Unless you absolutely, positively have to own everything that Leonardo DiCaprio has ever starred in, I'd suggest there are better ways to spend your twenty-five bucks.
By three-quarters of the way through the story, Richard is going off the deep end a la Conrad's character in "Heart of Darkness." The action is so inexplicable, though, it never generates any tension, any suspense, or any thrills whatsoever. It just happens, flatly and unaccountably. And then the movie ends, and we wonder why the filmmakers wasted so much time and talent on it. Granted, the tropical Thailand setting is gorgeous and the photography is sometimes spectacular, but even the most ravishing picture postcards get boring after a while. The film is rated R for brief nudity, sexual situations, profanity, and violence.
Video:
As always, Fox's picture quality is excellent, sharp and clear in a 2.21:1 ratio anamorphic widescreen. Colors are well defined and fairly stable, providing a fine depth to the scenery.
Audio:
Sound comes courtesy of Dolby Digital 5.1 or Dolby Surround, as always the DD 5.1 better focused and better spread out among the five speakers, with occasional outbursts from the subwoofer.
Extras:
A clever 3-D menu helps the user navigate through the optional materials. Most important among them is an audio commentary with director Danny Boyle. There are also a number of cast and crew biographies; nine deleted scenes; storyboards; a five-minute featurette, a promo, really; a music video: All Saints' "Pure Shores"; thirty chapter selections; and fourteen theatrical trailers and TV spots. Spoken language choices are English and French; subtitles are English and Spanish.
Parting Shots:
Like many recent DVD releases, the special features on the disc are more fun than the film. Sitting through "The Beach" is like watching sand running through an hourglass. If this were the "Survivor!" television show, everybody would be voted off the island at once.
Unless you absolutely, positively have to own everything that Leonardo DiCaprio has ever starred in, I'd suggest there are better ways to spend your twenty-five bucks. Like dinner for two at a cozy restaurant, the complete symphonies of Ludwig Beethoven on Arte Nova, the latest edition of "Shanghai" for your computer, or a favorite charity. "The Beach" is all washed up.
Video:
As always, Fox's picture quality is excellent, sharp and clear in a 2.21:1 ratio anamorphic widescreen. Colors are well defined and fairly stable, providing a fine depth to the scenery.
Audio:
Sound comes courtesy of Dolby Digital 5.1 or Dolby Surround, as always the DD 5.1 better focused and better spread out among the five speakers, with occasional outbursts from the subwoofer.
Extras:
A clever 3-D menu helps the user navigate through the optional materials. Most important among them is an audio commentary with director Danny Boyle. There are also a number of cast and crew biographies; nine deleted scenes; storyboards; a five-minute featurette, a promo, really; a music video: All Saints' "Pure Shores"; thirty chapter selections; and fourteen theatrical trailers and TV spots. Spoken language choices are English and French; subtitles are English and Spanish.
Parting Shots:
Like many recent DVD releases, the special features on the disc are more fun than the film. Sitting through "The Beach" is like watching sand running through an hourglass. If this were the "Survivor!" television show, everybody would be voted off the island at once.
Unless you absolutely, positively have to own everything that Leonardo DiCaprio has ever starred in, I'd suggest there are better ways to spend your twenty-five bucks. Like dinner for two at a cozy restaurant, the complete symphonies of Ludwig Beethoven on Arte Nova, the latest edition of "Shanghai" for your computer, or a favorite charity. "The Beach" is all washed up.
Average user rating (1-5):
[release]4817[/release]