Rating: 
Summary: Amazing Movie
Review: I was sort of reluctant to see this movie when it first came out. Lots of reviews that I had read said it was good for the first 15 minutes and then went in a downward spiral from there. I also heard on the radio that the movie was three and a half hours long, and when a movie is that long, it's a big hunk of time that you need to take out of your day to watch the movie. Finally, I went to see the movie and I am glad I did. I thought the opposite of what the reviews that I had read said. The first 15 minutes of the movie seemed like a sappy chick-flick movie about a son remembering storys that his dieing father had told him as a little boy, and then the rest of the movie sped up into a supernatural story of a man's life-long adventure. And the movie was a little over two hours, so I guess the radio lied. Now for a little plot summary, that may give out some of the stuff that happens in the movie, continue reading. I'll try not to give too much away. Big Fish was the story of a father and a son who didn't speak in years, speaking to each other for the first time in that time. The son had always been told exagerations of the truth by his father (or so he thought), and got very annoyed at his Dad's fish stories. This meeting between the father and son was because the father had become very ill, and was about to die. From that point on, through a series of flashbacks, you got to see the fathers life story his way, told my many different narrators. Through the father's adventures, he befriended giants, joined the circus, fought in WWII in Japan and met up with a pair of Siamese Twins, found a perfect town, and then saved it, got married, caught a really big fish on the day his son was born and then let it go, and saw the way he would did in the glass eye of a witch. Then the father had a stroke. He was rushed to the hospital, and through much strain, asked his son to tell him the way that he would die, and then wispered the word river. He had never told his son what he had seen in the witch's glass eye, so the son had to make up the story of his fathers death which had to do with the river. After the son was done with the story, his fathers last words were "Exactly!" and died. At the funeral, you got to see all of the people from the fathers stories, and as a suprising truth to the son that it wasn't all made up. The moral of the story: Sometimes telling a exgerated lie based on the truth is much better than hearing the truth itself. As the son found out, his father's version of how things happened was much more exciting and entertaining than the way they happened in reality. And it also proved that dieing doesn't need to be a sad thing if you go out the right way. The movie had great special effects of the weird and supernatural too. Having 12 foot tall giants standing next to 6 foot men was a nice feat, although at some points you could tell when puppets were being used. The Siamese Twins were great and of course, the big fish in the movie was very realistic. It was very Tim Burton-ish. For paying tribute to other movies. Big Fish did that alot. Many aspects of the movie reminded me of the movie Citizen Kane. From all of the different charactors telling their version of the story to the father weezing out "the river" (aka- rosebud) on his death bed, I found it very alike. I don't know if this one was purposeful, but the fathers wedding ring reminded me of the ring from Lord of the Rings. Everything was consistent in this movie for the most part. There weren't any plot holes except for the Circus Ringmaster. At one point he turned into a wild wolf, and then switched back to human, and I didn't really understand the purpose behind this transformation. Maybe I should read the book that the movie is based on. Overall, this is a great movie. Go and see it.
Rating:
Summary: Simply A Wonderful Movie
Review: Tim Burton's Big Fish is about a man who has led anything but an ordinary life. From working in a circus to befriending a giant, Edward Bloom has done it all. He has done so much, seen so many things, that he has many stories to tell. But to his son William, the stories his father tells get in the way him ever knowing what his father was really like. Now that his father is nearing the end of his life, William takes it upon himself to determine who his father actually was, what he actually did, and how he actually led his life. What William finds forces him to rethink his preconceptions about his father. Big Fish is a wonderful story. Chock full of color, beautiful imagery and metaphor, this movie, primarily examines the relationship between a father and son; but also attempts to answer the question of how someone might choose to lead their life if they knew, for certain, how they were going to die. Think about it, if you knew for sure that you had 50 years left, what would you do? What risks would you take? What adventures would you embark upon? When the day finally came to pass-on, could you look back upon your life and say that you made a difference? Big Fish answers all of these questions...atleast for the life of Edward Bloom. Tim Burton has crafted yet another amazing story. Big Fish may not contain the graphic wizardry of A Nightmare Before Christmas (though there are some nifty special effects scenes) and may not be quite as haunting as Edward Scissorhands, but Big Fish stands alone as a tale that shows superbly the power that stories can have, and how they can change lives.
Rating: 
Summary: A LITTLE POND
Review: BIG FISH is Tim Burton's most "standard" film to date, and yet it too has many strange eccentricities throughout. In spite of its wonderful cast and some imaginative vignettes, the movie as a whole is less than satisfying. Ultimately, I found myself saying "Who cares?". Edward Bloom is a larger than life character, indeed, but he avoids reality by creating absurd stories to go along with the events he has experienced. Thus, the viewer is asked to sympathize and understand a man whose forays into the fantasy world provide him from facing the realities of his family's life. His son has grown up feeling he has never even known his father, and the movie says that's okay, because the fantasy father was the real father.
One can't fault the acting, though. Helena Bonham Carter is a revelation as the crockety old witch and the young Jenny that falls in love with Bloom. Alison Lohman looks so much like Jessica Lange, it's perfect casting, and she manages to possess that same dreamy quality Lange offers later. Billy Crudup does a beautiful job with a thankless character whose destiny of course is to become just like his father. Matthew McGory as Karl the giant is splendid in a role that could have been pure hokum; his Karl is more human than Edward would ever be. Jessica Lange has a beautiful scene with Albert Finney in the bathtub, and does well with a poorly developed character. Finney is brilliant, and deserved a supporting actor nomination. Unfortunately, Ewan McGregor plays his character on an entirely one-note, bigger than life bravado that undermines the film's strengths.
