Cold Mountain Reviews

Cameo central

'Cold Mountain' is a wonder to behold. Seriously. Remember that it comes directed by Anthony Minghella, the guy who brought us yawnfest 'The English Patient'. I know that it won awards, but it was still three hours of dust.

'Cold Mountain', on the other hand, is three hours of spotting brilliant cameos from Philip Seymour Hoffman to Giovanni Ribisi, from Natalie Portman to the much discussed Jack White (which is how he and Zellwegger got together). It's beautifully made and easily digestible, despite the emotionally difficult material. The opening scene deals with a massacre within the American Civil War. You don't know any of these characters and yet Minghella manages to infuse the scene with enough empathy to make me feel sad for the dead, and hope for the living.

Essentially an American Odyssey as Law makes his way back to his sweetheart Kidman, this story of two halves compliment each other. We join Law on his long walk home, then Kidman as she struggles to live through the war where there are just as many dangers at home from the Sheriff Ray Winstone andhis trigger happy henchmen (including Charlie 'Nicholas Nickleby' Hunnam).

Watch this if you like something to get your teeth into, or take an interest in the American Civil War. It's no chick flick, but a thoughtful and well-acted epic which shows the range of human emotions afflicted at times of stress.

Excellent

I expected to enjoy this film but my husband didn't. It exceeded both our expectations. We intended to watch it in two halves but couldn't switch it off once we had started. Sad but sensitive with just enough humour and an excellent story just at the right pace. There was some very fine acting and cinematography. Well worth a watch.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Tremendous film

I wasn't expecting to enjoy this film, but the acting was mesmerising. Kidman, I thought, had the edge, although Zellweiger had the best lines:-) Jude Law was also okay, much to my surprise, this role was within his limited range. A terrific ensemble film, with many good actors contributing. The slow pace irked at times and the story could have been a lot better (and shorter), but I still have to give it 5 stars.

Nothing new...

This would have been a beautiful film to watch, if it hadn?t been for the graphic violence. As it was, it showed you all the bits that Gone with the Wind glossed over. The ending was entirely predictable. If you?ve seen Gone with the Wind and Somersby, there is nothing new here, except the blood and gore.

Superb period piece

A marvellous story enlivens this episodic civil war drama. Really good performance from Jude Law and as usual Rene is terrific, livening up the film just when it needs it. Cinematography is fantastic from grimy, bloody beginning to the wide open spaces of the rest. Seems to contain all the great current american character actors giving sound support to the main stars. And some great one liners.

A waste of time

I thought this film was a waste of time and money. The performances were plastic, the set was obviously a set. At no time in the film was I convinced that it could have been a real series of events that we were witnessing.

I don’t believe for a second that Jude and Nicole were having an affair, I expected to see some chemistry between the two, but they looked like two wooden amateurs doing their first movie kiss...ie totally fake, there was no passion.

I haven’t seen a film this bad in a long time. I expected more from these professionals.

Left cold!

Having read the book didn't recognise the story at all.

However a good film for a rainy day, good performances by all, but could have done without the goat killing scene!

Great for couples

This film is watchable, but lacks a certain spark. Some of the scenes are very well filmed, but the script sometimes lets the film down.

The viewer doesn't really get to like any of the characters sufficiently to care about their fate, so we are left with a great visual spectacle and not much else.

Recommended for couples to watch, but all the rest should probably avoid it!

Worth watching

An excellent film. Plenty of action and an exciting plot. Good performances from all actors involved. Well worth watching.

Good story, but too long?

A great story of true love mixed with a bit of American Civil War.

The story basically evolves around one mans struggle to get home after doing his fair bit for the war effort. OK, he tries to leave before the war actually ends and so is hunted for being a deserter, but he'd done his bit, got shot a few times etc...

Good, but at nearly two and a half hours, you end up thinking it could have been done quicker. If you like your longer movies then GREAT. If not, get your thumb on that fast forward.