Too Long

Rating: 6/10 (24 April 2004)

I recently watched this film hoping to see a great classic. Unfortunately it didn't live up to my expectations.
Firstly, I thought the film was far too long, and could have very easily been cut down to make a shorter, more entertaining film. The beginning was good, but by the half way point I couldn't wait for it to end. It's not just that I don't like long films (many of my favourite films are more than three hours), but I thought that the same story could have been compressed to a much shorter length without losing anything important.
Secondly, although the acting was good, I didn't think that the main character, Lawrence, was anything of a hero. In my opinion, he seemed sadistic and insane (especially by the end), and for this reason I felt it hard to enjoy the film.
Thirdly, the fact that the film opens with death of Lawrence, I think hangs over you while you're watching it. In my opinion, this scene was unnecessary, and the way he dies seems unfit for the hero he's made out to be.
I didn't enjoy this film nearly as much as I thought I would, and although there are some good parts so it (like the amazing setting, good acting and the first half), it was far too long and boring and I didn't like the story or the characters.