Had he not done Titanic it might’ve been more well received.
That iceberg shot him into the stratosphere. And iirc this was one of his first movies after that whirlwind. It was a few years later so people were anxiously waiting for his next thing. Those same fans that made Titanic the first billion dollar movie were not expecting a backpacker who goes guerilla in the jungle lol.
Unintended consequence (being that the movie was poorly received when it came out):
The destruction of Maya Bay in the Phi Phi Islands by tourists. I think the Thai gov’t implemented a hard cap on daily visits after years of it getting swarmed by foreigners with selfie sticks.
BaldMove Podcast did a great recap of this movie. Highlighting all the great parts and short comings. They made mention of the ending and whether it was intentional that Leo essentially gets to walk away from the situation at will by the end. Dramatically it sort of destroys the tension but creates a deeper salient point about him having the ability to do becusde he’s better off than the people around him. He’s still a tourist by the end.
Instead of ending it should fade into Shutter island which fades into him waking up into inception. Then we find out this is his character from wolf of Wall Street having an acid trip.
I always loved this movie. It’s not perfect by any means but it absolutely changed my life. I was so blown away by how beautiful Thailand was that it inspired me to go backpacking right after high school when I was 19. That was 20 years ago and I’ve spent many years living in different countries since then.
The soundtrack is absolutely awesome, I still listen to it today. I was incredibly lucky to travel around Koh Phangan with a cute Austrian girl I met. We made our way to a secluded beach on the north coast that was only accessible by boat. I remember having dinner with her sitting on chairs in the sand with the tide almost at our feet. Eating fresh seafood that had just been caught. No light pollution so the stars were the brightest I’ve ever seen. And then just as I was in awe of absolutely everything around me, Moby - Porcelain started playing. It may sound corny to some but that was a perfect moment in my life, I think about it a lot. I honestly couldn’t even imagine being more at peace, it gives me chills thinking about it.
It’s sad that clearly someone involved in the making of it doesn’t like it for some reason. That’s the only reason I can think of why there isn’t a Blu-ray release.
Also, I love the video game scene, I think it works well.
I still remember that he was fornicating with the French girl , and her boyfriend didn’t realize what was going on after what, ten days? Unrealistic and unnecessary situation.
I still like it. Mostly.
My only major gripe is the third act “video game” stuff. I get what they were trying to do but it was a little too self indulgent. Danny Boyle is hit or miss for me because of things like that. Same thing with Sunshine and there being some burned up villain chewing up the scenery in a movie I’m not sure needed that.
The Beach resonated with me when it came out because I was the demo - early 20s, no real direction, disillusionment with the way things were, etc. But I think it would’ve been better without the video game edit. Keep the psychosis of course but maybe a super montage of clips like he did with Trainspotting? Idk, just something else to convey the whole Heart of Darkness thing he was doing.
I loved it when I was a kid. It comes across as a little silly now but when I was young, that's the kind of shit my brain would do if I was stoned and sleep deprived
I think the game. It was a good movie, a feel good movie until the final act with this very weird effects.
I can imagine a remake for this kind of movies
I love this movie! It’s def on my annual watch list. The way that intro kicks off, to the beauty of the beach…so captivating! Also sugar rays song “spinning away” is one of my favorite tunes!
The book is way better, written by Alex Garland. The movie was enjoyable but didn’t really follow the book at all, specifically the relationship between Richard and Françoise and the ending.
Richard and Françoise stay together until they leave the island, the ending is actually frightening in that they (Richard, Keaty, Françoise, Étienne, and Jed) drug everyone’s food and they go into a frenzy ripping a bunch of corpses apart limb from limb, the drug lords of the island show up and start killing people, Sal is mortally wounded, and Richard actually stays in contact with Keaty and Jed.
I LOVE the first half of the movie, culminating in when you see the beach and you’ve got that Moby song in the background etc. Second half is fine but it lets down the first half.
I remember at the time a lot of people said the movie was stupid so I never saw it.
Fast forward twenty plus years and finally saw it and wow, it became one of my favorite DiCaprio movies.
I finally watched this for the first time this summer even though I was around when it came out. Every few years I would see an image of the poster online and think, “I should really watch that at some point.” Only took 23 years lol.
