The main problem with this is the slow pace and the lack of emotional dynamics from the main actor.

His facial expressions did not change much. Alternatively he might be talented but was just poorly directed here. My main problem: I could not even tell if he was clever or stupid - we are not given enough information about his personality. We need to know more, to know him, and empathize. I felt nothing much for him as a blank face is just not enough for me to invest my emotions into and then connect with a character. Had this character been a beautiful woman, then that might have helped as then I could at least have imagined loving her, and we can forgive those that we love more easily!

There are lots of meditative contemplative long slow shots in the film, in themselves beautiful paintings. But what was missing was an effective intensity of any relevant human condition to contemplate during these times; perhaps the philosophy of the struggle that the characters are having.

The first few minutes of the film were great, setting up the possibility of a great journey, which for me never gathered momentum.

The Chinese actor does a better job and the sound track is solid in the film.

The scenery and photography in CANOPY is breathtakingly gorgeous. I especially liked allowing the cameras to dwell on shots of; e.g., muddy streams, for thirty seconds or more. Such may not be for everyone but for me it created the intensity of our protagonist's fear, as he dwells on the the dangers before him, pausing to see if anything moves. Also done to excellent effect are the shots of the actors taken from great distances. These have the effect of showing how the teeming jungle plays with perspective as its impossible to guess whether you are looking from 50 feet away or 500 feet away until you see the actors themselves. Alas, more and/or better drama could have been achieved plot-wise while still avoiding Hollywood cliché. But CANOPY is indeed a treat for the eyes and I recommend a watch.