Shutter Island

Was certainly able to hold my attention.

 3

By brian

Excellent psychological thriller

 4

Excellent acting by all made for a very good movie, well worth seeing.

By Chris

The Monster Mash

 3

Shutter Island mashes together time-honoured cliches of '50s pulp and gothic thrillers with liberal doses of post-po-mo surrealism thrown in for good measure. And, for the most part, it's good fun. Hokey, hoary movie-bullsh!t, of course, but Scorsese's passion for the form makes all the difference: here's a story we've all seen before, told with flair and confidence by a man who not only knows film-making inside-out, but also appreciates the unique guilty pleasure of a big, lavish, silly studio spectacle. The production design and cinematography are fantastic (check those sets! And then just imagine lighting the b@stards!). The cast is full of reliable performers: Emily Mortimer, Ben Kingsley, Ted Levine, Mark Ruffalo, Michelle Williams... even Leonardo isn't quite as irritating as usual here. However... and it's a big however... like a lotta Hollywood glamour-jobs, this runs much longer than necessary. Specifically, it takes forever to wrap up the Surprise Ending - this is particularly annoying since we've not only guessed the twist well in advance, but we've also worked out what it means, how it happened, and who means what to whom... but still, they dramatise every piece just in case you haven't caught up. The uninitiated may require that sort of over-cautious shepherding, but any thriller-fan (or just plain movie-fan) will probably feel the same way I did: slightly patronised and a little disappointed that such a wilfully berserk concoction leads to such a pedestrian finale.

By james

Very good

 4

Loved this B-movie. Really well directed, good music, great acting. The stormy island is a perfect setting. Will be a little unusual for some multiplex junkies, but I'd recommend.

By andrew

If not for Di Caprio and Ruffalo..

 2

Brilliant actors saved this from being an average film along well known story lines. Lots of blue screen activity which were horrendously obvious - car, cliff and ship scenes - a empty glass slammed on the table seconds after an empty hand went to the mouth? Di Caprio, Ruffalo and Kingsley are too good for this film

By Aphromiss

Predictable and wooden

 2

The music...aghhhh! Then the dialogue arrived which seems to have been written for 10 year olds. After 20 minutes I'd worked out who Di Caprio's character was and from then on I was looking at my watch. Sorry but if flopped big time! Oh - and another additon to The Sixth Sense and The Others genre.

By Bruce

Very Gripping Film,But also Very Strange/Different

 3

A Very well done movie, Very Gripping, A must see movie for people that like Mystery Thrillers, Some poeple may find it predictable, or confusing, Because it is at some parts through the movie.

By FilmCritikReviewsNewZealand

Strange

 4

All of the acting was superb. Directing more than superb. Ben Kingsley has a way of endearing himself to you even when he is bad. By the way... was he a bad guy? DiCaprio was superb. I don't think his best acting talents have even been tapped into yet. By the way... was he a bad guy or did they actually turn him into a mental basket case? Like I say... STRANGE!

By Didimoe

Unique Movie - Great Cast!

 4

I really enjoyed this movie! It was a bit confusing to start with, but I soon got in to the swing of it. Great story line - a bit sad. Cast was great - special mention to Leo. He played his character superbly!

By Jade

Great Movie

 4

Not as scary as I had expected, but that's not a bad thing as I don't like scary movies lol. Just a good solid and steady story, brilliantly acted by D'Caprio.

By Mr G

Pretty Darn Cool!

 4

Scorsese, you did it again. although the end was a bit average, the start to almost finish was FANTASTIC! All in all an A ok, not a A+ ok.

By Stephen Maslin

Very well done

 4

was impressed by the book and the movie does it justice. really impressed by leo.

By kate k

You all seem so tense...

 5

Fantastic film, easy to follow as long as you relax and just watch. Done in Hitchcock style that isn't seen these days. The twists are slow a magnificent, the films plot reminiscent of a whale surfacing for air, before diving back in the watery depths. Brilliant acting from the entire cast. This is a film of subtleties. You'll be talking about it for days after. It concludes well, but still with impact. I could easily watch this again.

By Thomas

Disappointing

 2

I found the movie confusing,the music made it.
Ben Kingsley acting was very good,and reminded me of "House of Fog and Sand"The photography was good.
I doubt it is very commercial judging by the holding back of the film company in releasing of it.
Shutter Island probably be remembered as Martin Scorsese least likeable works.

By paul

Great film

 5

Not hard to follow at all. Great acting by great actors! Well thought out movie - defiantly a go see

By kath

Not like any other

I loved it, cant wait to see it again. Was not what I was expecting but I was not let down at all!

By Lee

Homage to Hitchcock

 4

Beautifully shot with a fantastic location and great actors. The trailer makes the movie seem scarier than it is, although there are a few look through the fingers moments,but overall it is more drama than a horror. And a good drama at that. Scorsese's direction is beautiful and a definite homage to Hitchcock, with the movie almost seeming to border on black and white in places, extreme camera angles and some of the most gorgeous shots you'll see. The music is a bit overpowering in places, especially at the start where it is almost comical, however once the main players arrive on the island it is hard not to get swept up in the story and characters. The story is not hard to follow at all, just go with it and enjoy some great actors deliver a great movie. Highly recommended.

By Ren

MYSTIC RIVER IT AINT

 3

IFTHE SIXTH SENSE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST IT WOULD HAVE LANDED HERE. NOT OSCAR MATERIAL BUT ENTERTAINING.

By AARON R WILLS

Superb, Well acted Scorsese masterpiece

 5

It was a very deep, well thought out story. Although based on the book of the same name, I was with friends who had read the book and said the interpretation was portrayed extremely well on screen. I fully agree with Greg, watch closely, this film definately plays with your mind if you can keep up with what is happening. Excellent lead from Di Caprio

By Shaun

 1

Shutter Island - Very unusual movie & disappointing IMHO. Hard to follow as well.

By Grant

Gripping Film

 5

It may be one of his most commercial films, but I would venture to say that it is one of his best. Brilliantly acted, very cleverly shot, had me hanging on every word. Very well crafted, watch closely. Highly recommended!

By Greg