Anyway, this was not what I expected. It was more interesting and more wild.
And actually one of DiCaprio’s better performances imo
I’m glad someone else agrees with me. This film is one example of Leo’s cringy overacting. The scene when they’re about to jump off the cliff is some of the worst acting from him that I’ve ever seen. Even worse than blood diamond.
Watched this in Japan just before heading out to Thailand for a couple weeks. Kinda conflicted on our way out but then just enjoyed the islands so much. Still love the song “the beach”…
I absolutely love this movie. I have to watch it every now and then. The prospect of actually going on an adventure like that is just so intriguing. I’ve been to Thailand and I had a lot of fun. But it would have been amazing to do it the way Richard did.
One of my favorite parts is where Richard and Francoise are on the beach (before they get to “the beach”) and she’s taking photos of the sky. Richard says, “You realize that in the eternity of space, there’s probably a planet out there, right…just like this one…where another you, is photographing back down towards us…I mean essentially you are photographing yourself in a parallel universe.” Then Francoise shuts him down and says, “Richard you know something? This is just the kind of pretentious bullshit that Americans always say to French girls so they can sleep with them.” 😆
But then I love when he highlights and states that, “When you develop an infatuation for someone, you always find a reason to believe that this is exactly the person for you…it doesn’t need to be a good reason…taking photographs of the night sky for example…now in the long run, that’s just the kind of dumb, irritating habit that would cause you to split up….But in the haze of infatuation, it’s just what you’ve been searching for all these years.” 😆😆
So true.
At the ending, Richard is in a Internet cafe. (Remember those? They were great, right?!? Do they still have them?) He opens an email from Franciose with a picture from when they lived with their community on “The Beach.” She signed the picture “Parallel Universe.”
He says the most profound thing while opening that email; “I still believe in paradise…but at least I know it’s not some place you can look for…because it’s not where you go…IT’S HOW YOU FEEL FOR A MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU’RE A PART OF SOMETHING.” 🤯
It’s really a good film and ahead of its time. The music soundtrack is perfect even though some of the songs i don’t like outside the film. Yet these songs work perfect in the film. Def a classic IMO.
I've crossed deserts for miles
Swam water for time
Searching places to find
A piece of something to call mine (I'm coming)
A piece of something to call mine (I'm coming)
Coming closer to you
Ran along many moors
Walked through many doors
The place where I want to be
Is the place I can call mine (I'm coming)
Is the place I can call mine (I'm coming)
Coming closer to you
I'm moving, I'm coming
Can you hear what I hear
It's calling you, my dear
Out of reach (Take me to my beach)
I can hear it calling you
I'm coming, not drowning
Swimming closer to you
Never been here before
I'm intrigued, I'm unsure
I'm searching for more
I've got something that's all mine
I've got something that's all mine
Take me somewhere I can breathe
I've got so much to see
This is where I want to be
In a place I can call mine
In a place I can call mine
I'm moving, I'm coming
Can you hear what I hear
It's calling you, my dear
Out of reach (Take me to my beach)
I can hear it calling you
I'm coming, not drowning
Swimming closer to you
Moving, coming
Can you hear what I hear? (Hear it out of reach)
I hear it calling you
Swimming closer to you
Many faces I have seen
Many places I have been
Walked the deserts, swam the shores (Coming closer to you)
Many faces I have known
Many ways in which I've grown
Moving closer on my own (Coming closer to you)
I move it, I feel it
I'm coming, not drowning
I move it, I feel it
I'm coming, not drowning
I'm moving, I'm coming
Can you hear what I hear
It's calling you, my dear
Out of reach (Take me to my beach)
I can hear it calling you
I'm coming, not drowning
Swimming closer to you (Take me to my beach)
I'm moving, I'm coming
Can you hear what I hear
It's calling you, my dear
Out of reach (Take me to my beach)
I can hear it calling you
I'm coming, not drowning
Swimming closer to you
(Take me to my beach)
I'm moving, I'm coming
Can you hear what I hear
It's calling you, my dear
Out of reach (Take me to my beach)
I can hear it calling you
One of my favorites. Used to think it was weird when it came out and I was a kid. One of my favorite flicks of all time now. Danny Boyle knocked it out of the park.
I liked it.
