I'm the first to admit when Madonna is bad in a film & she has released some stinkers (Shanghai Surprise) but this is far from her worst and there have been many, more commercially and critically accomplished actresses who've turned out worse films. Swept Away was passable and has some funny and touching moments. The problem is it's Madonna and most people come to a Madonna movie with pre-conceived notions that render them incapable of being objective.

I missed this movie during its release. Never heard of it until just now, 14 years later. Watched it on a retro channel on a Sunday afternoon.I never write reviews on movies, products, anything. But I have to say, after visiting the IMDb site to follow-up with some of the details, I am surprised at the low ratings and negative reviews. Thus, I speak.I enjoyed this movie from beginning to end. I wonder what was different in my viewing and assessment than those of the harsh reviews that were written over a decade ago. I think it may have to do with the tension and emotional wounds so wide-spread during that time. People really did have a need to throw punches at almost anything and everything during those days.It thought Madonna was definitely the highlight. I enjoyed both actors, but she looked good and played the role exceptionally well. Her age was a factor in the script.I remember seeing her volunteering to sing for a relief benefit subsequent to the Sri Lanka disaster. If I remember correctly, that was a couple of years after Swept Away was released. I had not seen much of her since the 80's and 90's (back in the MTV funnel breasts video days, which I thought was cute), but whenever I saw her sing for that benefit I was so very impressed. She looked and sounded greater than ever. That's the way I saw her in the movie.There are some people whose looks and skills continually progress without climax. Madonna is one of those.

I saw the original 1974 Italian "Swept Away" movie when I was a teenager. Though my normal movie tastes at the time were for schlocky B movies, I have to admit that the movie made a big impression on me that stuck for years afterwards. When they announced this remake, I made plans to NOT watch it, considering how bad most remakes are and the fact that Madonna was going to star in it.But recently, this remake played on TV, and I decided to record and watch it, since I would not have to pay to see it. I just finished watching it a few minutes ago. What did I think? Well, I'll give the remake this: It's a good LOOKING movie. Colors are bright and vibrant thanks to the professional photography. And I will say that the acting on display is acceptable; even Madonna gives an okay performance.But ultimately, the movie fails in its intentions. There are some annoying montage/music video like segments that when they pop up really seem out of place for what should be a story about a close examination of two very different people. Another problem is that while the movie is about 25 percent shorter than the original, it feels a lot more drawn out than the original. The biggest problem with this remake is that it is lacking the original's bite. It feels for the most part very soft and bland when the original was angrier and more biting.In short, this is yet another unnecessary and unsuccessful remake. Even if you are a youth that turns your nose towards art and foreign movies, I would strongly suggest you all the same seek out the original Italian movie instead of this Hollywood remake.

This movie is a brilliant and rare story about true love and I treasured the gift of its message. I thought about it for days afterwards and it made me feel really good as I fully understood it. Madonna was brilliant. I feel people are bagging her because they are too busy thinking about the way it is shot instead of the message and what it delivers that is much deeper than the obvious and you have to watch the whole movie to see the whole message. It's not about lust or glamor, it is about true love. It could be classed as a B grade movie in some respects but only until you get into the story. The story is filled with wholehearted truth and ultimately the decision of a lifetime. It is about the choices we make in life that bring heaven or hell no matter how much money we have. The message expresses the reason we are on this earth. I loved it, it's full of strength and courage. It brought a gift to me and I recommend it to people. A rare watch and a movie for inspiration, that involves the heart and soul to work out. The way they portray this story works well with Madonna's energy and her persona, I had respect for her after this movie as it would be very difficult to play this role and it must different to the way she is a musician so i say congratulations to her. She would have worked hard. She was vulnerable and she was in the story, it was her, not Madonna as she is on stage and that worked. It is no surprise that this is not a popular movie because it is not common. A rare find, highly recommended to people who are interested in the core of the human being that needs nature to awaken the true instincts and deepest heart's desires. If you are deep and you love stories that stir the core of your being this is a blessing in disguise. Give it a chance 10 for the story.