Please explain *spoilers*

It seems like you went into the movie with the wrong expectations. L'avventura is one of the films you have to watch at least 2 times , Antonioni's vocabulary is different than anyone else's and it may take some viewings to finally ''get'' . However, out of all things you can criticize this movie for, Cinematography is NOT one of them. Seriously, it's one of best shot films ever.

It was supposed to be sensual enough to hold your attention for like three hours of absolutely nothing, but that ship sailed during the scene where Anna and the blonde on were in the bathroom when you realize the director is too much of a puss to show us a nip.

It's not the movie's fault you had different expectations. L'avventura is not supposed to be an erotic or ''sensual'' film in the traditional sense. It's about the uncertainty of feelings , modern alienation and vacuity beetween people, in a sense . It's one of the films that is rather felt, then described into words, and that's where it's strengths lies.

I recommend doing some reading if you want to understand what L'avventura is about, and how one should approach it. Or better yet, watch the film again WITH Gene Youngblood's Criterion commentary on. It will hopefully give the film a sense of purpose and direction , and it's a great insight. Rewatches can prove to be very rewarding , especially when dealing with L'avventura and just about any Antonioni film.

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I was tempted to stop reading when you said "it had no cinematography" because that may well be the most ridiculous comment I've ever read on this board. L'avventura, whatever else one might say to criticize it (I personally think it's an absolute masterpiece, but we'll put that aside for the moment; in fact, we'll put aside any considerations of its quality altogether), has some of the best cinematography in the history of film. Anyone who knows anything at all about cinematography would tell you that.

Now, as to your other criticisms of the movie, it sounds to me like the faults you find with it are in fact faults of your own for placing undue expectations on it. L'avventura isn't intended to be "sensual enough to hold your attention," so I don't know where you got that idea, nor is Antonioni a surrealist, so the lack of "surrealist elements" isn't surprising. You also complain about the thin plot -- have you never watched and enjoyed a movie that was more about characterization, mood and/or subtext than plot? Antonioni's films are about mood, symbolism and subtext and are largely unconcerned with plot, so it's unfair to criticize the film for lacking something that's a deliberate decision by the filmmaker to de-emphasize.

What did the movie "mean?" I'm not surprised you disliked it so intensely if you watched it for 2 hours and 20 minutes and didn't pick up on the themes on display at all. Put succinctly, it's about people whose lives have lost meaning to the point where they've all but disappeared (or, in Anna's case, have literally disappeared); they lack the capacity to love, their jobs (in Sandro's case) are fulfilling only in the sense that they've provided them with wealth but the wealth hasn't filled the void (see the conversation Sandro has with Claudia about the buildings he helps design) nor has anything the wealth has given them the ability to do. There is plenty of societal meaning in a film exploring these issues; it's a pity that you didn't pick up on them and instead chose to blame the film for failing to be what you wanted it to be (which was what, exactly? Some sort of tit-filled sex romp?).

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You're kind on the right track, I'd say, towards the end of your post. ;-)
A lot of valid questions, few answers. Maybe you are spoiled a bit by movies that provide questions and answers for about all those?

There was no chance in 1960 to show a nipple. Though if this is what you wanted to see, I don't see any supply shortage.
However, movies like this one are rare gems. Notice the cinematography, sounds, perspectives. There is not a minute of boredom observing how everything unfolds.

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