Burton is to be commended for attempting such an original film; I just didn't find it all that interesting.
Rating:
Summary: Imaginative Film
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The acting performances are strong, the story well paced, and the imagery compelling. I have not read the book (yet!), so I cannot speak to issues of interpretation. As a stand-alone experience, I was captivated by the blurring of the line dividing fantasy from reality. You're never quite sure what to make of anything, and while some have viewed the ending as a 'surprise', I found it to be another riddle. Certainly some validation of the father's tall tales becomes evident, but how much? This is an entertaining movie that will generate some interesting discussions amongst your cinematic friends. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Tall tales and life lessons
Review: "Big Fish" revolves around the life of Edward Bloom (younger, played by Ewan McGregor, older played by Albert Finney). As Edward's son Will (eventually played by "Almost Famous"'s Billy Crudup) grows, he loves to hear the unbelieveable adventures of Edward's life. As a grown man, however, Will realizes their all pretty much tall tales, and finds himself sick to death of his Dad regalling crowds with his web of lies. Or are they? When Edward becomes sick with cancer and chemo is no longer considered to be working, Will flies home with his pregnant wife to spend his Dad's last months with him. Edward's story unfolds in just the right places- from meeting the love of his life, Sandra (younger played by "White Oleander"s Alison Lohman, older played by Jessica Lange- perfect casting, as Lohman looks like a younger version of Lange)to surviving a war, life in the circus, and rebuilding a forgotten town. Will begins to investigate further into his Father's past, desperate to know the truth. "Not everything your Father tells is a fabrication", says his Mother. But Will is only convinced at, of course, the end, as characters he's heard in all his Dad's tales begin to emerge for Edward's final send-off. Interesting special effects, great casting, and an amazing, original story (based on the book by Daniel Wallace), "Big Fish" is a winner. DVD extras are limited- featurettes, commentary by Burton, and a trivia game that gives you a special behind-the-scenes look at the special effects- once you've answered all the questions correctly, of course. DVD can be played in French with English subtitles (or English w/ English subtitles, for those who are hearing impared). Great story.
Rating:
Summary: well-done, beautifully filmed
Review: Big Fish tells the story of Will Bloom and his dying father Ed. Ed is a big fish in a small pond, to hear his tall tales. Every story Ed tells -- including the story of his own birth -- sounds impossible yet somehow you want to believe. However, Will is sick of it and just wants his father to relate to him honestly. In order to help us understand his father, Will starts telling his father's tales. Here we see him deal with a giant who is eating the town's dogs, save an entire town from withering away, court the girl he wants to marry by agreeing to work for the circus in exchange for one piece of information about her per month. Perhaps the most beautiful piece of cinematography ever is the field of daffodils he somehow creates for her when he discovers that is her favorite flower, even if she is engaged to another man at the time. It is a great story, and it has the ability to make you both laugh and bawl like a baby, given the circumstance. Best supporting character is the poet Norther, played by Steve Buscemi. No one plays a bug-eyed psycho better than he does!
Rating:
Summary: PERFECTION!
Review: Probably my favorite movie! It's a thinking person's dream and flowed perfectly! Most people keep saying, "I didn't understand it!" Well, they're unintelligent and narrow minded. This movie was magical! I adored every minute and cried when it ended! Please, do your soul some good and buy this movie instead of any other *unless that movie is Whale Rider, which is the only other movie which is in the same league as this one*
Rating:
Summary: A Tim Burton touch of art
Review: I just saw this movie and I can only say that Tim Burton is the greatest story teller that exists today in the modern movie industry (together with Spielberg that is).
This isn't a great budget film that is supposed to hit the box office. It's a romantic, nostalgic commedy that combines the softness of Forest Gump with the travels of Baron Von Minhaouzen, making a movie that comes out of the heart of its creator.
The basic element of the story isn't that much really and it mostly evolves around the relationsip of a father and a son. However, the way the director presents the story and all the adventures of the father makes the movie pleasant and fresh in a way that it is a fairy tale inside a fairy tale!! The actors help by the way...
It's good to see great directors make great movies not for the box office but for those who like to see something different and genuine (I hope i spelled the world correctly!!)
Bravo!!!!
Rating:
Summary: A terrific movie, marred by idiocracy
Review: Big Fish is great. There are so many movies out and this movie is completely original. It just introduces so many weird things, yet never loses the viewers attention. I didn't want to miss one part of the movie as it was so interesting. Why is it so interesting though? You haven't seen it before. You don't know what might happen because there are so many new things to see. Also, the movie brilliantly masks this dark atmosphere. Spectre looks beautiful, but is really creepy at the same time. Almost everything feels a little eery. This movie doesn't really have a plot. It doesn't need a plot though. It tells the life of this guy who tells stories. The end is also brilliant because although the movie doesn't really have a plot, it does have a conclusion. Lost in Translation didn't have a plot and didn't have a conclusion and that doesn't work at all. Just look at all the reviews for it. This movie is tremendous. I can't describe how great it is. You just have to see it and be entertained for two hours.
Rating: 
Summary: Muddled Movie
Review: A great disappointment, considering the Director's past work. Bad script. Bad direction. Muddled and confusing and warped theme.
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