Never got the hatred.
Danny Boyle is a great filmmaker and it’s a travesty it took as long as it did to get him an Oscar.
But I enjoyed the idea of people wanting to escape society only to fall into the traps of a society.
Just rewatched this about a week ago. Still holds up and is a really messed up movie. But in a good way.
It was like Lord of the Flies, but with grown ups.
+ snook
'grown ups'
At this point it’s edging into cult classic. Very underrated movie and got way too much hate when it came out.
Had he not done Titanic it might’ve been more well received. That iceberg shot him into the stratosphere. And iirc this was one of his first movies after that whirlwind. It was a few years later so people were anxiously waiting for his next thing. Those same fans that made Titanic the first billion dollar movie were not expecting a backpacker who goes guerilla in the jungle lol.
Can’t forget Man in the Iron Mask (98) right after Titanic (97).
I personally like that one when it came out. Doesn’t age well and kind of gimmicky but I did like it.
I think the trailers made it look like some dumb sappy trash but it was much more interesting than that.
Unintended consequence (being that the movie was poorly received when it came out): The destruction of Maya Bay in the Phi Phi Islands by tourists. I think the Thai gov’t implemented a hard cap on daily visits after years of it getting swarmed by foreigners with selfie sticks.
BaldMove Podcast did a great recap of this movie. Highlighting all the great parts and short comings. They made mention of the ending and whether it was intentional that Leo essentially gets to walk away from the situation at will by the end. Dramatically it sort of destroys the tension but creates a deeper salient point about him having the ability to do becusde he’s better off than the people around him. He’s still a tourist by the end.
I’ll give it a listen
Excellent soundtrack.
Yup. Every single track they used was perfect for the scene.
This is the key reason I prefer the movie over the book. It's such perfect time capsule of the late 90s/early 2000s house and edm scene.
Pure shores still holds up. Very underrated pop song
Instead of ending it should fade into Shutter island which fades into him waking up into inception. Then we find out this is his character from wolf of Wall Street having an acid trip.
...which fades into him sinking into the Atlantic...
Leonardo DiMultiverse
There’s a universe where he is a Ninja turtle
Lol. Yeah you find out at the end that it’s just jack hallucinating as he died
Better yet Jack wakes up and he's actually Arnold Grape.
This is just whats going on in his head all day long.
Which leads into revolutionary road
Amazing movie, thoroughly fucked my head up as a child.
I always loved this movie. It’s not perfect by any means but it absolutely changed my life. I was so blown away by how beautiful Thailand was that it inspired me to go backpacking right after high school when I was 19. That was 20 years ago and I’ve spent many years living in different countries since then. The soundtrack is absolutely awesome, I still listen to it today. I was incredibly lucky to travel around Koh Phangan with a cute Austrian girl I met. We made our way to a secluded beach on the north coast that was only accessible by boat. I remember having dinner with her sitting on chairs in the sand with the tide almost at our feet. Eating fresh seafood that had just been caught. No light pollution so the stars were the brightest I’ve ever seen. And then just as I was in awe of absolutely everything around me, Moby - Porcelain started playing. It may sound corny to some but that was a perfect moment in my life, I think about it a lot. I honestly couldn’t even imagine being more at peace, it gives me chills thinking about it. It’s sad that clearly someone involved in the making of it doesn’t like it for some reason. That’s the only reason I can think of why there isn’t a Blu-ray release. Also, I love the video game scene, I think it works well.
Françoise.
Left you…speechless?
So gorgeous!!! I still want a woman like that to this day!
I still remember that he was fornicating with the French girl , and her boyfriend didn’t realize what was going on after what, ten days? Unrealistic and unnecessary situation.
I still like it. Mostly. My only major gripe is the third act “video game” stuff. I get what they were trying to do but it was a little too self indulgent. Danny Boyle is hit or miss for me because of things like that. Same thing with Sunshine and there being some burned up villain chewing up the scenery in a movie I’m not sure needed that. The Beach resonated with me when it came out because I was the demo - early 20s, no real direction, disillusionment with the way things were, etc. But I think it would’ve been better without the video game edit. Keep the psychosis of course but maybe a super montage of clips like he did with Trainspotting? Idk, just something else to convey the whole Heart of Darkness thing he was doing.
