Very intense for a 1st time watch, but a little too long...

Rating: 8/10 (5 December 2017)

Great film by Scorsese, and it really draws you into the fear, paranoia, and despair of trying to understand your culture and religion, while encountering others, especially under threat of torture and death.
The film was great for a one-time watch, but it will probably be several years before I recommend coming back to it. There were some underdeveloped characters, in my opinion, but I guess Scorsese really wanted this one to be about the priests alone, and their battle with the faith and their captors, instead of verging off path like most films with a romantic story and other diversions for good measure.
The film is a bit too long, but it will keep you entertained with a taught story and return to classical cinema from a great director.