Recent Reviews for Big Fish
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MCT:November 15, 2008A folk lore, a camp fire tail or a fantasy novel with a touch of specail fantasy of a person life to make it more accountable. The story is very good with Burton's direction and acting by Ewan this Big Fish will always be around to bite some ass.
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MCT:November 14, 2008Una de las mejores películas de Tim Burton, una alegoría del significado de la vida que demuestra que un hombre es alguien por sus acciones y por el impacto que deja en la vida de la gente que lo rodea.
Es una película sencilla, que no trata de ser más de lo que es en realidad; un cuento moderno con una bella metáfora bellamente narrada.
Como siempre la dirección es perfecta, con todos los detalles cuidados y con un ritmo sumamente ágil.
La fotografía es realmente creativa, así como el uso del color para resaltar cambios de dirrección en la trama, la cual es realmente original.
Fuerte candidata para clásica.
****1/2 -
MCT:November 11, 2008
besiar besiar doost dashtani ...
avvalin bari ke Tv iran neshoon dad nesfe didam o goftam ajab film e cherti !!! ( ba khodam goftam ke az tim burton baeede !! :D )
amma badan be tosie yeki az doostam film ro gir avordam o ta akhar didam ...
khaili khosham oomad ...
inja akhar film lo mire !!! age nemikhayd akharesh ro bedoonid inja ro nakhoonid !!!
sahneye payani film jayi ke pesar ba pedar hamrah mishe o mesle pedaresh ghesse tarif mikone ( dar hali ke pedar dare mimire ) binazie !!! binazrrrrrrr ... -
MCT:November 10, 2008
There's a time when a man needs to fight and a time when he needs to accept that his destiny's lost, the ship has sailed and that only a fool will continue. The truth is I've always been a fool.
Directed by: Tim Burton
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange, Helena Bonham Carter
Genre: Adventure/Comedy/Drama/Fantasy
Running time: 120 minutes
My review:
A story about a son trying to learn more about his dying father by reliving stories and myths his father told him about himself.
Big Fish was really knocked around at the start before it was released because it is a film from Tim Burton which is really bright and heartwarming which isnt really like him. Also because there wasnt any actors involved in this film who have been in a film with Tim Burton before apart from Helena Bonham Carter and Danny DeVito. I thought that at first but when I saw this film, I was totally blown away by how beautiful this film really is. I think the odds of the success of this film at first were against Tim because of how different this film is. But some people state that this film is his best film. People would choose either Big Fish, Sweeney Todd, Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, Beetlejuice or Ed Wood. This film made me feel really good because of its beautiful story and its inspiring characters within it. It also had a very cute meaning because it tought me what life really is about which is what a lot of films have tought me. It is a heartwarming fairy tale that is complex for a family film and is very creative and magical. This is inside Tim Burtons imagination just like Edward Scissorhands. I am unsure whether than fantasy place where Bloom went where he met that giant Karl and met a few other characters was in his imagination or really happening. That is why I have to say that this is Tim Burtons most complex film so far.
Ewan McGregors performance as young Ed Bloom was really good. His acting was like Ed was confused with the fantasy world and the illusion he was involved in with himself. Albert Finneys performance was awesome! It was the best from the whole film. He really do anything wrong at all with his acting. He did look like a really adorable heartwarming actor to portray a character like that. He looks like Ewan McGregor aswell so thats another reason why. Albert was snubbed of an Oscar nomination. Personally, I think that when there are scenes with Ewan as Bloom and Albert as Bloom, they are obviously the same character but I do find for some reason them both to be portraying different sorts of characters. Billy Crudup was really good too as Will Bloom because he makes him act like more of a curious yet passionate character than I was expecting he was going to be. Jessica Lange was really good aswell as elder Sandra Bloom. Helena Bonham Carters second collaboration with partner Tim Burton was a far better one than their previous film together which was Planet Of The Apes. I find Jennys character a very mysterious character because she has always had a little crush on Ed Bloom ever since she was a little girl. Also, because of why she is so lonely, why she always has her cats with her and also why she lived in a random house in the woods. That is why I think Helena was really good for her character. I found the witch character quite a confusing character to calculate because I didnt really understand what was with her eye. I did think that maybe it could tell the future. The costume on Helena was really good which made her look similar to Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street. But make-up on her for the witch was obviously very good but didnt look anything like Mrs. Lovett. Steve Buscemi was really good in this film as Norther Winslow. He makes me laugh all time which is why I think Steve Buscemi deserves to be a character like Norther Winslow because he was a humourous character to witness. Danny DeVito made me laugh aswell as he always does aswell as circus ringmaster Amos Calloway. I liked Alison Lohman as young Sandra Bloom and also Oscar winner Marion Cotillard as Will Blooms pregnant wife Josephine.
