Rating: Summary: Three strikes you're out Tim! Review: Tim Burton is on a roll (to early retirement). This is the third dismal movie he has directed in a row. Relying heavily on picture perfect "aren't we imaginative" sets that look television commercials quality and less on building some tension and plot Big Fish is as much fun as watching a fish out of water suffocate to death. The biggest offense in this movies is the talk-over narration. Could you imagine a movie like "The Wizard of Oz" if we had to listen to Dorothy blab on and on about what she had experienced instead of allowing us to discover the wonders along side her? If you have seen one of those tedious "In a town called perfect" tv ads with all the sugary nursery muzak you've already seen Big Fish. Avoid this movie if you have any discretion on how you spend your time.
Rating: Summary: An excellent amalgam Review: I hesitate to use superlatives to describe any film, but this film draws them out of me. Tim Burton's distinct visual style is perfectly matched to the film's captivating blend of fantasy and reality. Rather than recap the plot, which has been done in countless other reviews, I only point to the interesting conclusions of the other reviews. I take it as a good sign when a movie can generate such different interpretations by people who enjoyed it equally.But what puts it above other films that engage your mind is that it works as a story as well. The best way to describe my experience is to say that it was like watching the Princess Bride for the first time (except now that I am older, the film is much more mature as well). Overall, it is one of those rare films that is hard to imagine being better if something about it were changed.
Rating: Summary: A touching fantasy Review: Great special effects. One exception: Near the ending when Ewan was carrying Albert Finney to the lake, the overall effect was something to be expected out of Smallville and not a motion picture, however, other than that the movie was awesome. It successfully mixed fantasy with drama to great effect. I strongly suggest you purchase the DVD as opposed to renting it. There are no defects despite what the guy at Blockbuster wrote. He is lying. Hey!!! Just buy the movie. Then, just watch the movie and judge for yourself. You won't be sorry.
Rating: Summary: Out of the Ordinary (4.5/5) Review: Burton has once again proven that he is a modern day visionary and a genius. Unlike some of TBs other films that provide the visual stimuli but lack the story, this movie is dead on with both! Visually stunning with a moving story, Burton really molds, orchestrates and arranges this story into a beautiful symphony of wonder and surprise bringing us all back to a time when we may have actually believed that a fairy tale could be true. The only reason for the 4.5/5 is that I felt that when it all "came around" at the end, there were a couple of loose ends i.e. questions left unanswered (but I may just need to watch again?) Anyway, if you're an unimaginative, ordinary person who can no longer summon any of the vision, wonder, or joy you had as a youth, you will really hate this movie, however, if your a dreamer, an artist, or the type of person that sees a rainbow and thinks that Kermit is probably out there somewhere perched on a log jamming out the "Rainbow Connection" on banjo, you'll love it like I did.
Rating: Summary: MidWest Review Review: Edward Bloom is dying and his son is called to his side, thus begins the ride of your life. Edward has always been a storyteller, big ones, little ones, everything about his life begins with a story. His son, Will, is about to become a father himself and is troubled with the memories of his own childhood, feeling he never really knew his true father,only the stories he told. Will is confronted with what we all have to face in life, acceptance. A person is what a person is, you cannot change them; and if you love them and want them to be part of your life, you will accept them as they are. Some of Edward's fables are played out for you, as Will begins to track down the different characters and finds out indeed they are real. The ending was bitter-sweet, heartwarming yet disturbing, an emotion that only death can bring. I walked away from this movie with more of an understanding of those in my life. Parents, Grandparents, children, friends, loved ones and even enemies; and I smiled knowing that I had been reminded time is short, memories run deep and we take a part of each person that we meet in this life within ourselves. I truly recommend this one.
Rating: Summary: Good movie but defective DVD Review: Working at blockbuster video, I can tell you that roughly 20% of the DVDs or so are defective. They don't look like they have any scratches or anything, but they'll just start skipping about an hour into the movie. I would very very very strongly recommend against buying the DVD, unless you want to deal with returning it until you get a good copy.
Rating: Summary: What an Amazing Movie! Review: I absolutely loved this movie. First of all, people who after seeing this movie that try to seperate or figure out what was real and what wasnt are entirely missing the point of the movie. Just have fun with it! The characters are amazing in this movie. Whether its the witch with the glass eye or Danny DeVito as the little circus man (he fits right in) or the Giant, the characters are larger than life and are very creative. In Big Fish, all of the characters are pretty central to the plot (in a way) which was another plus. All of the girls I went to the movie with were crying by the end. It was both fun and emotional at the same time. This was an extremely well done movie and I highly recommend it to anyone. If you havent seen this yet, you are in for a treat!
Rating: Summary: My all-time favorite Review: It's not normal for me to go see a movie in theater twice. This was the exception. I have recommended it to many of my friends who have also enjoyed the movie. While sad at parts, it's a movie that you walk out of with a huge smile on your face. Needless to say, I'm picking up the DVD.
Rating: Summary: Fantasy and Touching! Review: I rented this movie and I really liked it!! The storyline was well written and brought out. I was not bored at all with this movie...every scene I wanted to know what will happen or just the scenes were just very interesting to me. Big Fish is a kind of movie where you stop and think about certain things because its soo unusual and different. I thought Ewan McGregor did a great job and Albert Finney. They protrayed their characters really well and made me part of their adventurous journey. I wouldn't mind to see it again!!! If you like fantasy, humor, and something touching...watch it!!! Recommend you rent it first though...to see if you REALLY enjoy it! And if you do love it...don't hesitate...BUY IT!!!
Rating: Summary: Burton Misses the Boat on this one Review: I realize this was based on a fantasy novel and was not a 100% pure Tim Burton creation, however BIG FISH misses the boat. Lavish production and great cinema techniques can't save this film from being just a random mish-mash of fantasy dream elements strung together in the semblance of a story. There is no empathy for characters and the story just gets old real quick. After about an hour you just want to turn it off and go do something else as the movie does not "suck you in". I get the impression the original creator for BIG FISH has spent their life with a notebook by their bed and whenever they wake up in the middle of the night from a dream, quickly mkes notes about the dream before they forgot them. Then years later took that notebook of random dream elements and tried to weave a story around them. My wife and I waited for this movie with anticipation but were deeply dissapointed. One always hates writing a bad movie review because it is clear how much work and effort went into making it..... but like they say "There are no E's for effort in the real world... the only thing that matters is the final result". Despite the hard work and effort that went into making this movie (which I can respect)... it is simply forgetable and not entertaining.
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