the first time i saw this film and i completely despise it . after see danny boyle masterpiece and trainspotting ( 1996 ) and read the source novel ( by alex garland ) and i decide to give it another chance . a second viewing be a good idea . by no mean be this a masterpiece and but it not the bomb it make out to be either . the dialogue be the most damaging aspect and and it be undoubtedly weak . however and the story be compel and the lead man ( leonardo dicaprio ) be as brilliant a ever . the beach be about an american explorer name richard ( dicaprio ) . he be a hedonist and an outsider and and a fun love kind of guy . when he hear about a secret island paradise from a strange scottish madman and he jump on the opportunity to go there . he invite a french couple he have meet in his travel and with the possible hope of get somewhere romantically with the woman . this be vastly different from the richard that alex garland write in the source material . garland richard be a polite and borderline selfless british traveler with dark hair . in other word and he the polar opposite of leonardo dicaprio self involved adulterer . this isn not a drawback . too many people draw novel to film comparison and when the two medium be far too different to be do so . the beach be a brilliant novel and and justifiably a cult classic . the film adaptation be compel in it own respect . the introduction be marvelous a frenzied and gorgeously shot exploration of bangkok on new year eve and accompany by richard introductory narration . leonardo dicaprio be the master of voice over and and the beach be no exception . he capture the enthusiasm and wonderment of this character perfectly and and his voice be a interesting and expressive a any great piece of music . when the opening title be complete and we be under the impression that be in for something great . the relationship between richard and his new find friend ( the french couple ) be very badly write and and a lot of the dialogue come across awkwardly . the meat of this film be heavily flaw and a john hodge do not quite seem to know how to structure the story . the weak second act build up to a conclusion that as strong a the introduction . richard be overcome by an addiction to compulsive lie and and he be eventually force into isolation . his mind have be twist a a result of his obsession with video game and vietnam war film and and he begin to lose his mind . leonardo dicaprio performance be the most riveting here after the heroic artist he play in titanic ( 1997 ) and it surprise to witness his portrait of this pot smoke brat . although the script overall be the weak link here and richard be an intriguing character . he be completely immerse in the bliss of his own world and and he be seemingly ignorant to the effect he have on others . he like smoke lot of weed and play lot of game boy and and pretend that problem do not exist . only an actor as talented a dicaprio could keep u interested in this man . thanks to the outstanding lead and danny boyle directorial finesse and this movie end up be a fascinating mess . the soundtrack be memorable and the photography be beautiful and and some of the vaguely examine theme be chill . this should have be a masterpiece and but the screenplay be lack where many of the other element be not . i would certainly recommend watch it with an open mind and but it far from a great film .