Boyle is beyond me. This guy is a BRITISH director who makes BRITISH films. His style DOES NOT TRANSLATE into the American mindset. The mindless midwestern townies don't give a shit about his stories nor his characters. After all, they couldn't understand one single word by Robert Carlyle's "Begbie" in TRAINSPOTTING (if they even saw it). Boyle's movies make no money and he shouldn't have been involved with a film this important to Fox. He just doesn't have the juice. Shame on FOX for trusting Danny Boyle to pull this off. He made A LIFE LESS ORDINARY for FOX for $12mil. It made $4mil @ the domestic box office. Why give a guy like that a second shot at ANYTHING? And why would Boyle make a film like that given the opportunity he had with doing ALIEN 4? Let me tell you what should happen to Danny Boyle: He should stay in the UK. Make movies for the Limeys. Hope Bob and Harvey pick it up. Otherwise, be happy that the overseas box office can recoup his film's budget so he can legitimize further funding from his independent investors and continue pounding out his "artistic vision". hahaha.
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hey first timer here, i saw the trailer for the beach, thought the music was cool, so i got the soundtrack. the song thats on the trailer isnt even on the soundtrack!!! Dont get me wrong the soundtrack kicks ass, but i was disappointed to see that one of the best songs was left off the soundtrack. what pisses me off is that i dont even know the name of the song. ARRGHHH can someone help me?
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"The Beach" is going to be the next "Dead Poet's Society," and Marketing Man will continue to pine away for a janitorial position at 20th Century Fox, since he's persona non grata at every other major studio. Marketing Pariah would be a more fitting title, wouldn't it? Sorry, gotta run. Mechanic insists on laughing at your posts the minute they hit the talk back.
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To the Little Miss who calls herself, "I LOVE FOX!", we've had some good fights, but in the end, you always get embarrassed. Comparing DEAD POETS SOCIETY to THE BEACH? If Mechanic is reading this (and in all probability he IS, considering 99% of the Hollywood players read this site but claim they don't in order not to damage their credibility), then Mechanic is laughing at YOU, for making such a comparison between two films that are worlds apart. Yes, I have a job I LOVE FOX! and it is supervising the people that supervise nitwit publicity skirts like yourself. Now go fetch that coffee for your boss @ Fox PRONTO before he puts you out on the street. You wouldn't want to work for me, would you? hahahaha
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Leo's enjoying 4 more days of being the $20 million dollar man. After THE BEACH tanks, he'll be back to doing indie dreck for scale. Does he have Johnny Depp's phone number? He's gonna need it.
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If you were any more of a studio outsider, you'd be operating from a converted barge in the Pacific. You obviously have a grudge against Fox and Dreamworks, since you only show up when either studio is mentioned. Methinks they've both either shitcanned you, or (more likely) denied you that much coveted internship. I'll give you credit. You're pretty good at quoting numbers. Too bad that goes for everybody else in this town. If you want my advice (and you really should take it,) your time would be better spent working on your resume than posting vitriol on Harry's site. My advice to everyone else..... see "The Beach," and judge for yourself.
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This is for 2Am, they did make TWO movies out of Lord of the Flies.
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Are you kidding me? Isn't Lord Of The Flies a book every kid in high school is required to read? Hell, I had to do a paper that was worth 50% of my grade on this book! I disagree with the person who supported the idea that this was a movie (only). This is a classic BOOK that should be read by every student who hopes to escape the confines of high school, book first, movie later. Is this the decline of education in America?? Seems like it.
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Thy made Tokic Avenger it ws funy and he fel in tokic wast and then he was to a blind chik he he cool the med Suf Nassis to he he Lery's Mama cool
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I really don't get this guy's appeal, and from seeing the trailer for THE BEACH, it's not any clearer. What sort of movie idol struts around shirtless with that sunken chest and bad complexion? He acts okay, I suppose--soap opera level, but acting isn't too important in movies these days anyway. He seems like the kind of talent who might have starred in THE TEXAS WHEELERS or maybe a DUKES OF HAZZARD spin-off. He was certainly the weak link in ROMEO AND JULIET. He tries hard, but the kid just has a lack of charisma. He's lucky that TIGERBEAT magazine is still around.
