Rather Disappointing

Rating: Null/10 (20 January 2004)

The only reason I went to see this film is Jude Law, whose presence and looks did not disappoint me. The film, however, was okay, not brilliant, not excellent, not really special.
The positives to the film are as follows: The Civil War scenes were realistic because of the dirty, filthy uniforms and the death, death, death. This played very well to the anti-Iraq war crowd, displaying the stark realism of war, any war. The other cast members had dirty fingernails, and life appeared harsh. The absence of blacks was unsettling -- this was the South, after all. I know that large plantations were not shown, but that small band of running-away slaves did not suffice. I agree with another poster that Renee Zelwegger was Mammy "Ah has spoken!" Yokum -- way over the top and just plain dumb! The forced shadowing of The Odyssey was too much for me -- I did not like that at all. Those naked women -- unnecessary. Nicole "blank actress" Kidman -- her make-up stayed on -- unreal. For us vegetarians (and vegans) the slaughter of animals was/is disgusting!
Some negatives are included above.
A wee bit of trivia: This film is directed by Anthony Minghella, who directed one of my favorite actors Ralph Fiennes in "The English Patient." Fiennes starred in a version of "Wuthering Heights," as the best Heathcliff EVER; in "Cold Mountain" Kidman and Zellwegger are reading "Wuthering Heights" and mention Heathcliff .
The back and forth from present to past were ineffective, for the mood swings for the viewer lessened the impact of the scenes.