I will get it right out in the open. I am not a fan of romance movies. I went into Cold Mountain expecting a Civil War/Drama. It turned out that it was really a romance film. It has one repulsive battle scene in the begining. From this standpoint it is more successful than a film like Saving Private Ryan. In that film, we are desensatized to the violence. But in Cold Mountain, the director succeeds in conveying a genuine disgust for war. Realistic or not, the cruelity inflicted on the charactors causing horrible screams and moans, working effectivly as being disturbing. The music was excellant. But overall, it seemed like the movie was bogged down in it's pretentions and dull. Not a bad movie, but women and older men are more likely to enjoy than teenagers. It is a romance movie, so go in expecting that.