The Beach

The Beach
by Danny Boyle

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Movie Reviews of The Beach

Movie Review: DiCaprio fans rejoice!
Summary: 5 Stars

The movie in general is like a bag of mixed nuts. I dare you to spot each of these genres in the movie: action, adventure, suspense, horror, drama, sci-fi, romance, and where you least expect it, comedy, because ALL of those genres are in there. This movie is sure to please every moviegoer, although this may be a good or bad thing (you decide). But through it all, don't let your kids see the movie, because the "F" word is used almost incessantly, and in the second half of the movie, the movie turns into, for 15 minutes at most, an intense mind-game that is WAY too thematic for kids, and there are also brutal shark attacks and a very unsettling ending. But I would say the first half is probably the best part of the movie, with very little violence and is the most adventurous part of the movie before everything comes crashing down in the second half.

This movie also makes an excellent DVD, too. Even though the picture and sound quality are good, I'm still a tad disappointed FOX didn't summon the picture and sound quality wizards at THX to touch it up. I know it's a lot of work to do it, but I think this movie definetly has earned its keep and is very worthy of THX treatment, because after all, it's not every day you get to own a movie that is sure to please every moviegoer and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, an actor who is rapidly making himself scarce in the world of movies. But the good news is, what this DVD lacks in quality, it makes up for in extras. I was pleased by the incredible amount of extras this DVD has! It has the "Pure Shores" music video, a mess of deleted scenes with optional directors commentary, optional director's commentary throughout the whole film, a storyboard gallery, and a featurette. And when it comes to publicity, this DVD has nothing to hide, which is obvious with the whopping 4 theatrical trailers and 10 TV spots included on the disc.

So, to conclude, "The Beach" is a first-rate movie with a first-rate actor on a first-rate DVD. BUY IT!

Summary of The Beach

After receiving a not-so-secret map to a secluded island from a stoned-out loony (Robert Carlyle, full of dark portent and spittle), Richard sets out to find the hidden paradise with a young French couple (Virginie Ledoyen, Guillaume Canet). What they find is a tropical commune existing in delicate balance with Thai pot farmers, and before long--as always--there's trouble in paradise. There's trouble in the movie, too, as DiCaprio is reduced to histrionics when the plot turns into a muddled mix of Lord of the Flies and Apocalypse Now, with shark attacks tossed in for shallow tension. Director Danny Boyle attempts perfunctory romance and a few audacious moves (notably DiCaprio's vision of life as a violent video game), but what's the point? Tilda Swinton registers strongly as the commune's charismatic leader, but her character--and the entire film--remains largely undeveloped, and pretty scenery is no guarantee of a laudable film. --Jeff Shannon