Captain Corelli's Mandolin Why it took four major production entities- Universal, Studio Canal, Miramax and Working Title- to turn that admired novel into a phlegmatic, middlebrow romantic drama so stodgy that even the goats look bored? How John Madden, the same director who brought "Shakespeare in Love,to life, could have been responsible for this comatose effort; how star Penelope Cruz manages to emerge unscathed, like some cinematic Wonder Woman, from the wreckage of film after film?" That is what Kenneth Turan, Times Film Critic had to say about "Captain Corelli's Mandolin." The movie was based on a Louis de Berniére's best-selling tale of love and war. I did not know what to expect when I went to see this movie; I had read various unfavorable reviews. While certainly not an Oscar winning film, it was not anywhere as bad as the reviewers said. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this movie. It is long but keeps the audience attention throughout. John Hurt turns in an excellent performance, as does Christian Bale. Nicolas Cage could have used a little more help with the Italian accent. I believe Capt. Corelli's Mandolin has suffered the same disease as the British Tourist Industry did over Hoof & Mouth disease. The press blew it clear out of proportion. Turan, Times Film Critic, said " A film without a true note, an undemanding picture-postcard production heavy with " I don't know how to say what I fell inside," dialogue from screenwriter Shawn Slovo. Things do improve in the film's more dramatic final third, when the war gets closer and unpleasant things start to happen, but the production never loses its quality of exasperating bogusness." Poor reviews such as this have emptied the theaters around here. This is a good movie that actually has a story and character development instead of just special effects and it is unfair to criticize a great work in such an unrelenting manner. This film is meant to capture a moment in history, both for several people and the world. "Forget the inconsequential details such as precise accents and dwell on the story and the actors (Ebert 2)." It is a simple story told straightforward about loving and losing, about honor and responsibility, about wondering 'what if' and making do with 'what is'. The film successfully strikes a chord of passion with its audience, and we find poignancy, tenderness, heartbreak, and poetry along the way. The story place in a beautiful Greek island, Cephallonia, it's so pretty and endearing, the picture perfect village, and all the beautiful people. Pelagia, the doctor's daughter, is betrothed to Mandras, a handsome fisherman, who goes off to fight the Germans on the Albanian border. Meanwhile, the Italians occupy the island and Captain Corelli is billeted at the doctor's house. Pelagia wants nothing to do with Corelli. She is serious and proud. He is fun loving and musical. She worries about the war and treats him as an enemy. As the months pass, he finds himself drawn to Pelagia. The feeling is soon mutual and the two become lovers. Unfortunately, the real war eventually rears its ugly head, forcing the two lovers into making difficult decisions about themselves and their future together. Although the love story is the focus of the film, there is much to be admired of the scenery and the historical depiction of the Greek Island of Cephalonia. "The film captures the magic of the Greek people and their fierce battle in WWII (Clark 1)." The acting contributes remarkably to this picture. This movie builds the great deal of emotional investment in its characters. The singing, the dancing and the mandolin playing, Nicholas Cage combines it all to create a well-established character. He is handsome and tantalizing. Along with Cage is Penelope Cruz, an actress who absorbs emotion. Clark said, "Her eyes question the very idea of happiness (C1)." Cruz adequate for the part, and often during the movie it is more what she does not say that comes across well. And as a supporting actor, John Hurt is outstanding as usual casting along with Irene Papas, whose performance was extraordinary. Roger Ebert said, " Mandras' mother is played by the fierce Irene Papas, great spirit of the Greek cinema." This movie carried along its beautiful and charming screenplay, scenery and drama in a war-torn coastal Greek village. It has wonderful cinematography and beautiful settings. The film crew seemed to capture a timeless mood to the island. The war sequences were quite entertaining and the dialogues are witty and extremely poetic and passionate. The plot is fascinating. On one level, this film is a light and easy moralizing story, which is both, thought provoking and very easy on the eyes. " Only a very odd war movie would revolve around a gentle-eyed romantic and his mandolin (Elliott 1)." Based on a true war crime, Captain Corelli's mandolin focuses more on the love of life, music and people than on the atrocities of WWII. It is a story of human triumph and unfortunately Elliott fails to comprehend that. Even though many critics complain of this movie having bad accents and belittlement of nations and such. While these statements many indeed be true; I found that the story and acting were quite strong, the scenery for the movie was absolutely fantastic. While the movie did not make me cry, or strike my heart with potent emotion like I would have enjoyed, I found that this movie generally got the job done well. I anticipated a sloppily done, cookie-cutter love story. I was pleased that the movie provided much more, and like I said, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. I gave it a 3.5 star, because a 3 does not do it justice, while 4 may be a bit strong of a rating. My rating system is based on overall opinion of the artistic merits, quality and theme of the work. To achieve a four star, I feel audiences will not only find the title entertaining, but will benefit from the interplay or other content, such as positive messages. An excellent movie must be intellectual, but very easy to watch. Enjoyable and thought provoking, at the same time stimulate emotions. Seminal and outstanding, which worth seeing again and again. Three stars, this grade indicates a product that is entertaining, but lacking the positive elements found in a four stars-title. Though a very good and solid movie which contains compelling features, yet not outstanding creatively. A three star movie, defiantly worth going out of your way to see it. A two star movie is an efficient time-killer with some entertainment value, but overall a mediocre experience. It's probably redeemed by a few good lines and interesting camera work, nothing special but some how watch-able. Least but not last, a one star movie is pretty bad, consistently poor and fatuous. A Movie with out a point. Defiantly, worth going out of your way to miss it. Regardless of what some critics had to say about Captain Corelli's Mandolin, I found the movie entertaining and gratifying. While the movie is a little long, it's very possible to get so engrossed in the story, the time passes quickly. Overall, it is a solid story line depicting the loves and tragedies of WWII on an absolutely idyllic and beautiful Greek island. . around a gentle-eyed romantic and his mandolin (Elliott 1)." Based on a true war crime, Captain Corelli's mandolin focuses more on the love of. is what Kenneth Turan, Times Film Critic had to say about " ;Captain Corelli's Mandolin. " The movie was based on a Louis de Berniére's