This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

a beautiful touching film. for the exploration of nuances. for the impressive images. for the story who mix different slices of life. for courage because it is picture of a cruel system. for the love story who is more complex than only feelings or emotions. for the high performances of actors. and for the taste after its end. a film about the clash of a young man and rules of an empire. and the discover of a world and the sins of his empire. right tone, delicate trip. and the transformation as result of knowledge of new universe real sense. a cruel and seductive movie. useful for remember the past. necessary for rediscover the poetry of small basic things and events.

Yes, it's true that it was Jessica Alba who leads me to this movie, because without her, I should have never pick it.But, I find it long, dull and above all, unoriginal. All along, I thought that the story was full of clichés and the directing very boring. So it was a surprise to see that the director and writer are the one and same person. I take notice to remember to avoid all his next movies.It's a pity because all good things were at hand: Malaysia is a beautiful jungle, it was the British Empire and the cast is wonderful: Jessica knows how to open her soul and for one time, she has found an appropriate movie for this. Bob Hoskins shows a great experience and he should have won an award for this role.The only positive thing is that it makes me open a world-map to locate this island because if you guess it happens in south Asia, you don't know where exactly! Ah, the little plane flight with red lines in the Indiana Jones movie!!!

I just recently watched this movie on IFC. And was pleasantly surprise when i first started watching it. But as it progressed, it just boggles me at the execution of it.Firstly, commendable performance from Jessica Alba. I am from Singapore, and the setting is close to my heart. For an American, she has definitely convinced me that she was local. Her accent is shaky, but then again, what's the right accent? But i think she played the role well. The other actors however, feels pretty flat. No ups no downs.Secondly, for the genre and the setting, this movie can be so much more. The script is very flat, the highs are not high enough, and the lows are not gripping enough. I do not feel for the characters, and I do not care for what this young British is going through.Thirdly, I couldn't tell that this takes place in the Malayan archipelago until I was told so in the movie. It just seems so contrive, for the lack of a better word. I should be angry, I should feel sad, I should feel that this is the most unfair world to live in. Yet... All i could see is, Jessica Alba doing a great job.I wish someone would re-write this screenplay, and add to this story, take away the crap that is completely unnecessary and make this as magical as it potentially could be.

At first i got it of me friend and both watched it because Jessica Alba is in it but. It was really good and would watch it again, its a really good story line. Also the actors and actresses are really good as well. Id say this movie is a ten out of ten. And would recommend it to anyone who likes a romantic movie and it also attracts people who don't really like romantic movie as well. Its a good movie that makes you want to watch it again nd again and u cant stop watching it. And if your a Jesica Alba fan then you'll like this movie as shes in it all the way through and plays her character very well as usual. She brings her character to life and you really start to believe in her character and the story line and whats going on.