Rating: 
Summary: Simply put, one of the best movies ever made.
Review: This movie was very, very, underrated. It seems like everyone I know hated this movie, and thought it was "arty", "boring", or "weird", but I thought it was amazing. Robin Williams is quite possibly the greatest actor to ever walk the earth. He's primarily known as a comedian (and a great one at that), but he proves here that he's just as capable of doing drama, and better at it than anyone else. Anabella Sciorra is worth an honorable mention, as well. If she didn't win an award for this, it's quite a crime. The basic plot of this story: everybody dies! Robin and Ana are a married couple, with several kids, and they all die at different times. Robin and his children are in heaven, and Ana (who commits suicide) goes to hell. But, Robin doesn't want any part of heaven if he can't be with the girl he loves, so he goes in to save her. Basically, this is the ultimate love story (how many people would go to hell for the one they loved?). The story is brilliant, and the special effects are amazing. This is a very heavily dramatic movie, by the way, and it may almost be too much to take for some, but it is a really excellent movie, one of the best ever made. You must see this, it will really get you thinking about life.
Rating: 
Summary: Visually beautiful and theologically interesting
Review: There are surprisingly few movies dealing with a nonterrestrial afterlife. While there are hundreds of films dealing with the existence of individuals following death as embodied or disembodied spirits on earth, there are remarkably few that provide any glimpse of heaven. The few that do tend to present it as an inconceivably white, vast, and indistinct place, from HERE COMES MR. JORDAN to A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH to THE HORN BLOWS AT MIDNIGHT. In contrast to these other films, WHAT DREAMS MAY COME stands out as one of the most intensely colorful, beautiful, and vividly concrete films in cinema history. The cast of the film is strong, but it would be a mistake to imagine that they are the reason for the film's success. Robin Williams as Chris Nielsen, Cuba Gooding Jr., Rosalind Chao (who I previously mainly knew only from STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION), Max von Sydow, and the lovely but underused (not only in this film, but by Hollywood in general) Annabella Sciorra all hand in wonderful performances, but they are largely overwhelmed by the astonishing beauty of the sets, the inconceivably vivid colors, and the marvelous use of light. No performers could have competed, though they try gamely. I find the film especially interesting for theological reasons. Ron Bass based the screenplay on a novel by Richard Mattheson. I must confess to not knowing the work of either, but I would lay heavy money that one of them (probably Mattheson) knew well C. S. Lewis's THE GREAT DIVORCE. In that work Lewis was concerned to lay out a concept of heaven and hell that did not regard God as responsible for sending people to hell. Instead, he described an afterlife in which people in hell still had the option of leaving hell and departing for heaven. These two ideas--of people placing themselves in hell and of having the option to leave hell for heaven--drive the metaphysics of WHAT DREAMS MAY COME, as I'm sure anyone who has seen the film will recognize. So why do I give the film only four stars after all the nice things I have said about it? Primarily because the film doesn't really have all that much of a story to tell. The plot feels like a short subject stretched to feature length film proportions. Once you subtract all the amazing visuals, there simply wasn't that much to the film. The challenge for the filmmakers was primarily padding out the action of the film. Nonetheless, I do recommend this as an interesting and intensely beautiful film, despite the slender narrative. Interestingly, the title of the film comes from Hamlet's famous soliloquy, in which he ponders whether or not to commit suicide. In the end, he decides not to because of the dreams that the dead may dream, presumably worse for having killed oneself. But such dreams did not prevent Annie Nielsen in the film from committing suicide. It is a nice ironical touch.
Rating:
Summary: A Tear-Jerking, Moving, and Visually Inspiring Film!!!
Review: Few comic actors have the versatility as Robin Williams--perhaps Jim Carrey--but "What Dreams May Come," is the purest example of his soft side to date (Okay, "Patch Adams" comes close, but it's somewhat sappy in spots).
What possesed director Ward to turn an American Golden-Age novel into a breathtaking motion picture must've been divine; every aspect of the movie leaves the viewer in awe, from the opening to the closing credits.
