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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Movie, Weak Focus, March 26, 2004
BEYOND BORDERS doesn't seem to know where it is going as a movie: an international love affair, a poster film for the courage of the human soul, a documentary, a promotional film for Angelina Jolie's laudable contributions to global charity, a study of the mismanagement of fundraising and fund disbursement for the victims of famine, starvation and war around the globe, etc etc. If you can get past the need to hone in on a single concept then there is plenty to like about this movie. For once Jolie is able to play a woman obsessed with aiding the unfortunate instead of towering above all others as a fictive comic book character. And there are truly fine performances by Clive Owen (wholly commited to his role as a physician for the masses), Linus Roache, Teri Polo, and Noah Emmerich and of course minor roles played with aplomb by actors from the various locales needing aid - Ethiopia, Cambodia, Chechnya etc. This film has the appearance of a Blockbuster in style and execution, but its real importance is in its depiction of the suffering that covers the globe. In a very touching passage physician Clive Owen addresses the quiet courage of the people in extremis and at that point the message of the movie is driven home with great impact. Recommended.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A very moving picture., April 4, 2004
Before I say my praises, I will advise for anyone who enjoys not having their movie spoiled, not to read a review by BANANAGURL, who totally spoils it by giving away the ending! Anyways, I found this to be more of a heart moving, touching movie, than a love story with a war/refugee backdrop. It made me realise and appreciate all that I have in my life. The warmth, safety, food and cleanliess, that 50 million people, such as those portrayed in the movie lack. This wasnt a boring, draggin-on movie, but a moving drama, that really shows the raw and deep pain of human suffering that goes on, out of peoples minds and awarenss. Hunger and pain, spreads through those people like a great colossos of doom. Great perforamnce from Angelina, and Cliwe. I'm very glad I got a chance to experience this visually moving project.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This movie explains why Angelina Jolie is a Great Humanitarian today., January 23, 2006
I underestimated this movie when I first picked it up. The first 5 minutes blew me away. This is obviously the kind of movie that makes you realize how much you take for granted. I can grab my keys and bank card, drive 5 minutes to the store and buy food, drinks and snacks. When I think about hard it is for those people; dying all the time, weak, fragile, depressed, etc... it rips right into the soul
Let's face it - we go to the cinemas to forget our problems and not be reminded of them which is precisely the reason why movies like these don't make any money but others do. Most movies about injustice and persecution always have the good guys win in the end but this movie doesn't. In fact, we're introduced to the startling reality of the lives of volunteer workers and what they have to go through with all their good intentions in place. We are also introduced and/or reminded of the ugly side of humanity as to why certain countries will never be able to have peace because people are just too selfish fighting out their own agendas to spare any thought for another person.
Angelina Jolie and Clive Owen did a brilliant job in their roles as Sarah and Nick, they make you believe that they are those characters for real! I think what makes it more moving is the fact that Angelina Jolie really is a ambassador and actually makes the attempt to help out the many people in need. The plot of this film is simply about two people bonded by their common passion but whilst one chooses to act it out wholeheartedly, the other keeps a silent but burning fire for it. Now, that's love!
One commentator here said that this movie doesn't do any justice for the refugees and the victims but I must say that no movie can. Even if you do visit these places to see for yourself what really goes on, you have a choice - you can leave whilst these people don't so unless you are in that exact same position, I think nobody should ever try to comment about it because it's something I don't think none of us in developed countries can ever truly understand. Besides, this movie is about the volunteer workers and what they have to go through and the love story between the two leads as the backdrop to distract us from the painful realities depicted in the movie. I don't really agree with some inaccurate plots in certain movies but I don't know the 110% truth about this movie so I just accept it and then find out more about it if I want to. It's something you can't expect from movies anyway because movies are not supposed to educate but just to entertain and maybe enlighten us a little. You want a 100% accurate show, then go watch National Geographic.
All in all, the filmmakers of Beyond Borders deserve some credit for trying to tell a story different from the rest of the junk playing in the cinemas nowadays. Some of you might have felt they didn't really succeed but I still think they gave it their best shot. Now, you have to give them at least that!
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