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Does anyone who has posted really know Leo? Can you judge someone you don't know? Sure, it's fine to have an opinion of his work but stop bringing up his personal life. I'm not a fan of his, though I do respect some of his earlier work. I don't really care one way or the other about him. All I can judge him from is his films, which haven't been that bad. If he is an asshole off the big screen who cares!??? You people are like those housewives that read the Star and the National Enquirer to get the dirt on celebrities. Does what you find out about them make you enjoy their movies any less? When I go to see a movie I like to consider the actor as their character not the actor. It's all in the context of the film, not their personality in real life. If their true personality shows through in their character then they are not a good performer. As far as Leo goes, his performances seem appropriate for the character he is playing. He's not a great actor but he's good. Sp stop concerning yourself with everyone's personal life. Would you want the whole world knowing about everything you ever did? I didn't think so. Actors should be judged by their performances, not their personal life.
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If the lady had read the book,she would know that the farmers caused most of the bloodshed there,also. The book hinted throughout at dark doings by Sal,etc.,but left one hanging on that score to some extent.In other words, the book left you with something to think about,and it sounds like the movie does the same thing,to some extent.I heard that Boyle fought with Fox to make the ending darker,more like the book, but lost.I can't wait to see this movie.
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Contrary to marketing-man's claims, Danny Boyle's films have made a ton of money. Last time I looked, film distribution was a global business not solely American. Boyle's films made many more millions outside the U.S. THE BEACH has one of the hottest stars around in Leo and is guaranteed to make money in video alone (where all the teen and pre-teen girls who can't get into the R-rated film will go to see it).
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Leo defenders are quick to point out his acting accomplishments (Gilbert Grape, Basketball Diaries), but slow to realize how ridiculously easy it is to imitate a retarded person. Really. Deceptively simple. I can do it and so can everyone else. You doubt me? Stand in front of a mirror for ten minutes and practice, then wait for your Academy Award nomination.
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To the skirt who calls herself "I LOVE FOX"...You say that I only come on here when I wanna blast Fox and Dreamworks. Maybe I only come on here when Fox and Dreamworks need blasting. And you're forgetting about the other clods I love to blast - principally Universal's Marketing Department and MGM en totale. You should do your homework before you try to take me to school. And try coming up with some original thoughts once in awhile. Your anger directed towards me only emphasizes your incapacity to form about anything other than FOX. Keep in mind I don't hate Fox, I just know they've made some questionable business decisions and that's where my spew my venom at. FOX probably has the biggest film of the year in ME, MYSELF & IRENE. Dreamworks looks solid with GLADIATOR (should gross $80mil or so). But some of the production execs @ Fox need to get their heads out of their asses. Movies are greenlit by committee nowadays, with folks from video, marketing, distribution, and production all sitting around a table every Monday or so, trying not to piss each other off nor take the risk of pushing a film into production the group doesn't agree on. Such is the case with Fox's NAVY DIVER (Cuba Gooding Jr. as the lead? Give me a break). Or what about TITAN AE (aka PLANET ICE) This film has been delayed for way too long long and debuts during the worst possible time, in the middle of a slew of summer animated films including DINOSAUR, CHICKEN RUN and POKEMON 2. TITAN AE will have to be fucking phenomenal to survive in a summer market filled with similiar product. And from the trailers I've seen, it isn't. You'll want to defend X-MEN, but sorry, I'm not a believer. It just has too many troubling elements. And I know the real reason FOX pulled the plug on its June 30 release date: It knows it can't compete with the big boys (PERFECT STORM, PATRIOT). And from the footage I've seen, they made the right call. NRG rules.
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HA! Even Leo thought Episode 1 sucked! Right now on MTV he told the interviewer that he "loved the first three" and that the new one was just "alright." HA HA HA HA HA!!! Even Mr. Androgeny knows the truth!
