subtly intense

Rating: Null/10 (18 January 1999)

Let me just say that I enjoyed the film immensely. I can understand people not liking it. The movie is long. Plot, storyline and characters were hard to grasp at times. However, I'd describe the movie as subtle, rather than dragging or confusing. I think it all has to do with expectations. It is not an action film. And it is not Saving Private Ryan (which I didn't really like too much, btw). But I think if you take it for what it is, you'll find it's very good. I've been agitated by boredom in movies before, expecting something to happen. But somehow in this movie I was strangely relaxed with the pacing.
There are 2 things about the film that I think are unquestionable, though. The visuals are stunning. It's hard not to notice. Another, and in my mind equally as impressive, was the soundtrack. I thought the acting and dialogue was very good, too. With all these things, I was locked into the movie from the beginning.
There were only 2 points where concentration was broken. One - half an hour till the end, power in the whole building went out. ! Slightly distracting. Two - I caught myself thinking, "Hey, that's Vinny Barbarino."

Anyway, I thought the movie was great. Definitely a better way to spend 3 hours rather than watching that piece of crap Titanic.