In a message dated 99-07-17 21:42:19 EDT, you write: << He builds and builds upon things that aren't strictly necessary to the plot, and you end up with a movie that is forty minutes longer than need be. >> I found the "building" quite important in this film. There was so much foreshadowing and each scene became equally relevant as conclusion drew near. I am still taking pieces of it and putting them together with others that I didn't even notice fitting until pondering it a day later. This is what determined my masterpiece rating, along with the breathtaking cinematography. ~Valerie