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Bluetwin, you're defending a guy, you're saying he's commercially viable. Where do you get your information? If this guy was a director in the US, he'd be living on the streets. But in Europe, the man gets some measure of respect. It's a fact that none of his films have made any money in the U.S. True. But here's its FIRST PROBLEM: his films are made for an INTERNATIONAL audience (excluding Americans). He tried to switch gears with A LIFE LESS ORDINARY, doing an "american" film and international audiences rejected it. It didn't make SHIT overseas. It didn't make SHIT here in the US. Now, keep in mind his his prior two films, SHALLOW GRAVE and TRAINSPOTTING were done HIS way (not the way 20th Cen Fox TOLD him to do it) and those films kicked ass @ the intl. box office. So, now we've got THE BEACH. Danny Boyle is going to run into EXACTLY the same problems he had with A LIFE LESS ORDINARY (to include Fox's detrimental creative influence). International audiences WILL reject this film on the basis of it being AMERICANIZED and HOMOGENIZED (ala A LIFE LESS ORDINARY). US audiences will embrace this film opening weekend (to a tune of $15-$18 million or so), but word of mouth will absolutely cripple any box office legs this film needs to survive. SECOND PROBLEM:, the primary demographic for this pic is excluded with its "R" rating. Will adults want to see this film? Probably not because they will have plenty other options to choose from with much more likable casts (SCREAM 3, BOILER ROOM, HANGING UP, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS). THIRD PROBLEM: You've got a director who's never worked with a picture this big before and it will show. Boyle's last three pics (SHALLOW GRAVE, TRAINSPOTTING, & LIFE LESS ORDINARY) only cost $20 million to make. And that's for all three pictures COMBINED. THE BEACH's budget exceeds $40 mil and its shoot was troubled from jump street. It's a problem production filled with cast members nobody's heard of (except for an overrated, overpaid actor whose about to get his first real taste of failure). Danny Boyle WILL return to his style of filmmaking and give the middle finger to all US studios. Bank on that one after THE BEACH gets nuked.
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Feb 08, 2000 4:09:34 PM CST
To the fucking moron who said its ridiculously easy to imitate a
by niiiice
I'm no Leo fan, but that comment made me blow sprays of a Starbuck's Frappuccino all over the screen! Easy to imitate a retarded person? The fact that this guy used the word "retarded" indicates the extent of his ignorance. Yes, it is easy to do a crude imitation of the stereotype of "retards", but acting goes beyond simple "imitation". It's not "hmm, if I walk around and exxagerate my arm movements and say 'duhr duhr duhr', I'm doing a great acting job!" As counterpoint, there have been plenty of examples of Hollywood's idea of what a "retard" is (which that poster seemed to share), sad stereotypes, the latest and most laughable example being "The Other Sister". Acting takes more than crude imitation, it takes sensitivity as well.
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Ah, the mighty NRG is invoked. If the NRG ran Hollywood (which, contrary to popular opinion, they don't,) movies would look like they were all directed by John Badham circa the early '90's. Know your place, pond scum, and leave the real business to the pros. Just make sure those critics screenings for "X-Men" are filled with screaming teens, and we won't have any further problems. Comprende, moron? I love the wannabe moguls who post like so many Sammy Glicks on this site. Where would we be without you? Picking up our own dry cleaning.
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Just look at Screech from "Saved by the Bell", Joey Lawrence on "Blossom", and the entire cast of "Boy Meets World". My God, man! Retards are everywhere!!!!
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Feb 08, 2000 4:23:21 PM CST
Ben affleck played a good "Mentally Challenged" young man in Arm
by gilmour
Only a person with below IQ could think that animal cracker scene is sexy.
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He was getting a little close to ground zero with the food products. During that scene, all I could think was "Watch out for loose crumbs, Liv!"
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Feb 08, 2000 5:12:55 PM CST
i wanna be leonardo di caprio when i grow up and here's why...
by tommy five-tone
let's say you're a guy in your mid-twenties. you're good at your job, you've got the respect of your peers. all of a sudden, you're in a position where you're making some major frickin' bank and teen hotties from all over the world are just dying to freak your jock (i don't even know what that means). are you gonna take advantage? if you have hetero tendencies and blood coursing through your veins, you most certainly are. don't disrespect the man because he's doing exactly what you'd be doing given the chance. di caprio's an excellent fucking actor who happens to have been hijacked by the tiger beat crew. give him time and he'll work out a cool career strategy a la johnny depp or edward norton, i'll bet. in the meantime, give the man the break - let him mess with some nubiles, let him make some dodgy choices, let him give good performances in so-so movies, just let him be (or let him be spidey or anakin - that could work!). five-tone off to collect the money leonardo promised me in return for...doh, did i say that or just think it??? oh, and marketing meat? you're a number-crunching wank bag with a grubby, shit-stained five cent piece where your soul should be.
