Ignore the Critics and go see this movie

Rating: 9/10 (27 December 2005)

I initially wanted to see this film but became more reluctant after continually hearing critics, editorialists, and Israeli and Palestinian officials complain about it. I saw it anyway and I'm glad I did. Everything about it was well done.
Any claims of it being (too) relativistic I think are being shortsighted about its point. The message I got was that violence and retaliation is and can be necessary and justified, but it will be ineffective at bringing a lasting peace (at least in this instance). Moreover, those that live by the sword find it hard to escape the life they've led.
But on a cinematic level, the acting and the screenplay were excellent. I knew it would be long, but it didn't feel like almost three hours.
So yeah, ignore the critics and go see this movie. If you see it as a rental at a later date though, I don't think you'll lose anything.