Rating: 
Summary: The Moose Hole - 'Fish' is Wonderful Catch
Review: "There are some fish that can't be caught. It's not that they're bigger or faster then the other fish, they're just touched by something extra."Does Columbia enjoy sitting on their butts while the other studios gather Oscar praise? They started 2003 off not so promisingly with Darkness Falls and Tears of the Sun while limping through the summer with sub par hits like Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle and Bad Boys II. Is it that they have no more ambition left in them to put forth the effort? Was it the tremendous embarrassment of Gigli that is the true cause for their lack of marketing strength? If so then that is too bad. No, not because of real Oscar hope for Mona Lisa Smile (Julia Roberts doesn't need another Oscar statue) or Something's Gotta Give is gone but the fact that the studio may have had a real chance with Tim Burton's big screen adaptation of a not so well known tale, Big Fish. It may seem ordinary on the surface, the usual father/son emotionally driven story, but it is the whimsy and the magic that sets this one apart from the rest. Burton, who has had a real success for quite some time, is drawing doubt if he can bring a heart-felt tale to the screen with his track-record of weird projects but the way Columbia is looking for Oscar night at this point, it could hurt to find out. Big Fish is based on the novel of the same name by Daniel Wallace and it discusses a son's journey to discover who he father really was after years of hearing nothing but tall-tales. Edward Bloom was too big for the small town he grew up in. That was due to his high ambition, or so that is the way he tells it. William Bloom never really knew his father. Edward was either off on business trips or telling the same elaborate fantasies that his son had heard his entire life, more then once or twice. After a couple years of broken communication between them, William returns home after his mother informs him that his father is slowing dying and may pass away soon. The son returns home for one last chance to discover the man his father really was. Going through all the magical and extraordinary adventures once again, William discovers that the truth of his father was there all along, he just needed to know where to look. The story for Big Fish takes several different and elaborate stories, some that work and some that don't, and brings them together in an enjoyable heart warming feature. At times, Fish's plot seems too high for its own good and the huge elaboration of simple stories seem way over done for many to take seriously within the context of what the filmmakers are trying to get across. This leads for some scenes within the film to not come off as effectively as others. Luckily this doesn't happen too often with the course of the film. The cast consists of only two main leads (three if you count two people for the same role in different time periods) but the supporting roles provided by various talented actors and actresses are nearly as entertaining. Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney share the role of Edward Bloom in various part of his life, the latter actor portraying the character as a dying old man. Finney's performance is nothing short of spectacular as Edward Bloom deteriorates as the feature moves on and as he struggles to get his son to understand the meaning behind his tall-tales. The last scene involving Finney will have anyone reaching for a tissue. That is a guarantee. McGregor provides that personal charm and spunk that makes the fantasies involving the younger Edward all the more memorable and captivating. Billy Crudup, who portrays William Bloom, seems okay but there is nothing in his performance that really stands out or equals that of Finney's performance along side him. Danny DeVito gives a delightful performance as Amos, the circus ring-leader who eventually hires Bloom to work on his show. Despite this charming performance, be warned! Unless you want horrible images of Mr. DeVito's rear end embedded in your mind, best to keep your eyes shut during a certain portion of the film. Nothing extraordinarily long but long enough. And Steve Buscemi's performance as a less then talented inspiring poet is one of the bigger highlights based on background characters. Overall, Big Fish manages to swim above its own high-watered ambition despite a flop or two too close to shore. Going into this film, one has to understand this: almost everything in the individual tales is a metaphor for something else. The conjoined Japanese twins, for example, aren't actually conjoined in real life but they are so connected to each other, despite their own personal differences, that it seems that way. Many of exaggerations within the film are marvelously well played out but there are moments where you'll be questioning what the filmmakers are trying to do. The most prominent moment(s) involves the naked woman in the river that the young Edward Bloom sees outside his car that has been submerged by a great rainstorm. Of all the other fantasy sequences, this is the one that made the least amount of sense and probably wasn't necessary. Even with a pretty well balanced two hour time length, Big Fish fluxes between consistency and incoherence with some tales struggling to keep the pace more then others. Outside of those issues, Fish is a wonderful surprise from the man who has brought us dark classics such as Batman and Beetlejuice. It manages to be funny and heartwarming without losing its message in its own sea of ambition.