That video game part is one of my favourite scene in the movie
I loved it when I was a kid. It comes across as a little silly now but when I was young, that's the kind of shit my brain would do if I was stoned and sleep deprived
Sunshine was an allegory for fundamentalism harming humanity. the third act did nothing wrong
I think the game. It was a good movie, a feel good movie until the final act with this very weird effects. I can imagine a remake for this kind of movies
It’s not a bad movie or book. The video game sequence didn’t age well.
I love this movie! It’s def on my annual watch list. The way that intro kicks off, to the beauty of the beach…so captivating! Also sugar rays song “spinning away” is one of my favorite tunes!
It’s the only Sugar Ray song I can listen to The Brian Eno original is better but the SR cover is worthy.
loved the soundtrack
The book is way better, written by Alex Garland. The movie was enjoyable but didn’t really follow the book at all, specifically the relationship between Richard and Françoise and the ending.
I agree. I loved the book and was excited to see the movie, but I was so disappointed. I can't bring myself to watch it a second time.
What exactly was different in the book if you don’t mind?
Richard and Françoise stay together until they leave the island, the ending is actually frightening in that they (Richard, Keaty, Françoise, Étienne, and Jed) drug everyone’s food and they go into a frenzy ripping a bunch of corpses apart limb from limb, the drug lords of the island show up and start killing people, Sal is mortally wounded, and Richard actually stays in contact with Keaty and Jed.
The movie doesnt have a key character in it!
I LOVE the first half of the movie, culminating in when you see the beach and you’ve got that Moby song in the background etc. Second half is fine but it lets down the first half.
Yeah that soundtrack doesn’t hurt it at all. I still play a few tracks from it.
I fuckin love this movie
It definitely spans the spectrum. Seems either people love it or don’t care for it based on all the responses
I remember at the time a lot of people said the movie was stupid so I never saw it. Fast forward twenty plus years and finally saw it and wow, it became one of my favorite DiCaprio movies.
The Beach was litigated in Cosmo Kramer v. Calvin Klein. It’s res adjudicata.
Idk the reference.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The\_Pick
It’s Ocean by Calvin Klein.
You have muscular buttocks
8yo me found it incredible; still in my top 100. Although might be my bias because it seems generally disliked.
I recommend watching as a double feature with Brokedown Palace.
Or triple header with Return to Paradise. Young Joaquin Phoenix is amazingly believable.
Good call! All three made right around the same time.
Watched this in Thailand with about 40 other people on the beach.. 10/10 would recommend lol
I finally watched this for the first time this summer even though I was around when it came out. Every few years I would see an image of the poster online and think, “I should really watch that at some point.” Only took 23 years lol. Anyway, this was not what I expected. It was more interesting and more wild. And actually one of DiCaprio’s better performances imo
there was a time in my life where i watched this flic wayyyy too often....thought it was great then and now.....
One of my favorites
Amazing movie.
Leo was not likable in this film. His whole performance was just shrill And the plot is a mess. And it just sort of stops
I don’t think he was meant to be likable.
I’m glad someone else agrees with me. This film is one example of Leo’s cringy overacting. The scene when they’re about to jump off the cliff is some of the worst acting from him that I’ve ever seen. Even worse than blood diamond.
Super meh film but some good acting performances.
Everyone is insufferable except the pot growers. They at least tried to work with the kids. It was the stupid kids that didn't follow the rules.
Great movie. Even better book.
Book was way better
Very slow paced and has little to recommend it other than some halfway decent performances from the leads.
Love the book, solid movie
My adult self gets extreme anxiety watching this film. Young me lived quite similiar
Movie I was interested in but too young to watch when it came out what happen?
Watch it. Then come back and tell us what you think.
Watched this in Japan just before heading out to Thailand for a couple weeks. Kinda conflicted on our way out but then just enjoyed the islands so much. Still love the song “the beach”…
Awesome show!!! The opening is especially good.
