For two whole hours, nothing happens in this movie. It is full of completely pseudo intellectual conversation that doesn't lead anywhere. Don't be like me and waste your time on this movie.

If there were an award category for most annoying film trilogy, my vote would go to the 'Before' series hands down. I thought that by the time Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) hit their Forties they would have matured into some semblance of a meaningful relationship, but their two hour banter between themselves and among friends on a vacation in Greece is downright excruciating. And once again, it's Celine who initiates excessive use of the 'F' word and gets in the gutter on topics ranging from her first boyfriend to Jesse's attempt to reconcile a relationship with a son from a first marriage. Jesse had it right when he squirmed over her 'can't win' question that went 'What about me would you change?'. Guys, if you want to answer correctly, you have to say 'Nothing' and stick with it no matter what. Otherwise you'll have to endure an hour of endless recrimination over everything that's occurred since the beginning of the relationship. Then again, if you answer 'Nothing', you'll be badgered into coming up with something that you'll regret in any case, and if you're not as creative as Jesse with an ability to think on your feet, you're cooked. It was with a great sense of relief when the final credits rolled because most everything I had to sit there and listen to was nailed by the Greek guy Stafanos (Panos Koronis) commenting on Jesse's idea for his next novel, and suitably describing the way I felt about this picture - "Well, I don't know..., sounds pretentious".

Because of the great reviews, I expected a profound film that delved into the emotional life of two, long-married people struggling with children, work, and life. What a mistake! Very superficial story line, where we are tortured into seeing two people bickering through the whole film without feeling connected to why they are so bitter and arguing; except that they are.How many writers do most of us know or people who have the time, money, and luxury to travel back and forth to Europe? I don't know about you, but I can't recall the last time I could afford a vacation or even a motel room for that matter. Conversations in the film are so contrived like the characters that no one can take either the characters or the lines they utter as realistic. Discussions on pop culture, politics, and feminism are discussed on the most superficial levels possible. For example, Celine hates her job, but argues about the importance of a woman having a job, because it's empowering? First of all, most women don't have that luxury; economically they are forced to work. Second, who argues that having a job that you feel exploited and hate is empowering? Gorbachev as an amazing statesman. Really? Wasn't he the charlatan who argued against the affordability of bread, destroyed the Soviet Union, and prostituted himself in Louis Vuitton commercials. If the writer had delved a little into politics beyond the superficial headlines maybe he would have known something about Gorbachev. The only likable scene in this whole film is at a banquet among friends. It is the only time you hear any meaningful or interesting banter and dialogue. Thanks of course to the writer ripping off lines from Bergman's film Private Confessions. My recommendation: don't rent this film unless you are a masochist.

The first time I watched Before Sunrise I was blown away by the movie's ability to hold my attention and to express a connection as well as it did purely through dialogue. However, the second time I watched it, the characters bothered me with their pretentiousness.This movie, I watched because I had seen the other two and although I no longer loved the two characters as I did the first time I saw it, I wanted to get some closure.I feared they wouldn't be happy in their marriage and every time I saw it in their eyes or in her reluctance to be affectionate, my heart ached. But the bluntness of this movie and how unforgiving it is is what makes it so good. I wanted to 'put it off' as much as both characters did; that is, the confrontation of their true feeling.Also, Delpy and Hawke are such brilliant, brilliant actors: they make these characters feel so real and make me love and relate to them but also hate them, in a great way. They make me pay attention to every detail of their physicality, facial expression and whatnot.I just really love this movie and its nuanced brilliance that engaged me throughout it all. I really can't wait for another sequel.