Cold Mountain is a modern Hollywood epic. And while the Civil War chronicle has aspects of a war drama, a romance, a celebration of survival, and a period film, Cold Mountain, ultimately, can only be measured by other accomplished sagas. Based on previous premier narratives, Cold Mountain is effective, but flawed. Because director Anthony Minghella centers much of film on the perceived longing between Jude Law's Inman and Nicole Kidman's Ada, the brutality of battle and the moral binds of the Civil War are subservient to Minghella's steadfast resolve to establish the cornerstone of predestined romance. Even Inman's Homeric odyssey plays a supportive role. As a result, Cold Mountain is not nearly as powerful or provocative as Glory. Moreover, Minghella barely lays the foundation for the viewer to accept and more importantly, identify with the central character's courtship. Their interaction is casual and almost irrelevantly limited to tea time politeness and far away glances. The crux of their attraction is hardly mutual, the majority of it expressed through Ada's letters to Inman. As a result, Cold Mountain is not nearly as chivalrous or passionate as Braveheart. However, Cold Mountain is a sweeping tale, lush and textured, full of exotic and interesting characters (including Renée Zellweger, Giovanni Ribisi, Philip Seymore Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Kathy Baker, and Donald Sutherland) that is moving at times and mesmerizing at others. It just certainly would have been a more complete cinematic work if it had better balance and more purpose. The Cold Mountain DVD features a making of, a documentary, deleted scenes, director's commentary, and a featurette on the film's music.