The Beach

Cast: Leonardo Dicaprio, Robert Carlyle, Guillaume Canet, Virginie Ledoyen and Tilda Swinton.

Director: Danny Boyle

Release Date: 2000

Running Time: 1hr 59 minutes

Genre: Adventure/Thriller

Rating: 15

Synopsis:

Backpacker Richard travels to Thailand and finds himself in possession of a strange map. Rumours state that it leads to a solitary beach paradise, a tropical bliss. Excited and intrigued, he sets out to find it.

Based on the best-selling novel by Alex Garland. Director Danny Boyle takes us all the way to paradise in this magnificent film adaptation. Phi Phi Leh Island is approximately 53.9km from Phuket. A place that is now completely off limits to the public until 2021. Breathtakingly beautiful, you can't blame author Alex Garland for choosing such a tranquil location to set his story. Backpacker Richard (Dicaprio) embarks on a journey to Phuket Thailand in search of something different. Richard's wish is granted when he's handed a map to a secluded island. Paradise. Hoping for a bit of company on his trip he invites French couple Francois (Ledoyen) and Etienne (Canet) along for the ride.

As far as book adaptations goes this is relatively impressive. Beautiful, thrilling and exciting, Danny Boyle certainly made sure to capture the essence of the story. Although not as violent as the novel, audiences get an idea of how secluded Richard, Francois and Etienne are. It's haunting to believe any of us could be naive enough to follow a map to a secret location and believe it to be too good to be true. In an attempt to keep it secret, it's inhabitants will do just about anything to keep it a secret. Leonardo Dicaprio delivers a tremendous performance as backpacker Richard. Young and naive, he has no idea what is in store for him, until it is too late and he realises he must leave paradise behind.

The inhabitants of Maya Beach have been brainwashed into thinking that the outside world is trouble and something now to be forgotten. Unaware themselves of the dangers that rest upon the island. Tilda Swinton delivers a fantastic performance as camp leader Sal. Refusing to let go, Sal is too passionate to ever leave the beach. The more we see of her character, the more it beautifully unfolds. The changes that were made for the film adaptation are primarily character relationships. In some cases characters are even left out all together, this however doesn't prevent the story from being understood or enjoyed. What has led all of these people to live on a remote island. This is never answered in the film or the book, it would have been excellent to have known their backstories and what originally led them to the beach.

Set on Phi Phi Leh Island in Thailand. A closed National Park in reality that is protected by locals. Danny Boyle was incredibly lucky to get the location when he did. At the time the island was relatively unknown to the public, it has become such a problem with tourists damaging the island that it is now banned the public from entering. A decision that personally should have been made after the shooting of this film. There's no doubt that the location is breathtakingly beautiful. One of the many wonders of the world that should be left alone for it's pure beauty. The ending of the film is somewhat romantic, but it works. The novel borderlines being a horror rather than an adventure story about three backpackers stranded on a secret beach.

Danny Boyle's movies are renowned for their excellent soundtracks. Fitting for each and every scene in which a song is used, they manage to tell a story purely by themselves. Moby, Leftfield, Faithless and All Saints to name a few that allow this beautiful story to be retold on the big screen. A highly underrated movie. Excellent.

5/5 stars