Wow, this is a REALLY bad movie!

Purely Joyful Movie!

Good concept, poorly executed.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

This is a very enjoyable and involving movie. While the film borrows heavily from the "Return of Martin Guerre" it is entertaining enough to stand on its own, and introduces some new twists to the original story. The mystery of the Jack Sommersby character builds gradually throughout the film, and the role is ably performed by Richard Gere (who was also a producer on the film), and is brilliantly supported by Jodie Foster – in fact these two performances dominate in the film, and help keep the audience interested throughout the story. The trial at the film's climax is someone theatrical and corny, and was the films only weak point - however the film does build to a emotionally satisfying climax and coda.The film is put together with real polish, and Jon Amiel's direction is strong, Phillipe Rousselot's photography is excellent, Bruno Rubeo's production design is impressive and Danny Elfman's score absolutely spot on. In summary this film is an effective mystery rolled into a slightly corny but enjoyable and entertaining romantic drama.

Decent storyline, terribly directed. Not to mention, completely historically inaccurate. A BLACK JUDGE JUST 1 YEAR AFTER THE WAR? Who are they kidding? Im not sure when the 1st black judge was enacted but I assure you it was at least 70 years after the war. Gimmie a break! Sometimes Hollywood doesn't know when to stop re-writing history just to get a rise out of us. This movie set up real nice but fell flat on its face. From the comments I've seen here from people who like the movie (and even some that don't), you will probably like this movie if you have no clue about Civil War history, Reconstruction or the reasons it was fought. Jodie Foster is great as usual The Kid was just pathetic!

American remake of 1982's "Le Retour de Martin Guerre" has post-Civil War era woman in Tennessee greeted by her soldier husband, missing for six years; he gets a hero's welcome from the townspeople and rallies many of them to invest in growing tobacco on his land, yet his wife and her ex-fiancé (and the family pooch!) know something about this man they are hesitant to share. Gauzy, initially perplexing period drama with very modern leads Richard Gere and Jodie Foster curiously placed within this scenario (both give solid performances, though they aren't exceptionally convincing in Civil War dress). It does improve after a stilted start, and all might be forgiven if the last act had some punch, but a murder rap and a courtroom showdown turns Gere's character into a misty-eyed martyr, and director Jon Amiel doggedly steers the film toward a disastrously unsatisfying climax. **1/2 from ****

This is an okay film romance set in the South just after the Civil War. A husband returns from the war but he doesn't seem "right"--he looks a tiny bit different and acts too nice to be the same man. Eventually, this all comes to a head in a confrontation that might lead to the man's incarceration or execution. The sad thing is, his wife prefers this new man and would rather have him than the man who left for the war.Technically, this is a pretty good film but certainly not a great film. The problem I have with it, though, is that this is a remake of the French film THE RETURN OF MARTIN GUERRE--a TRUE account of a story like SOMMERSBY that occurred several hundred years ago. This Gérard Depardieu film is better acted and written, but also less "glossy". I recommend that if the story sounds interesting, why not just see the original since it is the better film.