Rating: 
Summary: This is the best movie!
Review: I rented this just to see what every one was raving about. This is one the best movies that I have ever seen, gay or straight. I would reccommand if your in the mood for romance and fun, this is one for you. Great Movie!
Rating: 
Summary: Should This Be Called "Cinderfeller"?
Review: Everyone I know who saw this movie raved about it and said I would love it. Maybe I watched it on a bad night. I think I like a good love story as much as the next person. But, boy, there were a lot of hurdles to square-dance around here. First there is the New York nerd who has two attractive men wanting him. Then there seems to be an entire village rooting for this nerd to get his man. The good ole boys in the general store want boy to get boy. And while I understand the term "willful suspension of disbelief," how far does one have to go to believe that nobody ever suspects that "Connie Casserole" turned into a gormet cook overnight. And what is one to make of the comment that one character makes: "no woman could have cooked this"? A very strange statement indeed. I never knew before that one could tell the sex of a chef by tasting the food. Goodness knows there are plenty of gay movies that are dogs. If you compare this one to other recent "gay movies," as gay movies go, this one is pleasant and does have some touching moments. It just has nothing to do with the real world. But then, it is called BIG EDEN after all.
Rating: 
Summary: a nice suprise
Review: It was great to finally find a movie with a gay theme that I would not be ashamed to watch with my niece and my grandmother....Completely unbelievable, yet thoroughly enjoyable. A gay film without sex, dance music, drugs- suprisingly more interesting than any movie I've seen in a long time.
Rating:
Summary: The Sexy Indian and the Ugly Stuffed Weasel
Review: The strangest thing about this movie is that everyone keeps describing the lead actor as being 'cute' when he looks more like some kind of stuffed dead weasel. No one can believe that he does not have a boyfriend and they keep commenting on how cute he is. It is absurd! Has anyone looked at him? He looks like some kind of male Basil Wolverton creation...he could be Mr. Weasel-Face 2003. And that is the really puzzling and unbelievable thing about this movie. Is that the sexy sexy Native American falls in love with hideous monster from hell. I could not tell if this was one of those "I Married A Monster From Outer Space" flicks or what. But it is curious...I mean love is NOT that blind folks. But BIG EDEN really is a very fun fun movie that I really enjoyed watching...but I couldn't help but think of MAE WEST in SEXTETTE whenever I saw scary Weasel Man from hell.
I really do feel that the Native American falling all over himself with googly eyed love for that rat eyed wax museum mummy is just A LOT TO swallow.
Is this a remake of ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS? If so, then it's very clear who ROCK HUDSON is, but I think they replaced JANE WYMAN accidentally with AGNES MOOREHEAD...from the BEWITCHED years.
Rating:
Summary: Lightened up!
Review: Cute! My partner and I really enjoyed the cornball happenings in this movie. We where both smiling at the end and commented it was nice to see an old fashioned, sugar coated gay love story. Life is "real life" enough. This break from reality was refreshing and feel good. I like a good drag queen character as much as the next guy but it was nice to watch a movie that was not your sterotypical gay character set. If you are looking to be a movie critic and find faults with whether this movie could really happen then pass on this one. If you're looking to have your heart warmed, smile and relax then definetly see it.
Rating:
Summary: Delightful, in its way.
Review: There's no way a town this tolerant of homosexuals can exist outside of a movie, but I'm so glad that someone thought to create one. That touch, which allows the film to create little moments where the town gossip arranges first a group of eligible women and then a gaggle of men for the hero's return, is what makes this gay film far more interesting than the other guy-meets-guy stories you'll find at the video store. When this opened on one screen in Atlanta, it played for weeks - despite little publicity - because it's got such a warm heart and a uniqueness to its setting. (To give you an idea, the town is as quirky and funny as anything on the TV show, "Northern Exposure.") As the town begins to arrange a romance between the quiet, closeted Indian shopkeep and the returning New York artist, you begin to realize how sweet and simple the movie is. And how well it works.
Rating: 
Summary: Fantasy Land !!
Review: There is absolutely no way that this depiction of the gay scene in Montana is somehow linked to reality. If you can overcome this huge obstacle you might enjoy this movie. Then again, you have the other unrealistic scenario where 2 men (one of them divorced and gorgeous) are trying to win the affection of an annoying, ugly Arye Gross (name suits him). Never would happen! The scenery shown in Montana is stunning, and the portrayals of his grandfather and close friend (woman teacher) are sweet but cannot save this far fetched drama. This movie had potential but a different cast and a dash of reality were needed to give this one a chance. Rent this one at best.
