If you love "The Thorn Birds" and pure cheese...rent "The Thorn Birds" and eat some cheese!

Rating: Null/10 (5 January 2004)

Okay, I must admit the beginning battle scene is spectacular but the remaining 2 hours of "Cold Mountain" are so forced and over the top I couldn't believe the A-list cast wasn't speaking up to the director. I think this film is getting Oscar buzz because there's really not much for competition this year. It's so laughably dramatic I couldn't take it. I really wanted to like this film too. The violence is so raw and powerful that it doesn't mesh with the cartoonish performances and cheese filled drama. Any wit or creative integrity that Hollywood may have once had has clearly dried up. Oh well, I guess it's time to see something fresh like "The Secret Lives Of Dentists" again.