Well shot... but against the book: NOTHING!

Rating: 5/10 (11 December 2002)

I have to say, that I read the book and that it is one of my all time favorites.
When I heard that Danny Boyle directed "The Beach", I wanted to see it, because I absolutely love his films. And, after all, the Beach was a well shot movie with good scenes and so, but... well... many points and the whole meaning of the book were taken away. For example: The second lead role (a hippy with a long beard) was taken out completely. Maybe, because the scenes he was featured in were too violent or disgusting (especially the ending that was completely changed) for a Hollywood film, and Sal, who was described a bit like Drew Barrymore (friendly, big, attractive and calm), the real opposite of her film-character, became the really worst villain in film history.
There are many bad points in "the Beach", but I can't tell them all. But what annoyed me the most was the ending: The original one had to do with hate, paranoia, trust and even racism and gives you this "alone" feeling. The ending in the movie was too... happy. "Everything's okay, all in the right place again..." and so on. Also, the brilliant dream sequences who came after every chapter were taken out... also because of violence...
"The Beach" tries to be a good story, a PG-13 version of the book, but is still too far away from a teen movie, making it look like a childish mixture-version of "Requiem for a Dream" and "Apocalypse Now!". Read the novel, it is BRILLIANT!!!!
4 out of 10