A journey with no destination 7 of 10 stars

Rating: 7/10 (19 August 1999)

I love Stanley Kubrich, and was very excited when the movie came out. I was entranced through the whole movie, and it was fairly long. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. And then nothing did! I had thought the movie would build up to an interesting climax and leave me with something to remember. But just as the big climax was supposed to happen, it fizzled! I heard that Kubrich had rewritten the ending not long before it was finished. I don't mean to be cruel, but I thought he must have passed away during the making of it, because it just fizzled out and died somewhere in the last half. I am so sad that this had to be Kubrich's last film, because it had so much unused potential. I actually walked away from the theater feeling teased, like Kubrich wanted us to know just how great of a loss future film making will be without him. The sexual element of the film is more psychological than visual, and may appeal to women more than men. Still, I would advise anyone half intelligent to see this, but with the knowledge that this film is a journey and not a destination.