Cinematography great; story poor

Rating: 2/10 (29 March 2010)

SPOILERS can't exist in this movie, so feel free to read any and all reviews from those who really liked it if you want a chance at knowing just what the author was trying* to achieve, and why 'spoiler' is a non sequitur here. [*Trying does not mean 'accomplish' and this one proves it!]
In a nutshell, the themes of deep-seated hate and its consequences have all been well- covered previously. So buried in beautiful photography and this visually well-designed period piece are the morals of the story that only the well-versed-in literature/allegory/foreshadowing techniques will see what this is all about. So, of course the professional reviewer crowd loved it! As a guy with a terminal degree in the sciences though, I'd have done much better to dust off that old "South Pacific" soundtrack and play "You've Got to be Carefully Taught" again: time better spent; same lesson.