ScottyB

I'm sure this movie is aimed at people who don't read literary classics. If I had been asked to update "1984" but throw in a ridiculous 'feel-good' ending, this would be it.

For me, the main failings in the movie are endemic of many post-"Matrix" movies. Special effects and pseudo-martial arts do not compensate for a well-written script. This film fails where Orwell triumphs - in creating a believable lead character.

Maybe I'm just getting old and the target market is illiterate teenagers, but I really wanted to like this movie. I had hoped for some form of intellectual stimulation on a subject that could have been well developed. Sadly I came away with the feeling that it would have been done much better 20 years ago without all the technical wizardry and special effects.

Between the effects over-kill, and the script being fairly average to start with, I feel quite generous rating this movie at a 5 out of 10. I'm sure the teenage market will love it though!

I felt the first half of this movie could have been injected with some more pace, but this didn't stop me from enjoying the story. Harrison Ford brings his insight for facial and verbal expressions and is perfect as the "American abroad" role. The pace does pick up more towards the end, and the result is a perfectly reasonable movie. It's by no means a blockbuster, but I found it to be slightly above average. Perhaps if the supporting cast had been stronger, an excellent plot could have been brought to life on the screen more effectively. I'd probably watch this one again if it was on television.

I hate overused cliches, but this movie truly deserves the accolade "If you watch one movie this year......"

Billy Bob Thornton earns my greatest respect for his portrayal of Carl, a mentally retarded simpleton in redneck country. His moving performance is flawless, from his mannerisms to his voice and posture. His performance is truly on a par, at least, with Dustin Hoffman's Raymond in "Rain Man" Quite apart from his acting, he also wrote and directed this movie, which ranks in my top ten films of all time at present - A powerful touching drama which dares to combine themes of mental illness, homosexuality and instituationalised prejudice to produce an outstanding and emotionally charged work of art.

Every good movie needs a bad guy. Enter Dwight Yoakam, perfectly cast as Doyle, the unstable alcoholic - I certainly wouldn't like to spend too long in a room with his character unless my minders were present. Robert Duvall makes a brief, but quality performance as Carl's father.

How would I summarize this movie? That's simple.....

Watch it - you won't be disappointed.