Tim Burtons direction in Big Fish is in a lot of ways typical from Tim but in a different way it is a new way of direction from Tim Burton. Tim Burton has made this film his second most heartwarming film after Edward Scissorhands. Also, he made Big Fish his brighest (brightly coloured) film yet. As I said, I think the odds were against Tim with the success of this film because of how bright this film really is. There is a lot of bright colours involved especially when Bloom enters that land where there is bright lights, beautiful houses and really nice people. In a slight way at the same time, I find that like typical Tim Burton because it is like a setting and a film that a guy is in an extremely bizzare sort of illusion with himself and his life.
It was like overrated because obviously its Tim Burton but can be underrated too because it is a Tim Burton film that not many people really appreciate because of its bright characters. The script was awesome aswell. This film is a novel but if it was without the fantasy world, the giant and the business with Bloom and the large fish then this would have been an excellent life story. It is a script that tries to revolutionise the meaning of life. But it does try and beat other previous classic films that try and show us what life really is about. Still a class script though.
This film was obviously very different compared to other Tim Burton films like Beetlejuice, Batman, Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street. But this is Tim Burtons most brightly coloured film with brightly hearted characters since Pee Wees Big Adventure which I have yet to see. At first, I didnt think I would like it. I was right the first time I saw it but when I did watch it for the second time, I thought why didnt I like it before?. Ed Blooms character is like a whole new type of character that is the first time to witness.
The chemistry between Ed Bloom and Sandra is obviously real love. It was love at first sight when Bloom witnesses Sandra in the circus. I could feel the love between Finney as Ed and Lange as Sandra but I couldnt really between McGregor as Ed and Lohman as Sandra because it felt more like an obsession from Ed than instant love. Eds relationship with Jenny is friendship at first but Jenny has always had love feelings for Ed but Ed is obviously with his wife Sandra. The friendship between Ed Bloom and giant Karl was obviously a hard relationship because Karl is far bigger because hes a giant but Karl does try and teach Ed about himself.
The art direction was superb which is half typical Burton but half non Burton which is really new. The costumes were sort of quite like period dramas like Pride And Prejudice, Atonement, Titanic and more. The music was awesome once again from Danny Elfman as he never seems to disappoint. It was very heartwarming and very emotional. The visual effects were really good on the large fish and also on the large giant Karl too. It really looked like a real person and the fish looked like a real fish of a rare type too.
This film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score for Danny Elfman but lost to The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King. It was robbed for Oscar nominations like Best Supporting Actor (Albert Finney) and Best Art Direction. It would have been nominated for Best Picture if it was nominated for an acting nomination, directing nomination and writing nomination. It was nominated for four Golden Globe nominations: Best Picture Musical/Comedy but lost to Lost In Translation, Best Supporting Actor (Albert Finney) but lost to Tim Robbins in Mystic River, Best Song (Man Of The Hour) but lost to Into The West in The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King and Best Original Score but lost to The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King.
