The best movie I have seen this year!!!

Rating: 9/10 (12 January 2004)

I read the book Cold Mountain, and it is a wonderful book well written, haunting and emotionally involving. I usually am deeply disappointed when I see a movie based on a book I've read. Not this time!!! This is a 2.5 hour plus movie, and not once did I look at my watch. Anthony Minghella beautifully captured the feeling of the book, which is a somewhat surrealistic journey for Inman through all of the faces of evil temptation and a test of his inner strength and determination. It also captures the trials of Ada as she struggles to learn to become useful in spite of her sheltered upbringing, and to hold onto her belief that Inman will return, and to overcome the dark designs of the local "home guard" soldiers.

See this movie, it is haunting, uplifting and moving. Also, read the book, because Charles Frazier is a masterful writer, and no movie could quite capture the beautiful quality of his use of the language.