Rating:
Summary: Big Eden Does Exist
Review: I watched "Big Eden" on the recommendation of a friend. I was totally blown away by it. I can't say enough good things about it. If you are tired of the standard gay movies where everyone is a twenty-something, with perfect bodies and consumed with nothing but sex then this movie is for you. Finally a movie that portrays middle age gay men in a positive light. I know many may find the plot a bit on the unrealistic side, but I know from personal experience that there are places in rural America quite similar to "Big Eden". I was lucky enough to witness it first hand. I would not have believed it had I not seen it for myself.
Rating: 
Summary: What a disappointment
Review: After all those fine words and grand reviews it was a big disappointment to watch this movie.
The story about the New York artist going back to his home town to discover himself is a classic. That's okay as long it is told with conviction, but this one is not. Why the hero is so uptight about being gay is a total mystery, because he is surrounded by a bunch of good willing and good acting oldtimers including his granddad, who whishes the best for his and his gay life.
In spite of some well known actors in the line up, the acting is poor and especially the leading part is awful. And on top of everything he is an uncharming little gnome, and it is very unlikely that he'll have two admirers.
Rating:
Summary: A Gem of a Movie!
Review: Two reasons I bought this DVD: 1) the sweet and romantic storyline and 2) Eric Schweig (I'll watch any movie with Eric in it). I think the only other "gay" themed movies I've watched so far are "Birdcage" and "M. Butterfly" - one a comedy, the other a serious drama. But "Big Eden" is a beautiful romance, set in modern-day Montana. Many reviews have already touched on the plot of "Big Eden", so I'll just comment on my personal observations of the characters, DVD features and other trivia. 1) IMO, both Arye Gross and Eric Schweig share great screen chemistry as "Henry Hart" and "Pike Dexter", respectively. Pike is a head taller than Henry and I feel that if there must be a "dominant" partner in any relationship (gay/not), Pike would be the one. He's evidently the stronger of the two although he's more silent, painfully shy and perhaps more sensitive. Henry is sensible, vulnerable but very cheerful and romantic. There's a cute scene (before Henry realizes his true feelings) which takes place in Henry's kitchen. Pike has just delivered dinner to him, and Henry (who is doing the dishes, I think) asks Pike to stay for dinner. Pike shyly declines and Henry presses him on to stay. Then Pike nervously says OK, but he has to go home to feed his dog first. Henry was pleased and he says "OK", and then he returns to the kitchen sink and you see how casual he is in his shorts and shirt and with the dishcloth thrown over his shoulder and Pike standing by him and I just couldn't help smiling and thinking: gosh, that scene is so sweet and "domestic"! You really do want these two to find romantic bliss together! 2) All the actors did a brilliant job - to me, the standouts are Arye Gross, Eric Schweig, Louise Fletcher ("Grace") and Nan Martin ("Widow Thayer"). 3) There are 2 passionate kissing scenes... one involving Henry and Dean (the local "boy" whom Henry had loved for the past 20 years) and the other (a "hotter") scene with Henry and Pike. I think people who have "problems" watching gays kissing should avoid watching/reviewing this movie altogether. People like the movie critic, Roger Ebert for example, who gave this movie only 2-stars. Ebert wrote that the last scene (which is the kissing scene) was "... painfully overdone.... When you lay it on too thick, the audience is distracted by implausibility..." Come on, the whole movie has shown us just how warm and loving the community of Big Eden is and how accepting the people are with gay issues. Heck, these people are the ones who bring the two guys together. So I think there's nothing "overdone" or "implausible" about the public kissing! Another observation: Ebert seems to have no problem with lesbian love scenes (read his review of the movie "Mulholland Drive"). 4) The DVD comes in a 2-disc format. The movie itself is in Disc 1 (it has Henry's face on the cover). There is a Scenes Selection feature but no subtitles are available. Disc 2 has Pike's face on the cover and contains some great featurettes e.g. theatrical trailer, deleted scenes and interviews with the director, producer and actors. 5) I like it that in the story, Henry and Pike are of different races. As there're more barriers to overcome, it makes their coming together that much more sweet and real. Arye Gross commented in the Interview that because Henry and Pike are from different cultures, they have more to offer each other in the relationship. The director, Tom Bezuckha actually decided to write Pike's character as a Native American only in the end i.e. after he had finished the script. 6) Some viewers will complain that there's no place like Big Eden in the real world; that it's too good to be true; that it's all purely the director's fantasy. Well, if that's the case, then how sad! All the more reason why we need more positive movies like "Big Eden" with the hope that after watching them, people (wherever they are in the world) will open their mind and heart and accept the differences that exist among people. You know, that life may eventually imitate art. 7) This movie is great for many reasons. I highly recommend purchase of the DVD which is great for one's collection and for repeated viewings with family and friends. It's a sweet love story (just nice, not cloyingly so) and when the end credits roll, you'll find yourself smiling happily and with a nice warm feeling in your heart. A real gem of a movie, truly!
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