2001, 2 hrs 10 min., Rated R for some violence, sexuality and language.�Dir: John Madden. Cast: Nicolas Cage (Captain Antonio Corelli), Pen�lope Cruz (Pelagia), John Hurt (Dr. Iannis/Pelagia's father), Christian Bale (Mandras), Irene Papas (Mandras' mother), David Morrissey (German Captain Weber).

Yeah, yeah, so this movie came out two months ago, and there are a lot of other films out there that are newer and reviewable. I was in the mood for a WWII flick, okay? I thought you'd understand.

Captain Corelli's Mandolin wants to be an epic, but doesn't achieve its goal. Try as I might, I just keep harking back to the accents of the actors, those who are supposed to be Italian (Nic Cage) and those who are supposedly Greek (Penelope Cruz), few of which seem to even know three words of the native tongue, let alone speak the same way. Cage is the worst offender, as he sounds more like Matt LeBlanc on "Friends" trying to sound Italian, i.e. horribly.

Other than this, the setting is beautiful, the plot more than worthy and it only drags in little portions. Not an entirely bad rental, but not my first recommendation.

PLOT: Set on the island of Cephallonia, Greece, during World War II, Nic Cage is a Captain in the conquering Italian Army who is smitten with Cruz. Googly eyes, culture shock and war stuff ensues.

Mandolin is directed by John Madden, who undoubtedly had his big bus instead of a trailer and ate at Outback Steakhouse every night. Oh, not THAT Madden? Then it must be the same guy who directed that little fling flick you might remember from a couple of years ago. Something about the Bard, Shakespeare in Love it might be referred to in your home. You know, the film that stole Best Picture from rightful owner Saving Private Ryan. But I won't hold that against Madden.

Apparently they were trying to keep the movie real to history and culture, since during Cruz's fine - but brief - love scene with Cage, you couldn't help but notice her unshaven arm pits. Very distracting from the nudity. I'd think a good football guy like Madden, wouldn't let that happen for us Guy guys. And for the most part he did help us guys out, with shots on the beach and surf of the Italian women frolicking nekkid. But that's not important now. It was then, though. Really, it was necessary for the advancement of the plot. Seriously. Fine, don't believe me.

Back to the meat of the review: Oop, that's it, nothing else to say. Decent film, but nothing to fly to Greece to see. Fly to Greece to hang out on the island, though. Picturesque doesn't even begin to describe it.

The verdict:

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