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To set the record straight so I don't get called a "Leo-lover" (though is that really a legitimate insult?), I think he was very, very wrong for the parts he played in "Titanic," "Romeo and Juliet" and "The Man in the Iron Mask"(everyone else does an accent, why can't he?). BUT...I think he was also very good in "Basketball Diaries," "This Boy's Life" and "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" because he wasn't just playing Leonardo Di Caprio. I noticed the guy who initiate the whole retard discussion is quick to attack that role, but says nothing about the other two good film roles I mentioned. That's because it's easy for an ignorant ass to say something stupid about how it is "easy to play a retard" but cannot take the time to post a well-thought out and intelligent reason why his performances really lacked in the three good roles he was in.
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*drool*
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..everybody's always quick to mention This Boy's Life, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, and The Basketball Diaries in defense of Leo...but there's no mention of what is quite possibly his best movie yet, MARVIN'S ROOM!...Rent it today!....and goddamnit, somebody come out with Don's Plum already...
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...there have been SEVERAL film adaptions of "Lord of the Flies".
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Leo is good when he isn't playing a teen girl's dreamboy. But I happen to feel that sometimes the inflection of his voice that he uses sometimes is inappropriate for the tone of certain scenes. So how do you feel about Freddie "I play the same nice guy with a good heart but my bad friends lead me astray in every film" Prinze, Jr?
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Feb 08, 2000 7:21:00 PM CST
Hmmm,I wonder if I'm an established name at TalkBack yet ...?
by user id indeed!
Am I???OOH,I hope so.I would be so PROUD of myself!
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Feb 08, 2000 7:46:20 PM CST
On the subject of retards...Oklahoma, oklahoma oklahoma oklahoma
by swami scott
I just thought about this one...we laugh at them on screen, but when we see them in the mall or at the circus or something, we think, "oh, how sad". But when we see them in the movie we laugh our balls off. Why is that? My brother Mongo is retarded. We keep him locked in a cage most of the time but he's a lively one. Sometimes I tie him to the clothesline outside and let him run back and forth. He likes to dig holes and bang his pots. I keep the cork on the fork to prevent him from hurting himself when he eats. But he still hasn't figured out that pizza slices don't belong in his wallet.
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Funny, but meanspirited. Made me wonder if there wasn't a little too much "reality" going on there, which is why Leo and his friends don't want it released.
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I hope it's good. I like a Life Less Ordinary, too, even though Ewan looked like the Incredible Hulk. I thought it was funny, and nonsensical, but I had no problem with that. The trailer gets better everytime I see it. Maybe I'm being hypnotized by that damn song! I have the feeling it's going to be one of those films where either you get it or you don't.
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Just because a non-American director decides to do an 'American' film doesn't mean it will fail. Many have been lured to America and gone on to make blockbuster films.
As for Danny Boyle, A LIFE LESS ORDINARY was simply a bad film that would fail no matter where it played but you can't dismiss him or his previous film successes so lightly. LIFE didn't have a major worldwide star coming off the biggest-grossing film in history like THE BEACH has in Leo. I bet you there's no way THE BEACH can lose money.
