Always when you see a movie, you transition into it to soak in everything that the writers, directors, actors, artists, etc., have been produced into this work specifically designed to get a message (or several), out to the audiences in whatever ways that they can, am I right?
How often do you feel that a movie is speaking to you in parts? This one did, as did the last one.
The only thing is that they introduced Richard Gere as a new character. Sometimes he’s good, other times, he’s mediocre. OK, compared to the rest of the crew, he was kind of dull, and a bit formulaic, but he didn’t detract, exactly… it was just not his best part. Maybe someone like Kevin Costner, or Alan Rickman, or even Geoffrey Rush would have been a better fit. Kevin Costner for his “American boyish” aspect… Rickman for his smoky, sexy, subtly devious nature… and Geoffrey Rush for the unlikeliness to be romantic being romantic… But anyway, it was what it was. Gere is no longer aside Julia Roberts. It wasn’t that type of role.
I liked the movie. There was that tension needed to carry you slightly on edge through the scenes. There was gorgeous color and excitement, surprise, romance, and there were a lot of “lessons”, salt and peppered throughout. One senses that there will be a third, as there were those unresolved open situations…
It did make me want to travel to that spot, but with prior proper planning! It surely would be an adventure!