Beautiful photography, but confusing characters

Rating: 8/10 (7 March 2002)

Pluses:

Photography - All of Scott's films have amazing photography. This one is no exception. The combination of video and film gave the sequences more depth and meaning than if one type of film was used. He did this without the film technique overwhelming the content.

Music - Scott's propensity for Indian/Arabic music is once again seen here. I almost had a sense that I was watching Blade Runner during some of the sequences. The combination of modern (Faith No More) and classic (Jimi Hendrix) seemed to be an effort to connect this film with Apocalypse Now in a modern context.

Minuses:

Too many characters with the same haircut and face - Tom Sizemore and Sam Shepard are the exceptions.

Not enough character development - However, Scott doesn't dwell very long on sappy sentimental sequences as do many war films.

I will have to see this film again as I feel I missed too much the first time. Perhaps not Scott's best work, but it is well above most other directors'.