Anyway, regarding FOX studios I agree with you. Since INDEPENDENCE DAY in the summer of 96 they have only had 2 major hits since - DOCTOR DOLITTLE (terrible film too) and THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY that have not been STAR WARS related (and most of the profits went to George Lucas). There have been a few mid-size hits but generally the studio has made some big stinkers like CHAIN REACTION, JINGLE ALL THE WAY, ONE FINE DAY, VOLCANO, SPEED 2, HOME ALONE 3, WING COMMANDER, ANNA AND THE KING, etc. They definitely need a change of management. -
Well, between the earlier review praising it and this one panning it, my curiosity is stoked so I'll go see the thing this weekend. Leo'll probably be pretty good--despite what some on this board want to believe, the man CAN act--and Virginie Ledoyen looks truly delicious. Paradise for me would consist of a 3-way involving her, myself, and Leo-chan. And, um, lots of baby oil. In any case, weather or not the movie sucks (I'm betting it won't) I still plan to read the book. It sounds fascinating, and I know from the differences between 2001 the movie and 2001 the book that a lot of interesting things can be left out/changed once a novel hits the big screen.
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Boy are you way the f*ck out in left field! Sunken chest? What in the hell is the matter with your eyesight? The young man is lithe and lean and beautiful. No he isn't some overblown muscle-bound freak ... thank God. He's a delight for the eyes - the finest piece of eye candy I've ever seen. No charisma? That must be why women - yes women like myself, not just teenage girls - fall in love with him and rent or buy all his movies. Or why Titanic made almost two billion worldwide at the boxoffice. I'm an adult and I saw Titanic 8 times in the theater. Why? Well not to watch a goddamned boat sink 8 times that's for sure. Yup - those are all natural side-effects of "lack of charisma". What a good laugh I get out of the rabid jealousy and denial of idiots like you. As for your remarks about his acting, even a stupid a$$hole like you must know that's a crock of sh*t. Oh ... and The Beach isn't an "action film", nor is there any intent to market it as such. Someone, I forgot who, made a really good point about the difference between the themes of Lord of the Flies and The Beach. You're right - the premises are not the same. Excellent and very true observation.
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I think DiCaprio has had his moments as an actor. He was fine in This Boy's Life. But his performance in The Basketball Diaries is an embarassment. His performance and the film itself are a total betrayal of the source material. The Beach is not bad. Darius Khondji is a great cinematographer, like, um, Jim Denault, and brings something to every film he works on. And Virginie Ledoyen, Tilda Swinton and the rest of the cast are solid. But the film slows to a crawl to ponder the inner workings of Leo's unraveling mind, and that's where I begin to lose interest, and it's mostly Leo's fault because, when he broods, when he tries to put across the workings of a damaged mind, he's no more convincing than, say, Judd Nelson or Rob Lowe would have been if this movie had been made 15 years ago. It's a studied, self-conscious performance, and it can't carry the movie.
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What I find very funny is the fact that all of you guys bitch about all the little girls going to see The Beach for Leo. But in the mean time all of you little dicks are going to see the "hot french chick in the bikini." If your going to bash Leonardo for all of his little fans just remember that your in the same category.
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Well, I'm certainly glad I was able to enjoy the performance instead of suffering "embarrassment". Seeing raw emotion with nothing withheld and a window into the soul of a character doesn't embarrass me. Frankly, I totally agreed with the umpteen critics on that one - his performance in Basketball Diaries was nothing short of amazing. If his acting in The Beach is self-conscious it will be the first time ever, because Leo is the most unself-conscious actor I've ever seen, completely free of narcissistic mannerisms or affectations or the tendency to caricature that even some of our best known and praised artists have fallen prey to at times. This natural and unstudied quality in particular has been remarked upon by numerous critics and their praise of Leo's performances has been nearly unanimous, even in those of his films that were poorly reviewed. In fact, of his early films, the only one where he received any bad reviews for his performance was Total Eclipse, and that was probably due to the fact that the character he portrayed was arrogant and cruel and bratty. I haven't seen The Beach yet, so I can't really comment ... however, I shall be ever so surprised if I see a self-conscious performance from Leo. That would tell me that the Titanic fame had made a negative impact on his talent and injected something into his acting that was never there before. This I strongly doubt - if you thought his performance in Basketball Diaries was self-conscious then your judgement in this is also highly suspect.
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LOL!!! Ain't that the truth! So stupid you could hold a mirror right up to their face and they wouldn't recognize themselves.
