Thanks for the memories!

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Good, but not great. Interesting story of survival, but it's not that original. There had been numerous WW2 POW / survival-through-unbearable-hardship movies before this, and this isn't that different from those. Plus, writer-director Bruce Beresford pulls his punches with regard to Japanese atrocities in WW2 - the reality was a lot worse than the movie makes out. Emotional and interesting nevertheless.Good cast - Glenn Close, Frances McDormand, Cate Blanchett, Julianna Margulies, among others - and they all give solid performances.

This is as great as almost any movie I have seen. I cannot imagine why it is not more known. There was not a single false note. The performances were totally right. The photography is beautiful.One reviewer gave the details of the actual historic event. And the Japanese in this movie are not as cruel. So I am guessing - this movie is meant to be healing. Toward the end there is an exchange between Glen Close and "Daisy/Margaret" - Margaret says "I can't bring myself to hate people. The worse they act - the more sorry for them I feel"In the end - it is forgiveness and redemption (not hatred) that are the message. The amazing strength of the human spirit to transcend.

I just watched this film while flipping channels late night. I was very very impressed. The acting was great, the story was gripping, and I was drawn into the world of these women. I am not very familiar with Japanese culture, so I have no comment on the portrayal of the Japanese in the film. However, I did appreciate the realistic portrayal of various people within the groups in the film. Some were certainly wicked people, and some were certainly holy people, but I found that the film did a great job of imitating real life, where the vast majority of people are average folks who want to be and do good. I was moved to tears at times, and laughter as well. I give this film two massive thumbs up!

One of the most bittersweet moments in film is when a vehicle meant to show off a fading but well established star becomes an unintentional tribute to a scorching young talent who arrives out of nowhere. PARADISE ROAD was meant to be a vehicle for Glenn Close, but when you watch it today it's only Cate Blanchett who really shines. Her character is meant to be quite minor -- the Australian farm girl who is punished by the Japanese for speaking out. The problem is, the camera catches all this beauty and strength and wit and resourcefulness in a girl who is only meant to be briefly interesting. Cate stops the film dead every time she is on the screen! The film is okay, but it would have been more interesting if one of the Japanese officers could have seduced Cate Blanchett and made her his mistress. Instead of having a punishment scene when Cate makes fun of the Japanese flag, I pictured her having to apologize personally to the commander, perhaps over a cup of tea. The thrill of having a real cup of tea after months of misery would be great to see on the face of Cate Blanchett. And of course her face could show suspicion and doubt and pleasure all at the same time -- Cate Blanchett is very talented. But her face would be showing her weakness for the pleasures she's missed, and soon she would be taking hot baths and wearing silk kimonos and slinking around the commander's hut like a real Australian geisha! That would be a lot more exciting than watching Glenn Close make like Mary Poppins for two hours. Or listening to Frances McDormand do a silly "German" accent. She sounds like Roseanne Barr doing Bela Lugosi! PARADISE ROAD is a so-so movie over all, but Cate Blanchett is thrilling even in her first film role.