Rating: 
Summary: The Best Tim Burton Film Since "Edward Scissorhands"
Review: I was surprised about how good this film was and how quickly you get into it,this was flat out a great film with great acting,a great script,and awesome special effects.The film is about Edward Bloom (played by Albert Finney) who has been entertaining his friends and family for years about his supposed adventures involving a huge fish,a giant man,and two vietnamese siamese twins.But now Edward Bloom is dying and his son William Bloom
(Billy Crudup) wants to know the truth and in a series of flash backs we find out the story of Edward Bloom.The young Edward Bloom is played by Ewan McGregor,who is a man in a small town who is destined for great things and after an encounter with a witch and an encounter with a missunderstood giant named Carl,now believes needs to find bigger things.Now throught the story he ends up in a weird town and meets a poet played by Steve
Buscemi.But then he ends up at a circus only to see the love of his life.When he finds out that a character played by Danny DeVito knows who the woman is he ends up working for three years just to find out her name.This film is agreat movie to start off 2004 and its visually spectacular,Tim Burton knows where to hit the mark.But besides that there is great acting from all of the films stars including Albert Finney,Billy Crudup,Ewan McGregor,
Jessica Lange,Danny DeVito,and Steve Buscemi and is a great movie for ages young and old and I do believe this film will stand the test of time.
Rating:
Summary: Takes the Cake
Review: Tim Burton has really struck gold with his latest fim, "Big Fish". In recent years, Tim Burton has had his share of bad movies ("Planet of the Apes"), but over the span of his career, has released some of my favorite movies ("The Nightmare Before Christmas"). Overall, I'm thinking that this is at least in the top three. You see, this is the same imagination that made "Edward Sissorhands", but Tim has done something he's never done before. He made a film dramatic and epic, but still in the vain of his earlier works. Everything about "Big Fish" is breathtaking.
Rating:
Summary: rainbow of life
Review: Edward Bloom the primary character of this movie tells stories and his son think they are pack of lies. When Edward Bloom is on his death bed - he still keeps on telling the stories - never stops. In the mean time his son starts realizing that most of these stories are not lies but just the truth told little bit differently. But again as the doctor said, standing near Ed Blooms death bed, on any given day he would listen to the grand stories rather than just hackneyed description of the past. All the stories where just metaphors and symbolic of real life incidences. When Ed Bloom passes away - all the characters of the metaphors show up in real life mesmerizing his kid. Ewan Mcgregor and Albert Finney are rest of the crew including Jessica Lange has done an excellent job. Kudos to Tim Burton for the script and over all direction and photography along with editing. This is a movie where the background music is real background music and do not take over the movie. You will enjoy it. Why 4 stars and not 5 because I reserve the 5 for Kurosawa and Ray.
Rating:
Summary: This One's a Keeper!