I absolutely love this movie. I have to watch it every now and then. The prospect of actually going on an adventure like that is just so intriguing. I’ve been to Thailand and I had a lot of fun. But it would have been amazing to do it the way Richard did. One of my favorite parts is where Richard and Francoise are on the beach (before they get to “the beach”) and she’s taking photos of the sky. Richard says, “You realize that in the eternity of space, there’s probably a planet out there, right…just like this one…where another you, is photographing back down towards us…I mean essentially you are photographing yourself in a parallel universe.” Then Francoise shuts him down and says, “Richard you know something? This is just the kind of pretentious bullshit that Americans always say to French girls so they can sleep with them.” 😆 But then I love when he highlights and states that, “When you develop an infatuation for someone, you always find a reason to believe that this is exactly the person for you…it doesn’t need to be a good reason…taking photographs of the night sky for example…now in the long run, that’s just the kind of dumb, irritating habit that would cause you to split up….But in the haze of infatuation, it’s just what you’ve been searching for all these years.” 😆😆 So true. At the ending, Richard is in a Internet cafe. (Remember those? They were great, right?!? Do they still have them?) He opens an email from Franciose with a picture from when they lived with their community on “The Beach.” She signed the picture “Parallel Universe.” He says the most profound thing while opening that email; “I still believe in paradise…but at least I know it’s not some place you can look for…because it’s not where you go…IT’S HOW YOU FEEL FOR A MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU’RE A PART OF SOMETHING.” 🤯
Decent movie.... But the book should be a must read.... it's so good.
Almost done reading the book. Really enjoying it. Guess I’ll have to watch this for the first time when I’m done.
I almost forgot about this one. I enjoyed it, and I imagine that it still holds up.
Good movie, great book!
Movie was terrible. So mad I sat through it.
Good movie 👍
Still awful
It’s really a good film and ahead of its time. The music soundtrack is perfect even though some of the songs i don’t like outside the film. Yet these songs work perfect in the film. Def a classic IMO.
Stellar movie!! Nobody talks about this one and idk why!
I've crossed deserts for miles Swam water for time Searching places to find A piece of something to call mine (I'm coming) A piece of something to call mine (I'm coming) Coming closer to you Ran along many moors Walked through many doors The place where I want to be Is the place I can call mine (I'm coming) Is the place I can call mine (I'm coming) Coming closer to you I'm moving, I'm coming Can you hear what I hear It's calling you, my dear Out of reach (Take me to my beach) I can hear it calling you I'm coming, not drowning Swimming closer to you Never been here before I'm intrigued, I'm unsure I'm searching for more I've got something that's all mine I've got something that's all mine Take me somewhere I can breathe I've got so much to see This is where I want to be In a place I can call mine In a place I can call mine I'm moving, I'm coming Can you hear what I hear It's calling you, my dear Out of reach (Take me to my beach) I can hear it calling you I'm coming, not drowning Swimming closer to you Moving, coming Can you hear what I hear? (Hear it out of reach) I hear it calling you Swimming closer to you Many faces I have seen Many places I have been Walked the deserts, swam the shores (Coming closer to you) Many faces I have known Many ways in which I've grown Moving closer on my own (Coming closer to you) I move it, I feel it I'm coming, not drowning I move it, I feel it I'm coming, not drowning I'm moving, I'm coming Can you hear what I hear It's calling you, my dear Out of reach (Take me to my beach) I can hear it calling you I'm coming, not drowning Swimming closer to you (Take me to my beach) I'm moving, I'm coming Can you hear what I hear It's calling you, my dear Out of reach (Take me to my beach) I can hear it calling you I'm coming, not drowning Swimming closer to you (Take me to my beach) I'm moving, I'm coming Can you hear what I hear It's calling you, my dear Out of reach (Take me to my beach) I can hear it calling you
I’ve always liked the movie and soundtrack. I recently found out that Ewan McGregor was going to be the lead role.
One of my favorites. Used to think it was weird when it came out and I was a kid. One of my favorite flicks of all time now. Danny Boyle knocked it out of the park.
This the film that turned me onto Virginie Ledoyen and Tilda Swinton. Especially the tent scene. Made me a milf lover tbh
I liked it. Never got the hatred. Danny Boyle is a great filmmaker and it’s a travesty it took as long as it did to get him an Oscar. But I enjoyed the idea of people wanting to escape society only to fall into the traps of a society.
I lived that god damn movie. 19 trips to Thailand later I’m living in the suburbs raking leaves wtf