Missileman1

For myself, I've read every single comment on this film - took me a while (208 to date). Some have made me think deeper about it. Still, I find it one of the most pathos-infused stories-put-to-celluloid I've had the privilege of viewing (please read the book...). If your spirit can't find the uplifting benefit in this film, I'd have to question your personal character, your outlook on life - or your moral turpitude. What's not to like about a ship-born infant whose, ultimately, self-imposed life at sea fosters his world-class musical talent - but which bungles the one, single, opportunity to requite the land-based love of his life?

Beautifully crafted, exquisitely shot, immaculately directed. If you have no ear for the extreme craftsmanship of (Tim Roth's or Clarence William III's) piano, or (Vincent Taylor Pruitt's) trumpet, I'm sorry for you. If you have no eye for divine camera-work, go play a video war-game. And if you can't recognize great acting when you see it then attend a rally for your local politician. But, if you have a sense for the ethereal within real life, an imagination to go with it, and your body still has the ability to produce real tears, then watch this film. It will cleanse you. 'THE LEGEND OF 1900' is ONE of the few reasons we go to the movies - they complete us. Believe me - I wept.

Kudos to the fine actors, director (Giuseppe Tornatore), and musical composer (Ennio Morricone).

Bob Shank Jr. Tucson, AZ

I agree, mostly, with 'isabelle1955'... Except for the following: 1) TC is not believable as the 'perfectly insincerely sincere' Jasper Irving; will some 'sincere' director please advise Mr. Cruise to stop 'projecting his own image for the camera' and start acting for the script - or, his audience - alternately, the story line. He's - still - just too in love with his agent's image of himself. Go visit a REAL insincerely sincere senator and study him. Try again, and drop your mind's-eye, mirror-image of yourself in the camera for crying out loud! 2) Where's your 'character', Meryl Streep??? where's her guts??? where's the fist-i-ness, the 'cougar' in you??? If you were acting as a real DC reporter (and I've met 'em) there'd be some tough words and emotion in that office interviewing Jasper Irving! Maybe some blood. Hell, you'd be standing on top of his desk instead of smoothing your skirt and blushing every time you 'asserted' a question. You acted like a high-school newspaper reporter for the Chicopee Falls HS 'Pacers' newsletter trying to get an auto-dealer's ad - please, may I have one? Are you kidding me? Lame; stop 'worshipping' Meryl Streep and start critiquing her individual performances. Get a life. 3) I agree - the Afghan scenes were shame-able. So was the acting. 4) Convince what California student? All I saw was yet another young actor who couldn't believe he was in a movie with a hype cast. Go back to school, get a job, serve humanity in a functioning way. 5) Redford did what he could with the cast and script he was given - that's all. Nothing more, nothing less. 5) Which of your two husband's brain-cells are you in love with? Too bad you mentioned him. Hmmmmm. Like being hit over the head with a Brit. Lame, pointless film. No energy, no Mission Statement, no redeeming social value. Watch a baseball game instead; at least steroid use gives you something to cheer about...or, plant a tree in your neighborhood.

in this, yet again, Nora Ephron pleaser. How can you not sniggle, laugh, guffaw and even cheer for a love-handled, smoking, suger-eating, beer-drinking, bull-charging, bar-dancing Archangel who sloops cereal and pie with his whole left-hand wrapped around a spoon-handle while outfitted in Vinnie Barbarino's middle-aged body with wings? It's one of the most ludicrous, classic, side-splitting images available on the silver screen. And if you don't 'get' that image, here's a quarter --- go buy yourself a life.

I found the supporting cast, well -- well-cast. Hurt, MacDowell, Pastorelli, Hoskins, Stapleton et al played the characters they were given to a 'T." And despite Travolta stealing the show, those characters are quintessential to the storyline – you'll see. Though this is a simple feel-good story (nothing complicated to follow, just out of the ordinary) with laughs, sniffles and a touch of heart, you can't get out of this without some introspection into your own life. Maybe that's why the IMDb nay-sayers of this film have such a problem with it (you poor, sad people).

Please – do yourself a favor, ignore the 'lifeless' and treat yourself to something GOOD. Lord knows, we can't get enough of that