My two cents.

Rating: 10/10 (7 February 2006)

Watching this movie was very refreshing because it wasn't fast moving like most new releases are. It doesn't use tricks or gimmicks to keep your interest just raw honesty (Well as much as a fictional story can be anyway).
I've read some of the comments posted in the hated it section where some people called it boring and summed it up to be a little unrealistic. I just have a few questions on that matter: Was it boring because it wasn't as fast paced as most of the movies being released are? I personally found it an enlightening experienced as I like fast paced movies, and at first when watching this movie I was thinking to myself 'Oh God this could be bad'. But after watching it I figured Ang Lee wants the Audience to prepare themselves for the rest of the movie by slowing down the pace and allowing the audience to concentrate on what makes the film personable. This is isn't any easy thing to get use to for someone like me who likes his action films.
As for the unrealistic side, there were some comments about how the relationship just happened Suddenly, neither one hinted at interest at each other before they got down to the action. I think Ang did purposely addressed this point when Ennis was naked and around Jack. Jack didn't even look or pretend to look. I'm just wondering how many gay men back in those days would have had the courage to look at any guy they found attractive even sideways :-) .
In contrast there was a comment about when they were kissing outside the steps of Ennis's house and Alma saw them. The comment made was how no one would have the courage to do something like that where the risk of getting caught is pretty high, I would have to agree. It makes me think though of what Ennis said to Jack on the Mountain "I figure we got a one-shot deal going on here." I was wondering if they were just acting like a couple of puppies who've been given a ball for the first time, just a little bit of recklessness, granted that came with serious consequences.
I am gay and my partner and I both come from a small town. When we first started going out he wanted to hold hands on parts of streets he thought were empty. I thought that was crazy. The part where Ennis and Jack were caught by Alma made me think of that.
All in all I loved this movie, I'm thinking about buying it on DVD.