Patient and Engrossing

Rating: 9/10 (21 May 2006)

The reviews of the movie that describe it as "slow" are absolutely correct, but in a good way. If the movie were sped up at all, the passage of time would seem rushed. The plot is intriguing, at times making you dislike Lyndon but at other times making you pity him. However, the costumes, scenery and lighting make the movie fascinating to watch.
I originally thought this was going to be overly-dry, but was pleasantly surprised to see classic- Kubric humor stuck into the plot at just the right times. Beyond the costumes and settings, the plot paints a fascinating outline of life in the 1800s. I just wish they would have focused more on the social structure, and I wonder how realistic some of the plot would have been at the time (e.g. being able to move around the continent so easily).
Overall, a great movie!