Overlong but astonishingly well directed with almost hypnotic imagery

Rating: Null/10 (6 February 2009)

I was bored out of my mind on first viewing this. However, a second viewing completely changed my opinion. While it is indeed overlong and parts towards the end bored me, the bulk of the film is hypnotically engrossing. The directer has an uncanny ability to film nature and takes a dispassionate nonjudgmental view of war and human suffering. The pace is deliberately unhurried and allows you to experience what's happening on the big screen. There are simply too many recognizable faces, some of whom should have been edited out of the film. Still, Sean Penn, James Caviezel and Nick Nolte leave an impression.
Overall 8/10