Rating: 
Summary: A Brave and Exciting Venture
Review: Maybe the greatest thing you can find in a film sometimes, is the need to simply see and explore it again. WAKING LIFE is one of those films that will take a long time to grow old, although for much of the present megaplex audiences, it also may take long time to grow on them. This is not a traditional narritive film, and it shouldn't be. It is a simple journey of walking through one man's dreams, and exploring those dreams with a passion and fire for life that few films lately have possessed. Director Richard Linklater has made an astounding ode to exploration, both in the technical sense (the unbelievably breathtaking animation and digital camerawork), and the fluid movement of a non-narritive story filled to the brim with interstingly old and new ideas. There is never a moment when the viewer will not be bombarded with amazing visuals, thought provoking ideas, and an all around feel for life and living. True, there is no real action in this story, and at times it merely drifts from one conversation to the next with no inbetween. It certainly does not possess John Fords A/B style of filmmaking. The result, of course, is that this film is not going to match everyone's tastes. However, for anyone ready to remember or discover that our life and dreams are wonderful and art in and of themselves, this film is more than perfect. For eveyone else, it may not be the best film you'll ever see, but it's garunteed to make you think and put you in awe of the animation.
Rating: 
Summary: A good movie, but understand what's coming...
Review: The movie was interesting in relating life and existence, common understanding and accepted ideas, and that was the primary focus of it. I enjoyed the notions that were shared in it, but it was generally without much of a plot, more a string of thoughts. I would enjoy to watch it for the mind-expansion, but it can wear you down in a dark movie theater. I had to go after about an hour of watching it. I can sleep at home. But I will be watching it again, possibly with a purchase in the equation.
Rating:
Summary: Waking Life = Yellow Submarine + My Dinner with Andre
Review: Waking Life is about people talking. It's also about the difference between life and death, realities and dreams. Some will find it boring because people just sit around and talk. And I can sympathize with these viewers. Don't expect great oratory, or deep philosophy. It's just different people going off at the mouth. But if you can get beyond that, the film has a lot going for it. Of course, there is the animation of the film, which has gotten the rave reviews. But what works for me is how there is a very small, but very suggestive plot poking its head out of all the dialogues. I won't give it all away, but suffice it to say that all the talk about dreams and reality is really about the situation of the protagonist: is he dreaming? is he awake? What is happening to him? The films is slow, but I like that. It helps communicate the tension he feels as the movies rolls along. Dreams are not easily controlled and the film conveys that perfectly. I also like some of the dialogues and the gentle feel of the movie in general. You get situationist quotes, angry hate speech and snippets of Garcia Lorca. The movies is like a buffet of neat talk wrapped in innovative animation. Add the suggestive ending of the movie, and you get a winner.
Rating:
Summary: Wow!!
Review: This is a movie that MUST be seen. Rarely does a movie come along that challenges you - the viewer, and assumes you have the mental capacity to enjoy it. This is a rare find indeed (except for those of you that like jerry bruckheimer films), and I am truely complimented. I was affected by this movie for days after seeing it, and upon further contemplation remain enthralled. I don't wish to give away the plot to those of you who have yet to see it, but if you enjoy good movies (and you know who you are), this is one that's NOT to be missed!!
Rating:
Summary: Hats off to this masterpiece!
Review: I wish to personally thank Mr. Linklater for inspiring me to hang up my hat as a semi-retired professional film critic. What more can be said about a two-hour infomercial that diverts your attention from your pocketful of melting contraband Raisinets? Not only was this debut film pretentious and boring, it borrowed shamelessly and endlessly and inaccurately from second-rate hack philosophers, without even giving them appropriate credit. Where were the explosions and intrigue and psychodrama that had been promised in the movie's trailer? Nor is it original: I saw the same film three years ago starring Robin Williams. But aside from the above observations, I must give Mr. Linklater kudos for apparently hiring the entire TCM animation team, as well as prominently advertising IFC's participation in his dubious venture, as well as his inclusion of a puzzling endorsement from the much-lauded Steven Soderburgh, who inexplicably appears in a thankfully brief and quasi-animated cameo. That said, as an on-again, off-again former high school cheerleader who was once featured on the centerfold of the Butler Middle School weekly gazette, and twice made love in the back seat of an Audi, I have little doubt that certain less discerning critics will oooh and aaah over this poisonous piece of pretentious excrement. If you liked Powder or Sommersby, you'll love Waking Life. Thank you for this movie and the grateful opportunity to take a much-needed two hour nap! And an additional humble thanks to the lord Jesus Christ, who in his or her incarnate wisdom, created movie multiplexes, where, as Brenda, my late ex-lover and confidante once said, "at least you can change the channel."
