An intriguing mystery with a great soundtrack. I think Leonardo DiCaprio has had such an interesting career, and this is a great example of what he does so well.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 6, 2023

Sun, sea, and observations on how Richard (a young DiCaprio) survived the world without a smartphone, make this 2000 film a satisfying title to reflect on with families.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 13, 2022

the beach featured in The Beach was soon ruined by visitors, a detail that fits in with the reductive, wrong-headedness of the whole enterprise

| Original Score: 2/5 | Mar 30, 2022

Apocalypse Now 2 - Beach Vacation.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Feb 16, 2021

You'd probably call it a strange brew of Fantasy Island, Apocalypse Now and Lord of the Flies. But whatever it is, it certainly is an intriguing and utterly watchable concoction.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 2, 2020

A narrative that tries to juggle thriller elements, tons of pop culture imagery, and way too much philosophical baggage.

| Apr 6, 2010

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 7, 2008

The Beach is nothing to write home about, though the landscapes are ravishing. The movie itself is neither fish nor fowl.

| Mar 31, 2008

A mad assemblage of earlier, better bungle-in-the-jungle stories.

| Original Score: C- | Jul 23, 2007

| Original Score: 1.5/5 | Dec 6, 2005

By attempting to combine elements of mystery, adventure, action and romance, 'The Beach' becomes too jumbled to follow with much interest.

| Apr 24, 2005

A brilliant example of changing the material to suit the medium without losing the message.

Full Review | Mar 28, 2005

While it thumped along, I had plenty of time to ponder the other and better movies that it reminded me of.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Jun 23, 2003

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | May 20, 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.

| Original Score: C | Feb 17, 2003

...Riddled with bizarre contrivances and unlikely scenarios.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Feb 8, 2003

The film equivalent of eating one of those circular rice wafer things that taste like nothing.

| Original Score: 1.5/5 | Dec 8, 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.

| Dec 2, 2002

| Original Score: 4/5 | Oct 30, 2002

Boyle takes a seriously wrong turn in the closing third of the film.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Oct 15, 2002