"Dreams" begins in flashback, where we see two strangers (Willams and Sciorra) vacationing in the Swiss Alps bump schooners, and find thier lifetime partners.
From there we move to thier family, living in NYC--complete with heart-sick 11-year-old daughter (her pet labrador dies), and emotionally-torn son, who's difficulty at school causes Williams to withdraw him into home-schooling. Then, on a mild spring morning, an auto accident kills both son and daughter. Subsequently, Williams is killed in a freak car pile-up incident, and finds himself in heaven, with Gooding, Jr. and Chao as his angelic guides.
He must save his painter/wife from the twisted (but--along with paradise--technically stunning piece of movie magic) hell that she has created in her suicide.
Ward's direction throughout all, surpasses even that of James Caneron's, even if for only "Dreams." One cannot watch this heartfelt film enough times, trust me. Williams' computer-riden paradise (actually his favorite painting by his wife, of the spot of thier first meeting) is a big highlight, but the entire film is a rollercoaster through an abstract heaven and hell that's truly unforgettable.
Probably one of "Dream"'s most underappreciated facets is it's score, provided by master Michael Kamen, and adapted from a tune by the little-known innovational band Sigura Rose. It is Kamen's glorious thematic scoring that brings the truest vibrance to the love story and characters of "What Dreams May Come."
Finally, the supporting cast provides stellar performances (look for Von Syndow as a reincarnated ex-colleague of Willams' character), even the children. "Dream"'s reuniting ending, I have to say is probably the reason this film brings me to flat-out bawling-like-a-baby, every time I see it. Do not pass this masterpeice up, it's worth it.
Saw it, LOOOOOOVVVVVEEEEDD it, bought the DVD (includes a nice documentary on the making of..)
---GIGI
Rating:
Summary: The Visual Effects are stunning!
Review: The best parts of this film are the excellent visual effects and the superb art direction. The story is actually quite somber with death and the effect of sin on the afterlife being major, heavy themes. The finest acting performance here comes from Annabella Sciorra, who survives the deaths of her two children with the help of her husband (played by a subdued Robin Williams), only to lose her husband a few years later. That's when the story takes off. Robin William's character, like all who enter the afterlife as good people, creates his own Heaven from his past experiences. In his case, he was a huge fan of painting, and his painted Heaven is a one-of-a-kind visual effects creation. After he becomes accustomed to his afterlife he is told that his wife commited suicide and will not be joining him in his Heaven, ever. But True Love knows no bounds, and he obtains a tracker and eventually journeys into the circles of Hell (Dante-style, frequently reminiscent of the epic poem "Infernus") to find his beloved. The realms in which this sojourn takes him are truly frightening and have many distrubing images. While the ending is a little too schmaltzy for my tastes (even the alternate ending on the DVD has a similar feel to it), it is the type of ending the audience wants and deserves. I just think they lay it on the viewer too thickly. Robin Williams tries hard here and is more often good than not, but he ultimately feels miscast in this role. Annabella Sciorra's performance more than makes up for Robin Williams being, well, 'himself' too often. But the two leads do have some good chemistry together. That, and the sublime special effects mixed with some spectacular set designs make this film work. The DVD features are also enlightening and worth seeing. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: An Uplifting and Heartwarming Love Story
Review: Robin Williams and Annabella Sciorra star in this moving film about the depths of true love and the lengths one will go to to stay with their loved one. Williams stars as Chris, a neurologist, and Sciorra stars as Annie, an artist. They have a perfect life with two wondefrul children until the unthinkable happens and the children are killed in a tragic car accident. Four years later, Annie and Chris have just begun to heal their wounds when, unfortunately, tragedy strikes again. On a rain-slicked highway, there is a terrible car accident. Chris stops his car and sees if he can help one of the victims when he is hit and killed by another car.
After his death, Chris is met by a messenger named Albert, played by Cuba Gooding Jr., who takes Chris to his own personal afterlife, which contains images from Annie's art, right down to their dreamhouse which they planned to build some day.
