Rating: 
Summary: Tear jerker
Review: Okie, I'm a sap. I really enjoyed this film, and fell in love with every character. Joe Black is great, and shouldn't be missed. Watch it with your signifigant other.
Rating:
Summary: Odd Mix: European-Hollywood Crossbreed
Review: I love this movie but it's an odd duck. Most of the complaints about it concern its length. Yes, it's long. But I have not found it too long - I've seen shorter movies that were much longer.What makes this movie odd is that it has the gauzy, high production look of Hollywood but the film has a European sensibility in that scenes tend to be lengthy. Martin Brest lets his characters actually have dialogues, complete with normal human pauses, very much similar to a European approach. If you're conditioned by rock-videos, then you'll find this a bit hard to take, I suppose. But I like the way it allows the story to breathe and unfold at its own pace. At the core of the movie is Anthony Hopkins character and the film really owes a lot to Hopkins' performance. He clearly carries the film, but quite effortlessly. It should also be noted that this film lands solidly in the field of romance - of the Shakespearian variety, not Harlequin. Also, the overall look of the film is gorgeous. It's a great film to simply look at. And the film's score by Thomas Newman is both beautiful and perfect.
Rating: 
Summary: The critics were on holiday.
Review: I didn't see this movie in the theatre because of the critical reviews. I did rent it after listening to the soundtrack. The length of the movie was so necessary to letting the characters explore their feelings instead of quickly cutting to the next scene. I appreciated the directors foresight in this area. I was gratefully surprised by how much I enjoyed this thought-provoking film. One itty-bitty change at the end would have made this a 5 for me.
Rating:
Summary: A film that moves me more with each viewing
Review: I cannot understand why this film has been poorly received by so many people. Perhaps I can only guess that at 3 hours many people are unwilling to invest the time, that the slow introduction to the characters and the rich emotional tones of this movie leave many people behind. For me this film has moved me in ways I cannot adequately describe. All I can say is that every time I watch it I come away with more.
Rating:
Summary: Unexpectedly moving - and worth the time
Review: Don't be put off by the 3 hour running time. The performances and direction, the delicately-told story need the time and make full use of it.
Rating:
Summary: Something special
Review: There is something about this movie that is difficult to put your finger on. It gets under your skin. It's easy to note the beautiful acting of of Anthony Hopkins, Brad Pitt and Claire Forlani, and the absolutely phenomenal cinematography and the sublime soundtrack. But it is more than all of that. The film says something about life and the value of "sucking the marrow" out of it that makes it irresistible to me. And the scene where Pitt and Forlani meet for the first time is one of the sweetest caught on film that I've ever seen.
Rating:
Summary: Claire is wonderful
Review: Although this movie festures Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt, and I consider them both brilliant actors, the one to watch is Claire Forlani. She's wonderful playing the role of Hopkins daughter. She can be intense and sweet at the same moment, you can see she's having a good time while shooting the scene. She makes an excellent pair with Brad Pitt. One of the first scens, where she meets him during breakfest, is amazingly well done, great to watch. Hopkins is great as always, no comments needed. And Brad Pitt has received critics saying he couldn't do Death very well. In my opinion, his character is perfect for Death going on vacation, having some fun, and, the best part, meeting Claire Forlani. He's complete sure of himself early in the movie, and has the perfect touch of anger when Hopkins contradicts him, realising Pitt has fallen for his daughter. The supporting actors were well chosen as well, making it an enjoyble movie, even if it's near three hours long.
Rating:
Summary: Everything about this film is different. Highly recommended
Review: This isn't your typical Hollywood blockbuster. It's different, and different is good. Everything about "Meet Joe Black" is different - the acting, the story, the humor. It's a hard film to describe. I still find the death, early in the film, unexpected and shocking (I won't say more for those who haven't seen the film). You can't analyze the film too much or you won't enjoy it. Death comes calling, in the form of Brad Pitt, and asks if Anthony Hopkins will show death around. The attempts at humor, black as it may be at times, are very effective. You expect a somber film but end up laughing. Pitt's portrayal of death reminds one of a 30-year-old infant at times. Hopkins does a marvelous job as the communication's executive William Parrish. Claire Forlani is both beautiful to watch and believable as Parrish's daughter who falls in love with death personified. Like I said, you can't analyze the film too deeply. The story is refreshing. The acting is superb. All around it's a different, yet highly enjoyable film.
Rating:
Summary: Is There Anything Wrong With This Film?
Review: I don't think so. Don't be deterred by the long running time, it grabs you and doesn't let go, and the last word to use in describing this film is "boring". Death comes to call, in the form of smoldering Brad Pitt, on the wise and affluent media mogul Bill Parrish, played by an always-brilliant Anthony Hopkins. If the movie were entirely about their relationship, which goes from hatred and denial to warm humor and father/son almost constantly, it would be enough. For a little extra, however, we're given the charming and stunning Claire Forlani as the compassionate doctor who falls in the love with Death, under the guise of Joe Black (Pitt). The catch: he's in love with her as well, and she's the daughter of Bill, the man who's destined to leave with Death when he tires of live as a man. Cooperate politics, romance, sex, and witty thoughts on life and death complete this fabulous flim, rounding it out into perfection. Anthony Hopkins is wonderful as Bill, conveying every emotion you'd except with absolute genious, and even a suprising touch of warmth and compassion when it comes to his new friend, Death. He steals the show without actually stealing it, leaving plenty of room for Forlani and Pitt to have a complex and intriguing relationship. There are no good guys and bad guys - if there were, you would leave the theater hating Brad Pitt for what he represtents. You simply don't. A movie that's so easy to fall in love with, without being "too perfect" or sickeningly sweet. In fact, it's rather the opposite, revealing our flaws and imperfections along with all the passion and beauty.
Rating:
Summary: Touching and inspiring
Review: This movie, although long, was very good. The end brought tears to my eyes, and I couldn't get my thoughts off the subject of death for the rest of the day, because this movie brought up new aspects of the topic to think about. Brad Pitt is as good as anyone could be on playing the character of Death, which is a slightly controversial role. It's all a matter of opinion, how you play it, and Pitt's interpretation seems to be telling people that there's nothing to be afraid of while at the same time exercising his power over the mortal race. Excellent film.
| 
