HD format and shaky camera work makes a decent film almost disgraceful

Rating: 3/10 (8 July 2009)

What a profound disappointment. Good costumes + good acting + good music + lousy camera work and shitty HD equipment=large wasted looking home movie. I am ashamed to have paid $12.50 to see Johnny Depp running around with an all star cast filmed with what appears to be a cheap Canon XL 1 video camera. Mann should be ashamed to film so many great stars in a format that is only good for pornography and reality TV shows. I hope everyone does not end up going this way. How disappointing. I wonder if the all star Hollywood cast knew that the final product would look so cheap, and I wonder if audiences around the country are aware that they have been swindled. I am sure this film looks fine on your home TV, but it should never have been blown up onto 35mm and projected in theaters across the country. Especially a period piece set in the 1930's.