SnoopyStyle At an Arctic oil site, elderly Inuit Avik (Jason Scott Lee) befriends the newly arrived Mapmaker (John Cusack). As a boy, Avik's tribe is visited by cartographer Walter Russell (Patrick Bergin). He falls ill from tuberculosis and Walter takes him to a Montreal hospital. He meets and punches Métis girl Albertine. She punches back and they're in love. Years later, Walter returns to find a stranded U-Boat. Avik has been shunned for being bad luck. Abandoned by his people, he goes south to join the war and becomes a bombardier. In England, he runs into Albertine (Anne Parillaud) who is now having an affair with Walter.This is an epic of tragic romance. It has a fable quality. The plot does jump sometimes. The little kids are really charming. They have real chemistry. The adult versions have a little less chemistry. They don't have anything as cool as punching each other although having sex on a barrage balloon is very different. The most emotional moments have to be the grandmother when Avik leaves her twice. Her's is a devastating heart-break. There is a lot of story here and director Vincent Ward does a pretty good job. While there are big war action, it could be done with more thrills. There are also lots of surreal scenes which could be improved with a more imaginative camera. Nevertheless, this is a memorable unique film.

Nat Williams This movie, about love lost and found, started out full of promise. An Eskimo village in the Canadian arctic is visited by a British mapmaker in 1931 who befriends an orphaned native, Avik. Avik contracts tuberculosis and the mapmaker flies him to Montreal, where he is raised in a Catholic hospital/school. He heals, learns English and meets a girl who, like him, is a half-breed, and they enjoy an episode of puppy love until she is whisked away. So far, so good. We anticipate the two meeting again. A decade later he ends up as part of an RAF bombing crew in World War II. Coincidentally, the girl is also working for the British military, reading the photographs taken by Avik on his bombing runs. Also, she is involved with the man who rescued young Avik years earlier. This was one of those movies that sent one to the kitchen after the first act to microwave some popcorn and enjoy the rest. Unfortunately, the second half was disappointing. The characters, relationships and situations don't live up to expectations. Much of the cinematography is excellent, and it's not a total waste. But the film could have been so much more.

burgerific I decided to watch this based on a strong recommendation from a friend, and am now debating whether or not she is my friend at all. This movie, as another reviewer alluded to, is actually painful to watch. I would have never finished it except I wanted to be knowledgeable about what a putrid film it is so I could write an accurate review. The only aspect of the film that is even passable is the cinematography, which, though dark, does a consistently good job of telling the story. Every single other aspect of the film (the acting, the story, the dialogue, the sound mixing, the sound dubbing) is just a disgrace to the art of film-making. The sound dubbing is so ridiculously bad that I was starting to wonder if this was a foreign language flick (honestly). The words NEVER match up to the lips; not even on accident. The story is implausible (a poor man's "Legends of the Fall"), filled with every concievable cliché. The characters are underwritten cardboard cut-outs, which at least partially explains the poor acting. I can't say enough bad things about this film, but do yourself a favor and avoid it like the plague! Life is too short.

dbborroughs This is one of the best movies I've ever seen....I never want to see it again.Why don't I want to see it? Its simply depressing. I can't watch it with out becoming suicidal. This is the story of two ill fated lovers over the early and mid part of the 20th century. Its told in flashback in a fishing village in Canada.What can I say? This is a film of great performances and moments, the firestorm in Dresden gives me nightmares.I would love to recommend the film, but its ultimately so bleak I don't know many people who would want to see it.Still I give it 10 out of 10 simply because it provokes such a deep reaction in me.