Casablanca is the epitome of Hollywood entertainment. Anyone who finds this film boring either is being too critical or has an extremely low attention span (to be honest, the weak arguments against it here are leading me towards the latter of the two). Bogart's performance is amazing; perhaps a little dated, but obviously an influence on Brando, Dean, and the next generation of American actors. Bergman is timeless in everything she does, so anyone criticizing her performance in the film as "old-fashioned" does not have a good argument. Of course there's an array of supporting characters that take up a significant bit of screen-time, but none of them ever have a chance to "act," much less act badly (or old-fashioned).

The story has been copied a million times since, but that doesn't hurt Casablanca as much as it does the rip-offs; their screenplays are never as good as the original's was (though to say this film was completely original would be a lie). I don't see how the lines are "corny" or "sappy." For instance, the film contains many moments of wit:

Rick: Your cash is good at the bar.
Banker: What? Do you know who I am?
Rick: I do. You're lucky the bar's open to you.

Captain Renault: Rick, there are many exit visas sold in this café, but we know that you've never sold one. That is the reason we permit you to remain open.
Rick: Oh? I thought it was because I let you win at roulette.
Captain Renault: That is another reason.

Captain Renault: This is the end of the chase.
Rick: Twenty thousand francs says it isn't.
Captain Renault: Is that a serious offer?
Rick: I just paid out twenty. I'd like to get it back.
Captain Renault: Make it ten. I'm only a poor corrupt official.

Ugarte: You despise me, don't you?
Rick: If I gave you any thought I probably would.

Captain Renault: What in heaven's name brought you to Casablanca?
Rick: My health. I came to Casablanca for the waters.
Captain Renault: The waters? What waters? We're in the desert.
Rick: I was misinformed.

Major Strasser: What is your nationality?
Rick: I'm a drunkard.
Captain Renault: That makes Rick a citizen of the world.

But, I'm assuming the "corny" moments are the romantic ones. Though I'm not sure if this is even a romantic film, per se. It is much more about sacrafice:

Rick: And you never will. But I've got a job to do, too. Where I'm going, you can't follow. What I've got to do, you can't be any part of. Ilsa, I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Someday you'll understand that. Now, now... Here's looking at you kid.

I guess "here's looking at you, kid, could be interpreted as "sappy," but that's only because everybody hears it about 50 million times before they see it in the correct context.

As for "rushed," that contradicts "boring," I think. Boring, in most contexts, is usually brougt upon by a lack of events that fascinate. If the film is rushed, too much is going on, and one isn't bored. But I don't think the film is either. The film certainly isn't rushed, because it takes so long to build up. We don't find out about Rick's past until about 30-45 minutes into the film. We don't even see Rick for about 5-10 minutes into the film. So there's no way that this film is rushed. As for boring, something is always going on, which usually means the film cannot be boring. This film is drowning in its own wit, suspense, and romance.

Casablanca has suprising depth, but what makes it, perhaps, the most popular film of all time is the entertainment, the mixing of genres, and the influence. That's what certainly makes it a masterpiece and what I consider to be a better film than The Godfather (I hope I don't wake up with a horse's head in my bed tommorow!!!).

Thug