Am I the only one Left Dissatisfied?

Rating: 3/10 (24 March 2008)

NOTE: I am not being a troll, and bashing the movie. I am simply showing that I did not like the film, and would like to hear your opinions (not arguments, please). This is a review I had to write for a school paper, and I would welcome criticism on how it is written- not on my opinions.
Here Goes:
After all the hype about Joe Wright's recently released "Atonement," new audiences undoubtedly suspect to see something amazing and forever life changing- a new epic that rewrites all the rules and yet falls into place with many of the old classic love stories. However, this movie is devastatingly disappointing- Kiera Knightly (Celia Tallis) and James McAvoy (Robbie Turner) star with a cast of nameless actors to create a poor representation of a classic British romance novel by Ian McEwan.
The movie starts in England, right before the outbreak of World War two. Soon-to-be lovers Cecilia Tallis and Robbie Turner are both back for the summer from Cambridge, and a family (a mother and three children- Perriot, Jackson, and Lola) are staying with the Tallis family while they undergo a divorce. Through a chain of unnecessarily complicated occurrences and events (all rooted in the foolishness and lies of Briney, Celia's 13-year-old sister), Robbie is wrongfully accused and convicted of Lola's rape, and the pair of lovers are separated. The plot drags on and on from there, involving excessive and long scenes that do nothing to further the audience's perception of the era or conflict.
To further the disappointment, the story line is butchered by a series of flashbacks and divisions used to explain the misconceptions behind opposing points of view, and makes grasping the reality nearly impossible for the average movie-goer. Although the acting was average, Knightly disappointed audiences with a lack of enthusiasm and failed to fit the role. In addition, the screenplay was very poor, and the actors talked incredibly too fast while failing to enunciate or put emphasis on any conversation.
The only refreshing part of the film is the fact that it differs from the average 'chick-flick' in that it does not have a 'fairy-tale ending.' The interestingly twisted plot and surprise ending do well to redeem the film, but also serves as a let down for a hopeful audience. In fact, if you manage to follow the situational maze of the film, you might actually enjoy the work. However, if you are an average person that does not want to feel like jumping off of a bridge at the end of a movie, I would strongly advise you against watching the fiasco.