Forget any high expectations and you will enjoy this...

Rating: 8/10 (15 July 2000)

First things first: Many of you will approach this movie with much trepidation - or not approach at all - because of the star. But, he's really not as bad as you might think. Di Caprio is swept up in a tale of a breathtaking paradise found and subsequently violently lost (a la "Lord of The Flies").
The first mention goes to Alex Garland and John Hodge. Garland, who wrote an excellent novel (and actually worked as the cartographer for the map you see in the film) has been followed by a script which manages to maintain the major plot-points and keeps the shock impact of particular events. In fact, some of the more interesting little touches (e.g. drinking "Snakeblood", and the lists of necessities given to Di Caprio's Richard before he leaves for the dreaded mainland) are absent in the original and solely invented by Hodge. The dialogue is also a revelation, with many quotable standouts (e.g. "And as for travelling alone, f**k it. If that's the way it has to be, then that's the way it is).
My sole criticism (before I get to the praise) would be the final third of the movie when Richard turns his stint in the jungle into a hallucinatory and adrenalin-fuelled commando game. This is not properly signposted and therefore happens too soon, leaving those who have not read the novel rather bemused. As we have lost the character of Jed (the general 'security guard') Richard's fixation with 'Nam movies needs to spelled out more clearly at the beginning of the movie (a one-second glimpse of "Apocalypse Now" is not enough), and his heady thrill of the action should be more enthusiastically and obviously portrayed.
OK, the overall experience is one of beauty, mystery and pure entertainment. The cinematography is wonderful, as Darius Khondji (who couldn't be further from the dark and malevolent "Se7en") captures the idyllic splendour of the island perfectly and awe-inspiringly - don't miss the end credits either, where the photography is given time to breathe over the backing of UNKLE's "Lonely Soul".
The soundtrack is again outstanding, comprising Moby's tearful Porcelain with exclusives from Dario G, Faithless and Underworld. The Boyle/Macdonald/Hodge team have always produced sensational soundtracks and here they score again.
The fresh cast are again pitch-perfect, with newcomers Virginie Ledoyen (as the object of Richard's affection) and Guillaume Canet standouts, while Tilda Swinton is intruiging as Sal (the community's obsessive leader). In hindsight, Di Caprio suits the role more and gives a performance of considerably more aplomb than Titanic's Jack and Romeo and Juliet's, er, Romeo.
Go in with minimal expectations (as I did) and you will enjoy this; but if you really hate Di Caprio that much, just don't bother...