Review: Sorry about the cheesy clichéd title, but I saw this movie after work tonight, and I absolutely loved it. There'll be enough people giving away the story without me adding to it. I'll just say that I was so impressed by the fact that the special effects were great, for my taste. They weren't the kind of knock-your-socks-off full-tilt guns and explosions they seem to just throw in for the hell of it, and that wouldn't have been appropriate, anyway. There is great subtlety and beauty in this movie, and the director kept this movie relatively clean. I am very grateful for this. Of course, for me, this is all gravy, due to the fact that there is actually meat to this movie in the form of a well-written, if complex, story that's beautifully resolved at the end. I love sentimentality, because I'm not afraid to cry, so this kind of movie is right up my alley. What is it about members of the former British empire and their ability to do American Southern accents so well? This is nothing new, of course; I remember Dame Elizabeth Taylor in Faulkner's "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". Speaking as a mere Oklahoman, today's crop of British actors do equally as well! It's hard to believe that actors McGregor and Finney weren't both from 'Bama! I think an Oscar needs to go to their voice coach, because he/she did an excellent job! And I must say that Ewan McGregor redeems himself where I'm concerned by not butchering any more of Elton John's music or even singing at all. What he does is great comedic acting, and he was a joy to watch, as was Albert Finney, whom, frankly, I thought was dead! The rest of the supporting cast was, well, eclectic, to say the least and fun to watch. Finally, let me say that they feature the most beautiful red Charger I've ever seen. I hadn't seen one in years, and this movie made me almost want one again. I can see myself buying this film when it's out on DVD or video and just watching it over and over again. I can't say that about a lot of films that's out these days, either. I'm even interested in the book from which this movie springs from, because it stands to reason that there was more to this story that couldn't be shown onscreen while maintaining the PG13 rating! If you like the kind of movies I like, you'll love it, too.
Rating:
Summary: Cant go wronf with Tim B
Review: A fantastic story about storytelling. Burton remembered what a movie is meant to be. Burton's over the top innocence at it's finest. Just a joy to watch this touching, and personal story. Tears, and laughs in equal parts. A onion for the ages, in my opinion a perfect recipe.
Rating:
Summary: My New Favorite Tim Burton Film!
Review: Just got back from this movie and let me just say it much better than I thought it would be. And I had high hopes! First of all, the visuals are some of Tim Burton's best to date. The multiple fantasy worlds he has created are some of the most unique ever put to film. The acting is extremely strong, especially Albert Finney(old Edward), Ewan McGregor(young Edward), Danny Devito, Steve Buscemi(very funny role), and even the little known Billy Crudup as Edward's truth seeking son. All the rest of the cast are great as well, but have much smaller roles. Even though this film is full of funny and amusing situations, it is still at heart a serious and moving film. My eyes actually teared up at the end sequence with Albert Finney's character being taken into the river with all his friends watching on. This film will be watched by many for years to come, and some have already called it Burton's masterpiece. While the visuals alone are not impressive enough to top Sleepy Hollow, Edward Scissorhands, or even the first two Batman films, it is the Father-Son story that breathes life and warmth into an already beautiful looking film. As the wisest people claim that true beauty is on the inside rather than the outside, is only but a half truth as with some of Edward's stories in this film. Because in this rare instance, Burton has made a film that is imaginative and beautiful inside and out.
Rating: 
Summary: Almost Good
Review: Big Fish is simple, yet complicated. Intriguing, yet boring. Mystical, yet real. I consider myself an intelligent person and an avid movie watcher, but found myself lost in this film from the very beginning. While Tim Burton is an unforgettable director and Finney, McGregor, and the other actors are crisp, emotional actors, the film as a whole does not completely hold together. It seems as if the bricks are in position, but the cement between them has not yet been applied. The glue holding the film together, a theme, an idea that is universal, is there, but is still only sitting on the ground and not being used to its full potential. So let's just say this: if you are looking for something with deep meaning and complex emotion, this film attempts to appeal to you, but doesn't quite make it. However, if you just want something fun, mystifying, and visually spectactular, Big Fish is it.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Movie~ One of the Best of the Year!