Meanwhile, Annie, who has suffered through the loss of her children and now her husband, ends up taking her own life. Due to her suicide, she is condemned to hell. Chris, with the help of Albert, traverse heaven and hell to save Annie from an eternity of despair and trepidation.
I found this to be a very uplifting movie. Williams is excellent as Chris, and Sciorra's performance as Annie is very powerful. I enjoyed watching the transformation of both Chris and Annie throughout the film. At the beginning, Chris was somewhat shy and reserved, but by the end, he had become much more courageous and not afraid to fight for what he wanted. Meeanwhile, Annie went from a very happy person to a somewhat hardened person due to the loss of her children and husband. Cuba Gooding Jr. and Max Von Sydow give excellent supporting performances.
I highly recommend this movie. The acting is first rate and the message is very powerful; love knows no bounds, not even death. Watch and enjoy a great uplifting experience.
Rating:
Summary: Mildly depressing, but thought provoking
Review: The movie is based on the author's thoughts on the true nature of the afterlife, (as expressed in the foreword of his novel). The story is both depressing and philosophical. The scenery and special effects are awe inspiring. I really recommend this movie, but beware that it is a real kick in the emotions.
Rating:
Summary: Not Your Typical Love Story
Review: I first saw this movie when I was about thirteen and thought it was cheesy.
I watched it again not too long ago and my opinion was changed completely. Anyone who's in love will definitely smile and cry and adore this movie for its sweetly powerful plot.
Visually, this film is beautiful: full of art with lots of color and outstanding visual effects, but it's a lot more than just an aesthetically pleasing art film. It is a powerful story about love and soulmates which puts forth some very interesting, thought-provoking, and also comforting ideas about life after death.
Rating: 
Summary: This movie sucks.
Review: I rented this movie the other night. I'm telling you... It was simply.. Terrible. I'm not even a Robbin Williams fan in general anyways. It had pretty much no central form of plot or whatsoever. Terrible, just terrible. Don't waste your money or time on this movie.
The only good thing in this movie I thought, considering I'm 16, was Robbin William's character's gorgeous daughter. Wow, wow.
Rating: 
Summary: Strange... Maybe Genius.
Review: I love it when Robin Williams goes away from the norm and makes a movie that many can appreciate for its creativity, kind of like One Hour Photo. This movie, as original as it is, is a very strange, strange movie. Amazingly though, Williams craft grows, and continues too. His acting in this movie is superb, and even believable, even though it's totally unbelievable. Which makes it even better. What's also great about this movie is that anyone who has had a soul mate, maybe to the point of obsession, can appreciate this movie. It's a desire to keep your love, even if it means crossing over Hell to do it.
So, overall interesting. Maybe see it, but with caution.
Rating:
Summary: Swedenborg Comes to Life
Review: Years ago I met the producers of this film when it was just a dream in their imaginations. They are to be congratulated for pulling it off! It took me far too long to see the film, and I truly enjoyed it. Yes, the visual effects really are amazing! The film was moving, and I look forward to watching it again and checking out the DVD so many have mentioned. The extremes in ratings were entertaining to read. It was interesting to read the references to CS Lewis, Monteverdi's Orfeo, and William Blake's Marriage of Heaven and Hell. What nobody has mentioned is that the heaven and hell scenes are based on Emmanuel Swedenborg's visions in his book, Heaven and Hell. A Swedish genius in the 1700's, Swedenborg is a mystic and understands the dynamics of living systems, having first been a mechanical engineering genius, before developing his unusual and fascinating theology. Blake was one of the signers of the charter for the first Swedenborg Church in London, by the way, and Swedenborg influenced Wordsworth, Yeats, John Muir, Emerson, Thoreau, Helen Keller, Mary Baker Eddy, Carl Jung, and others. Another favorite film, about spirituality and romance, otherwise entirely different, is Wim Wenders' Wings of Desire.
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