Hard to Sympathise

Rating: 1/10 (8 April 2013)

The Beach was a novel I originally read by Alex Garland - the movie was watched not long after. My tendency for movies not living up to the books they were based on were accounted for in the writing and rating of this review.
The main character is a short tempered, deluded, murderous, integrity-lacking wimp. It is hard to empathise with someone who loses their cool over minuscule things. In fact, the reactions from all the characters to situations they are exposed too seem highly unwarranted and excessive, aka "over-acting".
Secondly, did they really have to turn Richard - who was a somewhat intellectual character in the book - to an ignorant bimbo? This movie seems like it was targeted to brainless sixteen year olds.
Furthermore, you don't really relate to nor care much for someone who cheats on the woman he loves so easily right after helping her cheat on her boyfriend who was your friend. I almost hoped the movie would have a twist ending where he really did get his brains blown out.