emilioapa

I don't understand the low average rating for this movie, or the high ratings for many "best-selling" movies.

Among many other virtues of this film, I would point out that it is at least a study of people being truly loving and bravely honest and generous with each other and themselves, in their intermingling relationships, much unlike the cowardly selfishness and jealousy of many usual, conventional relationships.

Since I saw this movie when it premiered, it has been my favourite of all time. It has it all, and is most magnificently told, acted out and displayed love, lust, drama, adventure, epic action and setting, and a lot of beauty.

I read the book a few years after, but - contrary to what is often said it just didn't live or feel up to the movie, and I kept reminiscing to the beauty of the cinematic imagery throughout the reading.

Kristin Scott Thomas has never been as beautiful, lovable and lustful as here; Juliette Binoche has never been so freshly gorgeous; and Ralph Fiennes has never been so mesmerising.

I thought I was so infatuated with the film at the time because I felt very related to it since I had just started a love affair that stemmed from mutual infidelity, but that relationship eventually ended with a surprising and utter disappointment, and is now long forgotten (and even superseded with another major eventual - and I feel, final - disappointment). Nevertheless, I have just reviewed it after these 24 years, and I have still wowed and it continues to be my favourite movie of all time.

And it has been the only movie that has ever inspired me to write a review.