Legends of the Fall

The latest offering from Edward Zwick, the director of "Glory," is the kind of movie that doesn't require much effort to surrender to and enjoy.

Director Zwick orchestrates everything with welcome gusto, and though the result is not as meaningful as it would have you believe, it is undeniably pleasant to have this kind of production to kick around. [23 Dec 1994]

In all, Legends Of The Fall is a grand bore, more laughable than stirring. So big everything becomes blurry and distant, so beautiful it could be ad for male hair products.

The camerawork, which relies heavily on shots of picture-perfect vistas and not enough on human beings and their place in this world. When we do see the characters, we primarily see their beauty.

Legends of the Fall never makes you think too hard; its woes-of-a-proud-family formula takes a back seat to a self-conscious visual style that strains toward the level of myth.

The narrative line itself rambles increasingly down a path toward tawdry melodrama, defeating the impact of the handsome visuals and finely etched performances. [13 Jan 1995]

Nobody fares well in this movie about sibling rivalry, doomed love and fringed suede. [05 Jan 1995]

Amazing storyline... I did felt inspired, brave, angry and hopeful until the end!!! Critics are idiots.. none of them have a valid argument to mark it low but they do it anyway.

The music is good and the film has some strong scenes but the story is fairly weak.

This film tells the story of the lives of Colonel Ludlow and his three children (Alfred, Samuel and Tristan) in the prairies. Marked by passions and conflicts, their lives are intertwined with one women for whom the three brothers fall in love (although they don't engage her at the same time, obviously). The film was thought of as a romantic drama of epic proportions and the script, in fact, exaggerates in sentimental appeals in addition to being overly ambitious. The use of big landscape plans, despite being a very attractive cinematography feature and giving the film a more accentuated elegance and beauty, further reinforces this addictive and almost senseless sentimentality, that permeates the entire film, not to mention the soundtrack. The soundtrack is beautiful, but it was used as a permanent romantic leitmotiv and it ends up wearing it and wearing down the public as well. Edward Zwick may now be famous but, when he directed this film, he had no experience with filmmaking, having limited himself to making some mild comedy movies for TV market. This inexperience and willingness to show off in the cinema are probably the origin of such a great film, so epic, so dramatic and so unbearably mushy. I must even mention the quality work developed by Anthony Hopkins (a veteran who shines in the role of the old colonel, as expected) and Brad Pitt, who performs regularly in the role of Tristan, the rebellious son, even if the latter actor cannot survive the wave of sentimentality and have his character transformed into a out-of-time romantic hero, eternally in conflict with the world around him. Either way, it's a watchable movie, especially for couples on Valentine's Day or on similar moments.

People who say that this s one of the best movies of all time should seriously get their brains checked. Its not often when i agree with the critics, but i can't deny that this movie was decent and selfish.

A stunning film with great scenes and great peformances but a film that tries too hard. Over-the-top drama that doesn't make sense and is too long. Ultimately a film to avoid even those who are a fan of the genre.