I saw it yesterday and liked it - didn't love it.
Good acting (esp. the supporting cast) - can't say much about the accents.
Good cinematography, direction. No problem with the pacing.

Story - lots of cliches but also had enough twists without moralizing that would have been boring. Thematically, I don't think its much more than a love-story and a story about survival. There's some anti-war sentiment but not because of ideology or anything.

Definately not 'best picture' material but no doubt will get a nom. because of the Weinstein campaigning.

7/10

I thought it was a decent movie, but nothing stunning.

I'm a strong Minghella fan, as both English Patient and Talented Mr. Ripley are in my top ten favorite movies. There were some instances that reminded me of The English Patient (that nurse beside the wounded Jude Law while reading the letters), and just as he did in Talented Mr. Ripley, Minghella used reflections (this time in a well) to hint at some plot outcomes (he used mirrors, windows, and pianos in Ripley).

Again, a good film, but for me I would rank it below Talented Mr. Ripley and English Patient (with The English Patient being my utmost favorite).

Gabriel Yared does the score again for Minghella in this movie, and as above, I would rank his three scores in that order.

Absolutely utter junk food masquerading as "great" cinema.

I question the taste of anyone who considered this film FANTASTIC or EXQUISITE.

If someone wanted to see an updating of Homer's Odyssey played out in the American South with bluegrass music on the soundtrack I'd suggest Oh Brother Where Art Thou?

This movie was of so many minds it never decided what it wanted to be...and in the end gives up and becomes what I would imagine a war film would be if it was made by the director of Pretty Woman.

First it's this abstract metaphysical war film with too many lifts from Eisenstein and Tarkovsky. But it quickly mutates into one half dew-eyed, three hanky, women’s' picture that cribs almost everything from Gone With The Wind, and the other half picaresque cliché tour of the South a-la Huck Finn (only not funny, poignant, or satirical).

Then the "home guard" shows up. Jesus it's like they walked in from another film. Was this a Leone movie? They even had the blonde haired "dog villain" channeling Klaus Kinski in For a Few Dollars More mode. These guys single handedly derail the film every single time they show up. What kind of extravagant indulgence was the director attempting by having the character do Olympic gymnastic dismounts while dispatching his victims? Just silly.

I love The English Patient and Talented Mr. Ripley but Minghella really blew it here.

Great music and Walter Murche's editing could never be enough to salvage this dog. I give it a D+

Saw this today. I think it was great. To each their own. I think some people are looking at this thru "Grey Havens-colored glasses" if you get my meaning. I agree with whoever said to give Renee the Best Supporting Actress already. And my goodness, I don't think anybody has ever looked as stunningly beautiful as Nicoe Kidman did in this movie.

You know, i just cannot stand snobbish remarks like this. So you didn't like the movie. Good for you. Comments like this make me think you expect others to bow down to you and praise you because you have such "good taste" in movies.

Some people liked this movie a lot and connected with it. They thought it was a great picture and you have no right coming in here and questioning their taste just because you don't agree. I imagine there are quite a few films that you like that others think are horrible movies, but that doesn't mean you have bad taste either.

I'm sorry if this seems harsh but when somebody comes around throwing their opinion around like its fact and everybody else that disagrees simply has no taste in films, it makes me sick.

While I appreciate Pants' obvious passion in his reviews, sometimes his hatred of certain films leads to hyperbole. (see also threads about Gosford Park)

Cold Mountain is by no means perfect but it is ranking at around 75% on Rotten Tomatoes - even higher among the 'cream of the crop.'

Movies are entirely subjective. No one's opinion on them is any better than anyone else's.

Yes I made judgemental remarks. But then I went on for more than 4 paragraphs with SPECIFIC EXAMPLES and REASONED ANALYSIS of my feelings about the film. Your opinions may be just as relevent as mine, but mine are more clearly illustrated and comprehensible. A person may not agree with me, but they understand why I feel the way I do. You may not agree with my assesment but at least I offer evidence. With you, not only do I dissagree, but I don't understand why you feel the way you do.

So if you liked it so much please elaborate on what you liked...or rebutt my criticisms. Please address the rediculous "home guard" theatrics that derailed the movie. How do the sequences sit with you? How can you say you like a movie that contains such silliness?

While one person's opinion is no better than anothers, one person may certainly be better at expressing his or her opinion. That's why the best published critics get paid the big bucks...not because their opinions are any better or worse, but because their specific reasoned annalysis is better than, "It was great!" or "I connected with it!" or "Look at Rotten Tomatoes! It doesn't matter that I have no ability to qualify my personal opinion, other people agree with me so knee-ner knee-ner knee that makes me right."

Give me a break

Sure one can express an opinion better than others, but that's no reason for you to insult their opinion and question their taste in films.

I don't give two shits about others opinions, (respect them totally, but with entertainment all that matters to me is whether I enjoyed it or not) so I don't get very detailed. I just say why I like a movie or not (I haven't seen this yet and was reading reviews to decide whether to see it) and don't go into an elaborate explanation.

Good critics also don't insult other critics for differing in opinion.

That's what people are objecting to - you are entitled to hate the movie as vehemently as you want.

I don't feel I have to defend my feelings about the movie to you pants or to anybody. You can have your opinion about the film and that's just as valid as anybody elses. But when you rip on other people because their opinions happen to differ from yours, I have a tendency to just want to throw your opinion out the door no matter how well you use "SPECIFIC EXAMPLES" and "REASONED ANALYSIS".

To tell you the truth, for me when it comes to movies "reasoned analysis" doesn't really work. This isn't a math or science problem. Sometimes a movie just works and connects with you and you can't (or don't feel like) explaining why. I don't like to overanalyze things and for me Cold Mountain just worked. I enjoyed the performances, the style of the film and the way the film looked. I didn't absolutely fall in love with it like I have other films this year, but to me it was a good and entertaining movie.

I didn't have the same problems with the home guard segments that you did. In fact, I actually enjoyed them and the blond villian. If that makes my tastes suspect in your view so be it. But I don't look at films you like and call you to the mat for your opinions. I think you need to be more respectful of others' opinions, whether or not you feel they are as well-reasoned out or explained as yours.

I rented this last night and watched it with the wife. Thought it was 'ok' at best.

Personally I thought Inman(Jude Law) should have just forgot about going back to Ada(Nicole Kidman) and stayed with Sara(Natalie Portman). Thats what I would have done!

Watching it a second time on DVD, it isn't as bad as I first thought. However, I still think it deserved it's snub at a Best Pic nom.

In time, I think it will most likely be seen as a good movie with a great performance by Renee, but little else.

I just saw this movie. It's definately worth a rental, though I have no real desire to see it again.

Then again, any movie that show Nicole Kidman's [private parts] has my vote.