Allen-27

This is an exemplary teen summer movie. Appealing characters, boy meets girl, boy loses girl, bog gets girl. And it takes place at the Italian beach. It really can't be better. I've watched it twice and will watch it again.

This isn't supposed to review the reviewers, but isn't part of a review to put the film in historical and societal context. I'm short on the history, but some reviews fault the movie for its morality. The film makers have their own views on morality. The truest review should comment on how the film makers transferred their morality, regardless of what it is, to the screen.

Others say they hate the score. That's hardly an indictment of the film. The score exists independently and prior to the film.

The film was amazing. Rob Marshall did a great job with CHICAGO. But this was so much better. The pace is absolutely perfect. I've been watching it over and over trying to figure out how he did it. He magically leads the viewer from scene to scene flawlessly. And there are so many plots he's weaving together.

What about the cinematography. If you don't like the score or the morality, turn the sound off and look at it as pure beauty.

And is this not the best adaptation of a Sondheim work? The creators of SWEENEY TODD didn't have enough faith in the piece to be true to the original. A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC of course was a disaster.

Is there anyone who thinks this deserves only one star who wouldn't upgrade it after taking in consideration -- as part of the whole -- Meryl Streep's performance?

This film takes the content and amplifies it. That makes it great.

I must caution viewers not to read the reviews of those who take exception to the content. The content has been vetted on Broadway. Now how did the film respect the essence of the show and yet take advantage of all that film has to offer?

Although the content is terrifying, this is just not a good movie. There is no forward action and no plot to speak of. The acting and production values are great. But it felt as though it were shot in real time. The movie depicts day after day after day of misery. The other reviewers seem to think it was a good movie because of how it represents man's horrific behavior. But that doesn't mean it's a good film. It's a good depiction of how rotten people can be, not good cinema and Lord knows, it's not entertaining.

It also seems interesting that there are claims made that we haven't seen anything like this before. We just saw a nearly identical lashing- to-a-post-and-being-whipped in last year's CLOUD ATLAS.

A good example of this time period being represented artistically is Toni Morrison's book BELOVED. A simple visual representation of cruelty is not art.