You can pick up hundreds of DVD's for a buck each - it doesn't matter. Its never about quantity, its about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and justifying why I own the films...
#19 - The Beach
Why did I buy it?
Again, we have the inevitable Danny Boyle answer. Alongside the Leonardo DiCaprio answer. And the interest in Alex Garland.
Again, we have the inevitable Danny Boyle answer. Alongside the Leonardo DiCaprio answer. And the interest in Alex Garland.
Why do I still own it?
Ever the completist, The Beach goes with all the other Danny Boyle movies, but I am not ashamed of this film. I think it seems to capture such a beauty about the islands they visit - really filling you with a desperation to get to such an isolated location. This in itself is a selfish thought and so, the destruction of this perfect world is even more tragic but neccessary. Then there is the use of the track '8 Ball' by Underworld ... such joy!
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Thank Mr Cabin for the disqus working! A god among men.
ReplyDeleteYeah, THE BEACH has more strong points that problems - but I appreicate that there ARE problems and I think its a weaker film to the vast majority of boyles movies. Fact is, the stunning beach-scapes are worth the 'visit' alone!
A god here. :P
ReplyDeleteI ought to read the book. It's been long enough since I've seen The Beach that I don't remember every little detail.
The first two acts of this are great, but then Boyle does that thing he's done all too often and derails the flick in the third act. The video game business....wha???
Speaking of the soundtrack, though...Moby's "Porcelain." Mmmm...one of my all-time favorites.
Overall, I'd recommend the flick, but with reservations.
I know what you're saying about the third-act concern. But I think, in a huge amount of Boyle films, he really plays with distorted, off-balance sequences. So, the computer-game bit in this one, the baby-on-the-ceiling in TRAINSPOTTING and the whole of A LIFE LESS ORDINARY. It never rally works but kudos for trying to bring something innovative to the fore. Do you think the whole computer game thing, you could argue, preceded SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD...?
ReplyDeleteSoundtrack-wise, that PORCELAIN song I used to adore but it was played too much! Now I have difficulty feeling that 'free' feeling I used to get!