Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27683 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-06-09
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 148 minutes

Amazon.co.uk
Freely adapted from Charles Frazier's beloved bestseller, Cold Mountain boasts an impeccable pedigree as a respectable American Civil War love story, offering everything you'd want from a romantic epic except a resonant emotional core. Everything in this sweeping, Odyssean journey depends on believing in the instant love that ignites during a very brief encounter between genteel, city-bred preacher's daughter Ada (Nicole Kidman) and Confederate soldier Inman (Jude Law), who deserts the battlefield to return, weary and wounded, to Ada's inherited farm in the rural town of Cold Mountain, North Carolina. In an epic (but dramatically tenuous) case of absence making hearts grow fonder, Inman endures a treacherous hike fraught with danger (and populated by supporting players including Philip Seymour Hoffman, Natalie Portman, and others) while the struggling, inexperienced Ada is aided by the high-spirited Ruby (Renée Zellweger), forming a powerful farming partnership that transforms Ada into a strong, lovelorn survivor. The film's episodic structure slightly weakens its emotional impact, and it's fairly obvious that director Anthony Minghella is striving to repeat the prestigious romanticism of his Oscar®-winning hit The English Patient. For the most part it works, especially in the dynamic performances of Zellweger and Kidman, and the explosive 1864 battle of Petersburg, Virginia, is recreated with violent, percussive intensity. Those who admired Frazier's novel may regret some of the changes made in Minghella's adaptation (the ending is particularly altered), but Cold Mountain remains a high-class example of grand, old-fashioned film-making, boosted by star power of the highest order. --Jeff Shannon

Synopsis
Directed by Anthony Minghella (The English Patient), this Civil War saga addresses romance, friendship, and the ravages of war--both in the field and on the home front. Far more than a simple love story, Minghella's film captures the horrors of war for both those fighting it, and for those left behind. Based on the Charles Frazier novel, this is a tale of hope, longing, redemption, second chances, and faith.

Ada Monroe (Nicole Kidman) is a proper lady who accompanies her preacher father (Donald Sutherland) to Cold Mountain, North Carolina. She waits for her love, W.P. Inman (Jude Law)--a sensitive man of few words--to return from war. In the process she learns basic survival skills and finds strength from no-nonsense Ruby (Renee Zellweger), a spitfire who can work the land as well as any man. Meanwhile, wounded Inman has had enough of war and killing, and is slowly working his way back to Ada despite the perils of being a Confederate deserter. Law and Kidman are genuinely touching as two virtual strangers who invest all of their faith in each other, and Zellweger is astounding as the uncultured but compassionate Ruby. Rounding out the cast is an impressive array of actors, including Brendan Gleeson, Ray Winstone, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Jack White (of the White Stripes), Kathy Baker, Giovanni Ribisi, and many others.

Customer Reviews

If you look closely
Jenna Malone (Donnie Darko) has a 5 second part as the rivers 'Ferry Tender' who "for an extra $30 will gladly pull off her dress" for some extra income...and then is shot dead as she rows. Literally a 5 second part. I didnt know it was her until the credits
Natalie Portman has a heart wrenching part of a woman despairingly alone, possibly isolated, with a sick baby, husband at war, possibly dead, and so eager for some company, male touch and affection, that she invites Inman from barn into her bed, While he obliges and recognizes her need for SOMETHING in the way of warmth, he does warn her that he loves another.
Meanwhile he saves her from the savage behavior of some wandering Union troops;
In the film-he is suddenly moving onwards again


[SPOILERS] in the deleted scenes, as things get back to normal and as Inman is skinning her hog, she walks out in shock to say that her baby is head.
Stands at a table where Inman has his clothing stacked with his pistol on top.
She seemingly innocently grabs them to take into the cabin.
A few moments later we hear a shot. Inmans face goes blank.
Here Portman should have recieved an award, as she aquitted herself well, and you felt for her the whole time-
this, this little mobsters daughter turned wanna-be killer on THE PROFESSIONAL

Jack White did surprisingly well as a young wanderer, Alabama-not a touch of rock star ego visible
All in all a Very good if not great film. Probably should have been another 15 mins longer