The Beach Reviews
April 6, 2010
A narrative that tries to juggle thriller elements, tons of pop culture imagery, and way too much philosophical baggage.
July 23, 2007
A mad assemblage of earlier, better bungle-in-the-jungle stories.
Full Review
| Original Score: 2/5
December 6, 2005
Full Review
| Original Score: 1.5/5
April 24, 2005
By attempting to combine elements of mystery, adventure, action and romance, 'The Beach' becomes too jumbled to follow with much interest.
June 23, 2003
While it thumped along, I had plenty of time to ponder the other and better movies that it reminded me of.
Full Review
| Original Score: 2/4
May 20, 2003
Original Score: 1.5/4
February 17, 2003
Three-fifths of a great movie sunk by a crucial tonal misstep. A cross between Lord of the Flies, Swiss Family Robinson and Apocalypse Now.
Full Review
| Original Score: C
February 8, 2003
...Riddled with bizarre contrivances and unlikely scenarios.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3/5
December 8, 2002
The film equivalent of eating one of those circular rice wafer things that taste like nothing.
Full Review
| Original Score: 1.5/5
December 2, 2002
In pitching for the mass market, Boyle's film has allowed itself to be rebranded as a Hollywood star vehicle, a cynical assemblage that is never more than the sum of its market-researched parts.
October 15, 2002
Boyle takes a seriously wrong turn in the closing third of the film.
Full Review
| Original Score: 2.5/4
June 5, 2002
As it stands, the film is competent enough to be bearable, but not enough to hammer home any points of interest.
Full Review
| Original Score: 2.5/5
March 22, 2002
Ultimately, it seems more bland than bad.
Full Review
| Original Score: 2.5/4
February 28, 2002
Full Review
| Original Score: 1/5
October 30, 2001
Original Score: 4/10
May 11, 2001
The Beach, designed to provoke audiences, stops for too many Hollywood moments to get the job done.
Original Score: 2.5/5
February 27, 2001
a deeply flawed adventure film with heavy themes about the fragile nature of paradise
Original Score: 2/4
January 1, 2001
Full Review
| Original Score: 6/10
February 11, 2000
Full Review
| Original Score: C
January 1, 2000
the film itself turns out to be much like its hero Richard: good-looking, slightly cryptic and ultimately more than a little tiresome.