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Niiiice, I looked in the dictionary under "retard" and it said "offensive slang," "disparaging term for a mentally retarded person." So maybe I'm a little insensitive. Maybe I could use a term more politically correct and to your liking. Or I could keep using the term that at least 90% of the U.S. uses for the "challenged." There's nothing really wrong with it. Some people (a lot of who are overly concerned with PC labels) are uncomfortable around retards. I love them. I once witnessed a severely retarded man erupt in giggles when he farted, presumably because of the pleasing sensation it caused. A moment later he clapped his hands in elation when a flock of birds flew overhead. There's a simple joy in that. An honest wonderment. I respect that. I love retards. So who's the villain here, me (great admirer of retards), or you, someone who is prone to call people "fucking morons." You are mean, and if that retarded man overheard you saying something so hateful, he'd probably start to cry. You bastard.
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chill out, no one said it was TLOTF 8-) the reviewer made one teeny reference to both movie's characters losing their sense of right & wrong, once they were isolated from the general populace...............
not referring to this particular thread neccessarily, but just overall, these AICN message boards seem to be a hotbed for people who can't cope. people here pitch a shit fit over the most trivial of things -
All that everyone needs to do is BE OBJECTIVE when it comes to the movie and to Leonardo DiCaprio (the actor, not whoever or whatever you think he is from gossipy stories or any complexes you may have). Also, there's no need to judge the movie by its TRAILER. How many trailers show you the movie behind it?? Not many. To spare you any more of my talking: post about the movie and the performances after you see The Beach, then discuss them OBJECTIVELY. If they are bad, they're bad. If they're not, either admit it or don't comment on em. If you're not sure, discuss them intelligently. Maybe I'll keep talking - I just wanna know
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Let's get this straight. Saying someone is mentally retarded is ok. You don't have to be PC and say "mentally challenged," although I consider it one of the few "challenged" PC euphemisms that isn't annoying sounding. Calling someone a retard, especially in the context used by many above, is not ok. Crap like "The Other Sister" that portrays the mentally retarded/challenged as just something cute to giggle at is also not ok. Even Warren in "There's Something About Mary" has more depth of character than those portrayed in "The Other Sister."***Niiice (if I spelled it wrong, consider it a nickname), don't get me started on Freddie "I look like I'm 40, but I star in teen comedies that make Pauly Shore look like Shakespeare" Prinze Jr.
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Seems not many posters are willing to give Leo or Boyle & company any credit for AT LEAST TRYING something different from the standard Hollywood formula. C'mon people, we're on the cusp of the 21st century! If this past year in film doesn't rock you than nothing will...I mean, it's been ages since I could remember being this passionate about films again. Just think about the films of the past year, TPM, Matrix, Sixth Sense, Fight Club, Magnolia, 3 Kings, the Limey, American Beauty, Ripley, South Park, Princess Momonoke, All About My Mother,Insider, End of the Affair, Green Mile, Man on the Moon, S Hollow,BJMalkovitch, I could go on and on. Granted, not perfect films but on the whole - interesting, challenging, DIFFERENT. Surely anyone who loves film would have found something to apprecitate about these films - whether it was great bits of acting, interesting storylines/plot twists, great set design/cinematography,use of CGI/SFX,new directors and POVS etc. New stars are coming into their own both in front and behind of the camera. And for that, I'm grateful. I think The Beach is a good example of this period we're in. A "Big" picture that's not quite "formula" with an indie heart of darkness. It has a genuinely talented young actor (I MEAN,GIVE LEO A BREAK! - HE WAS ONLY 24 WHEN HE MADE THIS MOVIE!) who, contrary to what the Leo Bashers say, had only 3 movies which could be called box office successes: R&J, Titanic & (maybe) the MITIM. (Re: That boat movie, everyone seems to forget he didn't beg for the role - Cameron kept after him to take it!). From what I've read, Leo has tried to keep a low profile ever since (tabloid gossip about his private life not withstanding) - not doing interviews, not jumping on every summer action flick, turning down potentially great projects because he was looking for something that would interest him...and he found it in The Beach. Yeah, right, he's a sell-out for taking $20 mil for the role of a feckless,drug taking, amoral,homicidal,psychotic backpacker who may or may not have been the catalyst to the destruction of an earthly communal paradise. Hardly the stuff to ensure him making big bucks in the future. Leo KNOWS he's taking a risk with this role, he KNOWS he may alienate his fans, he KNOWS it has the potential to stop his boxoffice/marquee value (read big salary, for you dimbulbs - BTW, The Beach is his first full fledged $$ paycheck) but y'know what...he also wants to grow as an actor and challenge himself. I think that's commendable. So you hate Leo, DON'T SEE THE MOVIE. People rail about old formulas, "old guard" actors, no new ideas, no excitement! all the time on these posts...but I don't read alot of posters who sound like they would even consider trying to support or applaud anyone who tries to break out of the box. OKAY, FUCK LEO! FUCK DANNY BOYLE! FUCK 'THE BEACH'! But don't whine if you see even more brain dead concepts/lame films out there. If anything, we should all support "new guard" talents like Leo, Boyle, Matt, Ben, Fincher, Jonze, Mingella, Wes Bently, Maguire...etal. They're trying to chart their own paths in a brave new world and in the process may enlighten, entertain, surprise and thrill us. I say god bless and go get um!