Rating:
Summary: Slacker moves on
Review: i nearly didnt bother with this as it sounded just like an animated remake of 'slacker'. which it is in that it is a bunch of cartoon people sitting around or walking along talking philo. but this is an infinitely deeper film. the monologues have a focus and urgency that make one feel one is in the presence of real people who have arrived at their ideas after serious and necessary struggle. the DV image recastings are serious portraiture: sublty underpinning the characterisations with line and colour (although there are the odd bits of traditional animation which illustrate the script rather inanely). an most of all, linklater marshalls his materials with greater force, affacting a narrative structure based not on consecutive situations and actions, but on ideas and states, with conflict coming from more from the various dialectics (life/death, waking/sleep, world/self) inherent in the order in which the talkers are presented, than that between the talkers themselves. if it sounds dry, i didnt find it so: there are actually many exciting and affecting moments that promise action and romance, all skilfully set up by the early discussion of engagement and freewill. if this film, like 'slacker', ultimately succumbs to the pull of extreme subjectivity (death in this case as opposed to the latters solipcism and chaos), one is nevertheless left with the consolation of having experienced -felt- a more mature work of art. this film has a beginning, a middle, and an end. and in that order. i loved it.
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Summary: yes yes YES!
Review: this is the best film ever created...i am glad to see something like this rocking the screen. i will never ever forget this film...
Rating:
Summary: I have never seen a movie like this
Review: Be forwarned that this is not a conventional film or even a conventional animated film. The film has no plot and no climax.
This film takes the viewer into the dreams of a man in his twenties who is a deep philosophical thinker. The viewer gets the sense that he is floating around the place eavesdropping on conversations. Most of the main character's dreams involve dialogues of a philosophical nature which at times becomes rather abstruse. I found a few conversations very difficult to follow. I did get the gist of what most of the characters were saying however. Some of the characters sounded like PhDs in philosophy and literature and some sounded like everyday people discussing profound ideas but were making their points in awkward roundabout ways. Regardless of what the characters were talking about or doing they all seemed like real people who were passionate about what they were saying and or doing. (...) Only a specialist in metaphysics or someone who is well read in profound philosophical ideas will be able to follow all of the dialogue in this film after the first time watching it. I thoroughly enjoyed this film, but most people in my opinion will hate it as most people do not talk like the characters in the film. The redeeming value of a film like this is that it exercises your brain and forces you to stop and listen to what others say about non-worldly matters.
Rating:
Summary: WAKING LIFE
Review: Animated tale of a young man (voice of Wiley Wiggins) who is unsure if he is awake, dreaming or possibly dead as he visits a vast assortment of people who wax philosophical about life's meaning. Writer-director Richard Linklater uses innovative, eye-catching animation but the wavy visuals and the extreme verbiage of the talking-heads scenario overwhelm the wry humor and the movie's upbeat spiritual subtext.
Rating:
Summary: More truth has not been spoken in a film
Review: Most people will not truly understand this movie, as most people are little more than herd animals. To those who even begin to "get it," this film will be nothing less than a masterpiece. Almost every word spoken in this film has meaning, and is important. Unfortunately, most people are not trained to think or care about the world around them, the nature of the self, God, the universe, evolution, the false dichotomy of dreaming versus waking life, etc., all of which are prevalent themes. It's too bad. This is perhaps the most spiritually profound movie made in recent times, and the incredible amount of knowledge presented in it will be lost on the vast majority of viewers, even those who are the sort to check out artsy films. Multiple viewings will be required -- I can't wait for this flick to come out on DVD. The animation is incredible, and fits together perfectly with the story (yes, there is a story -- THE story, as the pinball-playing fellow at the end relates).
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