Beautifully Flawed

Rating: 7/10 (1 June 2010)

I came into the movie without any kind of expectation. The cinematography is absolutely stunning. The shots and most camera angles makes one feel as if they are right there soaking up the same rays and feeling every emotion that the characters are. I do not mind at all the length, yet I think that the scenes in themselves seemed to drag on and then cut and paste themselves where ever they pleased. One moment they're sitting next second they're standing, in and out, out and in. It was very hard to follow at times. There was not much dialog, which was completely fine, but when they did speak it was really important to the next few actions and at times it was hard to hear it. But perhaps that was my own equipment :) In addition, it didn't seem to satisfy my love story needs. It was as if the movie was not one, but two. It may have been that the main focus initially was the princess and John Smith falling in love. Excellent by the way, despite some shaky scenes, the time lapse was exceptional. But then, because of the length of the film, one almost forgets about Mr Smith because of his abrupt departure and by the end when he finally shows back up, one says, "oh him.. I forgot he was there, wasn't this movie about him and her?" But alas, it was not. It left me with such pity for him. His absolute depressive and tormented expressions made me feel that he was to commit suicide before the end of the film. Then she goes away and her husband speaks as if he was writing this whole narrative to his son, yet that would only be half the movie. I need to watch it once more and see. Somehow movies tend to get better the more you watch them and gain a more fulfilling appreciation and understanding of them.