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I just read a message that had a cool Ed Norton quote and since I'm a fan of Leo's and save articles about him when I see them I thought I should put them to good use. Meryl Streep (Salon - Jan 24, 1997): They asked her a question about how other people reacted to her reputation as an actress. "I guess it's especially with young actors. Leonardo [DiCaprio] was like, "Oh, my God!," but what he doesn't know is that I have that same feeling about him. I think he's a genius." Martin Scorsese: (London Evening Standard, 11/25/99)"I feel DiCaprio is on the level of a De Niro, Pacino or Hoffman; no doubt about it." (Guardian, Dec. 11, 1999)"Leo is a wonderful actor in that tradition - Brando, Clift, Dean to DeNiro, Pacino, Hoffman to DiCaprio." Meryl Streep worked with Leo in Marvin's Room and Martin Scorsese will direct him soon. Don't say you know more about acting than them.
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This movie is going to ROCK! I have the sountrack and it is one of the best I've heard, and if you head over to the rotten tomatoes site you will see that the movie also "kicks ass!" No more predictions, no more guessing. It opens in two days and I for one can't wait! Thanks to the Juice for his review!
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Feb 09, 2000 12:23:18 PM CST
Leo's performance in the Basketball Diaries was an embarassment,
by gilmour
He was terrific in it, let's give the kid at least a little credit where credit is due ok?
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No act three in F/C people... Only a nice scene with Ed and (misused) Hellana holding hands... And another. Movies of the future will have no acts... Logic is most important story telling structure--
FJ -
We've pretty much seen the best ol' Leo can do. And that's okay...I just hope that they keep him away from any more Shakespeare! He's entire "gee whiz" acting repertoire is best suited for those Hollywood lover boy roles.
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Hi,
I'm the one that wrote in that other talk back about how Leo's performance was self-conscious but Ledoyen's was excellent and about the size of her parts. Sorry. It was just, like, a dumb play on words. But what's wrong with saying Leo was self-conscious?
Anyway, it's not like I'm doing this for fun. I want to be taken seriously as a film critic. Of course. That's why I post my little comments here. And I won't stop until Roger Ebert notices. -
What with all the hoopla surrounding The Beach and suggestions bouncing around that it's a cheap Lord Of the Flies rip-off, it's only worth comparing the film to the original story told in the book. The fact that Leonardo's character in the book is a quintessential Englishman has seemed to go relatively unnoticed; the fact that his best friend in the book is another traveller called Jed, who is not in the film;and that the film's third act climax is somewhat muted compared to the violence in the book. Boo!!! Hiss!!! Whinge!! Blah, blah, blah!!! Sorry, I just thought it would have been better if Messrs Boyle, Hodge and McDonald had stayed closer to the source material, and had let either Ewan McGregor or Jude Law take on the role of Richard.
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Does anyone else see the similarity in these movies in terms of directing style, and storyline?
Near the end of the movie when the dope farmer guy is talking about how he does his thing "for his family..." blah blah blah it suddenly hit me how THE BEACH is just THREE KINGS: IN PARADISE.
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