A minor classic.

Rating: 7/10 (17 March 2016)

It's not hard to figure out why 'Casablanca' is such a classic. Its characters, themes, plot development and music will speak to anyone with a heart. But I'd also understand it if some people find it somewhat overrated. Its characters, themes, plot development and music also may feel a little contrived and over the top, especially nowadays. Personally, I'm somewhere in the middle, with a tendency to sympathize more and more as the story progresses.
The opening of the film is pretty fast. A lot of things have happened before the main characters are even introduced. That's not really a bad thing. The flashback scenes in Paris are not all too convincing, though, in terms of building up a truly captivating, romantic atmosphere. There's some sweet talk, some cuddling, some kissing, some happy (studio) driving and... then there are the Germans. Again, things go pretty fast, and here it's not really helping.
The last half hour of the film is visually much more appealing to me than what preceded it (with more of a film noir feel to it - which must be intentional, to emphasize how Rick gets more and more involved with everything and has a better sense of what is what in more than one way). Also, in the first hour, there are simply too many characters and there is too much talking going on for my taste, I suppose.
It's still a thoroughly enjoyable classic, even it is a minor one in my modest little book. A good 7 out of 10.