trouble in paradise

Okay, i'm going to review this in two parts. Part one is everything up to around 1hr 20mins.

This film is the ultimate fantasy trip. It's not very often the ambition, drive and possibilities of the human spirit are represented so realistically and enjoyably. Leonardo lives the life that most optimists/idealists ALMOST dare to live on numerous occassions. He goes away, leaving everyone he knows behind; to case the promised land.

On arriving in Thailand, he finds a new mission; a secret Island. This is pure fantasy and you are whisked off into a wonderful journey which Danny Boyle takes us on smoothly.

The reason we watch films is from escapism, and this film does it perfectly.

Now part 2. everything after 1hr 20min.

I'm not sure who to blame, so i'll blame Danny Boyle. Visually, he's a brilliant director but his storytelling leaves a lot to be desired. Think of '28 days later', that was a perfect film until about 3/4 through when everything gets silly. Here in The Beach; the story is masterful and played/directed with perfection.. until that 1hr 20min point.. it's as if Boyle feels he isn't being daring enough, or that the writers wanted some hollywood conflict to keep things rolling. Hence we get a predictable and seemingly pointless conflict between Di Caprio and his fellow friends on the Island, Di Caprio has given the secret away.. and then everything goes a little mad, and Di Caprio loses his mind before getting it back in time for a nice lovely finish. Bleh, and they were doing so well.

What they should have realised, is the film was already daring and original enough. It had taken us viewers on an amazing journey into the unknown, into a place we all dream of finding, i.e. a heaven on earth. This journey is perfect, but the conflict seems less natural than when Vampires turned up in 'From Dusk Till Dawn'

Overall; yes. I enjoyed it. I recommend renting it, but for me it lost it's way toward the end.

dan

dj152@aol.com