Breathtaking!

Rating: Null/10 (11 February 1999)

This is the type of movie that was needed in this day and age. When it seemed that the days of the epics were gone, along came this beautiful film. This film is a true work of art. It deserved all the awards that it received (and many more). The first five minutes of this film are so hauntingly beautiful: the close-up of the painting of the black figure during the opening credits, the waves on the desert sand, and the plane being shot down and quickly catching on fire. The person who made the comment about turning all the lights off and watching this film with someone you love is absolutely right. I first saw this film when it was playing in theaters (1997). I was able to see it again last week (I got the video) and I was as mesmerized by this film as I was when I first saw it. It's a wonderful love story and visually, it's beyond stunning. They should make more films like The English Patient, instead of the ultra-violent films that play in theaters in this day and age and that most people go to see.