Review: I loved "Big Fish." Next to "The Lord of the Rings:The Return of the King" it was one of the quickest movies that I have ever seen, and also one of the movies that I did not want to end. This movie had so much to like, that a shorter list would be the list of things that were bad about it. I saw "Big Fish" in Manhattan while it was still in limited release, and now I am waiting to see it again when it expands. And don't listen to the MPAA rating. This movie should have been rated PG- it is not good for all audiences. but certainly for children with there parents. Albert Finney plays Edward Bloom. Bloom likes to tell the many stories of his life, but his stories are false, and he says that they are real, much to the dismay of his son Will, who wants to find out who his father really is, and what happened in his past. Will may get that chance, however, when Edward's wife Sandra calls him and tells him that his father is dying. Will goes to his parents house right away with his preganant wife Josephine, where Will demands to know who his father is. Over the course of Will's visit, we the veiwer hear about Edward's stories. We hear the story of how he and his childhood friends went into the house of a "witch" who supposdly has an eye that if you look into it, you find out how you die. We hear the story about Edward's meeting with a giant named Karl. He then leaves the town that he grew up in, and while attending a circus he finds his true love. In a special shot where everything freezes where it was, including things that are in mid-air, we see Edward meeting Young Sandra. The owner of the circus makes a deal with him. For every month that Edward works for him, he will get one piece of infomation about Sandra. But my favorite story is the story about the famed poet Norther Winslow. It comes up so fast, and it's so hilarious because it's the last thing that you would expect happen. Winslow is played by Steve Buscemi, who is a brilliant actor who you see everywhere. You've probally seen him in "Ghost World", "Big Daddy", "Fargo," and many other films. Tim Burton directed "Big Fish" and I can't think of another director that could have made this movie perfectly. The man who produced "The Nightmare Before Christmas," and "James and the Giant Peach." If you are a fan of Tim Burton, you'll love "Big Fish." It is filmed in the usual Burton style. It is a strange movie, but very realistic. It is hilarious at times, and then full of heart at others. The only other movies that came out this fall that contained those elements were "Something's Gotta Give," and "Matchstick Men," but the stories from all three of these movies combined are complety different and have nothing to do with the other, except for the elements that create the genre. "Big Fish," was simply a great movie, and it is a movie that I have never seen anything like. Even the acting was brilliant. I really like Ewan McGregor. I liked him in "Moulin Rouge," I liked him in "Down with Love," I liked him the last two Star Wars movies, and I liked him in "Big Fish." All of the other cast members were great but I do think that McGregor deserves an Oscar nod for this. If "Big Fish" was nominated for an Oscar, I believe that it has a strong chance of winning. I really hope this review makes it to amazon so I could stress the fact to people that "Big Fish" is one of the best movies of the year. ENJOY! Rated PG-13 for a fight scene, some images of nudity and a suggestive reference. Big Fish is also one my top 25 list. Just look through my lists and you'll find that list.
Rating: 
Summary: Very empty, vaguely enjoyable
Review: Wow.
I went into this film not knowing what to expect. Tim Burton hasn't been doing so well lately, but I heard this one was good. It started out okay, not great. The story of a man who was out of touch with his father seemed like a cheesy idea, but one that might work with Tim Burton's help. It didn't.
The film feels like a film for children, complete with sloppy writing that it seems the writers don't care enough to remove because they know no one will notice. The problem was, of course, this is a fairy tale for adults, it's a Tim Burton film for godsakes. The first misstep i noticed was some sloppy dialogue in the scene with the witch, but that was probably the least of the film's problems.
Like a previous reviewer pointed out, it doesn't seem like Tim Burton cares much about the characters, and tends to do heartless things to characters we care about it and happily go on, completely forgetting about it. The scene with the giant was the first really obvious one, but the one that really stuck out to me was the way Don was treated. All we see of this character is him being tortured emotionally by our "hero" Edward Bloom, and then Edward proceeds to take Don's wife later in the film. They seem to have forgotten to make Don into an antagonist, instead accidentally making him into a sympathetic character. Don's death was the only part of the film that really got to me, because it was so cold and heartless, but several of the girls surrounding me ate it up, whispering "that's so sweet!". I just couldn't picture Edward Bloom as a hero character after this scene that proved him to be a totally uncaring person. Of course, these are only minor problems when you address the big problem of the film. It's just so CHEESY. I couldn't believe it. I've never seen a cornier film in my life (except perhaps Life As A House).
I saw this movie with my girlfriend, and she cried at the end. She loved this film. I don't know, perhaps I will never understand women.
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