Captain Corelli's Mandolin film review

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CAPTAIN CORELLI'S MANDOLIN

Watching Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres's tale of enduring love set on the idyllic Greek island of Cephalonia (Kefalonia), I was mentally packing my passport and suitcase.

The brilliant turquoise of the Ionian sea, the unspoiled countryside, the quaint, timeless villages. In fact, I spent more time admiring the breathtaking vistas than the central romance. Which can't be a good thing.

Set in the Italian occupation of Greece during the Second World War, John Madden's handsomely photographed film focuses on the heated affair of islander Pelagia (Penelope Cruz) and jovial Italian officer Antonio Corelli (Nicolas Cage).

Pelagia is engaged to be married to fisherman Mandras (Christian Bale), who is away fighting for his country. Her relationship with the outsider ignites a scandal which consumes the entire community.

Mandras's wizened mother Drosoula (Irene Pappas) tries to nip the romance in the bud, warning Pelagia that reputation means everything. Her words fall on deaf ears.

Love flourishes under the blazing sun until the harsh realities of war crash upon the island's shores. Both lovers are faced with heartbreaking choices - personal and political - as Hitler's garrisons take charge.

Despite the soaring temperatures on Cephalonia, Cage and Cruz barely smoulder as the lovers. They stare lovingly at one another, but there's no obvious sexual charge there. Their all-consuming, momentous romance becomes little more than a holiday fling.

Cage plies the charm as the eponymous officer, plucking his mandolin and Pelagia's heart-strings with confidence, and Cruz looks ravishing in a succession of summer frocks.

Hurt impresses as Pelagia's father, who narrates the unfolding drama, and Morrissey is effective in a supporting role as a double-crossing German captain.

Action sequences, particularly the German invasion and an unexpected interruption by Mother Nature, are stylishly directed by Madden, who is most famous for Shakespeare In Love. However, when it matters most, the sexual chemistry between the attractive leads lets him down. Badly.