How wonderful it is to see this fine actress carry a film and carry it so beautifully.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

i am shocked that the average star rating for this movie is 7! this movie tops my list of the worst movies ever made, which by the way only consists of 3. i do have lists of ridiculous and total wastes of time; but this movie tops them all.i tell people, you don't have to watch it, just read the title, look it up in the dictionary. i was shocked at the ending, but then again, i really wasn't... meaning, Really?, did i just waste my time watching that when i could have just skimmed the synopsis and read the title about a thousand times. i saw this in the theater, really wanted to walk out, but out of respect for the person who took me, i unfortunately stayed.i was appalled then, and i am appalled now to see how many people actually liked this film. i don't know what else to say...

John Sayles, one of the founders of American independent cinema, gives a terrific and engrossing story every time he makes a film. After seeing his take on the small-town Texas persona in Lonestar, I was prepared to see Limbo. I was not prepared for how it would affect me.This is, quite simply, a masterful work of cinema and narrative. Unlike most directors, Sayles is brilliant and relentless in his purpose. He takes his time to set up the plot, diving right into the strange, shapeless lives of a group of fishermen and natives in Port Henry, Alaska. Everyone in town is forced to reminisce in one way or another. The town is suffering financially, and the way Sayles has his camera almost sneak up and hide behind characters in order to listen to what the locals are saying is genius.Of course, typical Sayles, the plot is almost completely unpredictable. It begins, like Lonestar, as a detailed look into the lives of a small Alaskan fishing town with the lonely, drifting lives of the inhabitants taking front stage. Then, midway the plot completely shifts gears and we get a tale of man vs. nature, the elements that threaten to destroy and overtake the fighting spirit of people. It is here that the cast truly shines. David Straitharin, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Vanessa Martinez are equally fantastic in their respective, so much so that it is impossible to imagine any other actor playing any of these parts. Sayles is masterful at casting and he proves that here unlike anything else he has done. The final third of the film rests heavily on the relationship between these three characters, so it is crucial that they relate well together and be believable. I couldn't ask for three better performances.In the end, this film is completely stamped with the unique style of John Sayles. Because he is so unpredictable, it is a truly satisfying feeling after seeing one of his films. You feel, not jilted and tricked like most films do, but happy and understanding what and why things happened. This is certainly a film I will be thinking about for awhile after seeing it and I can only hope that filmmakers like Sayles will continue to stick around. After all, these are the kind of films that need to be continued. It has soul, personality and a quality that can teach and inspire. A truly great film.

The first half of "Limbo" has strong character development. Unfortunately only a small number of those characters have any bearing on the remainder of the film. For example, the culture clash between the Alaskans and the tourist industry, was totally gratuitous. There is also an inordinate amount of small talk that leads nowhere. All of this could be forgiven, if once the story kicks into gear, with the mother, daughter, and David Strathairn stranded on a remote island, something happened. Unfortunately the second half in the wild, is tedious and boring. I recommend fast forwarding every time the daughter picks up the diary. All the fine acting, and beautiful scenery, cannot hide the fact that this movie is way too long for such slight material, and the conjectural ending is totally unacceptable. - MERK

This is a movie that does not let you know where it is going, but you enjoy the entire trip. I am unfamiliar with the director, John Sayles, and the male lead, David Strathairn, is one of those actors you will recognize.... from somewhere, but perhaps not recall where. He and the female lead, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, were superb, as were Vanessa Martinez, playing Mastrantonio's daughter, and Kris Kristopherson does well as ambigous figure you don't know whether to like or loathe.The characters presented are all real, all believable, all well defined, yet none defined easily as stereotyped cardboard cutouts.Strathairn deserved an Acadamy Award nomination for his role. After renting dozens of disappointing films it is truly satisfying to stumble on on this good. The surprise is that the film got so little backing at the time and went nowhere in the box office.