Lord Quixote

Don't be fooled by the trailer. Don't be fooled by the blurbs. This isn't a guns-blazing action-fest. It's just all talk, talk, talk -- and it's not good talking either. I could've accepted all the talking sans action if it had any drama or characters or witty dialog or acting, but it doesn't have any of that. I could've accepted that this was mindless action movie if it weren't for the dialog. The movie will bore you to tears before it even reaches its first shootout (second if you count the flashback which was *talked* to death).

Basically, the movie is mostly people trying to explain the plot to you over...and over...and over...and over again. It's as if the filmmakers wanted you to know that there actually was a plot, razor-thin as it is, in case you didn't get the fact that there was a plot. So what's the end result? -- they filled all the space that could have contained things like action or drama or characters with *people explaining the plot*.

I want my money back.

I was a little disappointed in this adaptation, especially after the superb The Talented Mr. Ripley with Matt Damon. It's not to say that the acting was weak, it's just that it lacked the emotional and psychological foundation that was a part of the Patricia Highsmith's novel. Basically, in this movie we jump right into the plot without being exposed to the characters -- especially the character of Johnathan Trevanny who was the main focus of the novel. The movie merely skims over his motives for getting involved in the whole mess whereas the novel devotes chapters to it.

Basically, this film adaptation is but a standard melodrama that lacks even the slightest bit of character study apart from the cliched "self-introspection" ending

This is an amazing film that delves into ancient myths and legends. The broad colors fit well with the broad mythic symbolisms of the tale and characters, like the brush-strokes of Michelangelo or Rembrant. This film is full of archetypes, as it should be since it is a cinematic update of old oral myths and legends, so don't expect too much commercial pop-fare. One can only hope other legends, such as Hercules or King Arthur, can be filmed with such depth and artistry. The only western film that comes close is Boorman's Excalibur. Absolutely spectacular!

And for those simpletons who can't wrap their heads around mythic martial artists -- you're just being bigoted and xenophobic. How can you comfortably accept the impossible feats of Hercules or Thor or Apollo without accepting impossible feats of Nameless or Broken Sword? They all occupy the same realm of fantasy and myth, and must be treated as such.