The opening sequence is gut-wrenching when Yankees and the Confederates fight in a blood-shattering battle. The shy Inman is a worksman who lives in Cold Mountain, and has a mad crush on the rich Ada Monroe. What he doesn't know is that so does she. Right before going off to fight in the War, Inman gives Ada a farewell kiss, and so the love birds start singing.
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Through the letters she sends him, he is determined to return to Cold Mountain, and see her again. Meanwhile, Ada's father has died and she has to take care of the farm herself. An woman called Ruby then comes teaches Ada how to take care of farms, and animals. Ada and Ruby then start to bond and become good friends. Inman on the other is having trouble getting home. Along the way he meets a not-so-smart reverend, and an over-protective widow, while also getting in trouble with some Yankees. Cold Mountain has it's many moments, but is too violent for my tastes. The screenplay falls behind a lot, and it is required for the actors to save the feature. Renee Zellweger and Philip Seymour Hoffman add some comic relief, Natalie Portman gives a nice role that has nothing to do with Star Wars, while Jude Law gives an Adrien Brody-type performance.
The review of this Movie prepared by Estefan Ellison
Shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War, the tiny community of Cold Mountain, North Carolina, welcomes the Reverend Monroe (Sutherland) and his beautiful daughter Ada (Kidman). She and taciturn laborer Inman (Law) catch each other's eye and manage one long kiss before he heads out with the rest of the young men to war for the Confederacy. By the Battle of Petersburg in July 1864, Inman's had enough, and he deserts the Southern Army to make the long walk home to Cold Mountain. He meets all sorts of odd folks and has many adventures on the way, while Ada struggles to keep the farm going and wait for him after her father's death. In this she is helped by a few kind neighbors and especially by Ruby Thewes (Zellweger) -- a feisty, rustic-speaking mountain girl who moves in with her. Both the women and Inman are threatened by the Home Guard, a raucous bunch of vigilantes who make it their business to hunt down deserters and return them to the front (and are not above harassing their neighbors whenever they can get away with it). Anthony Minghella, the British writer-director responsible for "The English Patient" and "The Talented Mr. Ripley," wrote and shot this 2003 epic mostly in Romania, and the result is a breathtakingly lovely and romantic tale that is rather too pretty and perfect to be a great film. It has a "chick flick" structure punctuated by regular bursts of disturbing violence, but the acting is splendid.
The review of this Movie prepared by David Loftus
Inman is off to fight in the Civil War. He leaves behind Ada who says she will wait for him. The war rages and she writes. Everyone tells her it is hopeless. Ada tries to oocupy her mind with work on her farm. She is helped by a comical handywoman named Ruby. The problem throughout the story is a local man seeking out deserters and trying to obtain the farm. Inman faces many dangers as he deserts the Army to make it back home to his love.
The review of this Movie prepared by Kristy Pastore