This is my favourite Albert Finney film so far. I sort of liked Ewan McGregor in this film but I prefer his acting in Moulin Rouge!, Trainspotting the prequel Star Wars trilogy and The Island. I loved Helena Bonham Carter in this film too as Jenny but I prefer her in Sweeney Todd obviously. Danny DeVito and Steve Buscemi made me laugh in this film too and their performances were really good aswell. I did love this film from Tim Burton obviously but I prefer Burton films Sweeney Todd, Edward Scissorhands and Sleepy Hollow. Big Fish is a masterpiece and a masterpiece that should have been nominated for Best Picture. That is where I find this film like Sweeney Todd because they are both films that have been snubbed from the Best Picture Oscar nominations. They are the only two Tim Burton films that have ever been close. I dont think Tim Burton will ever make another brightly charactered film like this ever again. If he does then it cant be better than Big Fish because Big Fish is a masterpiece and is one of the best films of 2003. That is where it deserves its place in my favourite films list. -
MCT:November 9, 2008
Wow, i was NOT expecting to love this movie as much as I did. Its soo bizarre, so different, and i love how you can never tell whats fanstasy and whats reality. In the end, Edward had been telling the truth about everything, he just liked to exaggerate a bit! I love it, Ewan is great!
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MCT:November 8, 2008
Fantastical fantasy movie. The usual Tim Burton, but this time, he evokes tears out of his audiences. Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup and Marion Cotillard were all impressive.
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MCT:November 7, 2008
After minute :
An exquisite journey which is very dreamy . heartwarming . tearjerker.imaginative and most of all it's beautiful & super lovelyDREAM BIG
Fantasize . That's all you gotta' do .
Big Fish taught me a very important thing . Never let your fantasy dies . Forever and ever .
Big Fish is an enchanting journey pictured beautifully , magically and dreamy (and romantic) . One of the best Tim Burton film i have ever enjoyed , not as dark and gothic as usual , Big Fish is a very bright and colorful yet sophisticated movie which play your fantasy and reality in the same time , with misty cinematography .
With music from Danny Elfman , who always lives the movie , also worked in Big Fish . Made it magical , hypnotizing and beautiful as always , especially with the brilliantly creative story-telling ways .
Big Fish has such a memorable character played with beautiful casts .
Ewan Mcgregor , Billy Crudup , Jessica Lange, Marion Cottilard,Danny De Vito ,and our nepotism lady Helena Bonham Carter . Every movement and words came from them just really wonderful .
At the end, Big Fish is one of the most magical presentation from Tim Burton which playing happily with our childish side without insulting our intellegence .
"There's a time when a man needs to fight and a time when he needs to accept that his destiny's lost, the ship has sailed and that only a fool will continue. The truth is I've always been a fool. "
-Edward Bloom-
by Ewan Mcgregor -
MCT:November 6, 2008very good life, really creative , bit sad though but i enjoyed the story and how that people do over exaggerate to keep folk interested in stories
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MCT:November 4, 2008
One of the most weird movies of Tim Burton... for being more normal than usual. It's a classic beautiful tale about a storyteller who wants to revive all his like from his imaginary point of view. Very emotional and touchy, it's really a fantastic movie to see, though maybe a little bit too long.
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MCT:October 30, 2008Throughout the movie I was impressed by its visuals but a bit annoyed by its invasive score. The stories this man would tell were amazingly tall, but an absolute joy to listen to.
Unfortunately his son had grown tired of these stories as an adult.
Its a very lighthearted movie with a beautiful relationship between father and son. The last 10 minutes were the most tearful I've had watching a movie in a very very long time.
Overall I think this and Sweeney Todd are Tim Burtons best movies by a mile. -
MCT:October 28, 2008
"An adventure as big as life itself."
Tim Burton directs the fantasy drama Big Fish, based on the book Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions by Southern writer/illustrator Daniel Wallace. Billy Crudup plays William Bloom, a young man who never really knew his dying father, Edward (Albert Finney) outside of the tall tales he told about growing up, making his way, and meeting his mother (played as a young woman by Alison Lohman and in older age by Jessica Lange). During Edward's last days, William and his wife Josephine (Marion Cotillard) hold bedside vigil as the old man recollects elaborate memories of his youth (in which he is played by Ewan McGregor). Still doubting the the legends and folklore, William makes a journey to meet a mysterious woman (Helena Bonham Carter) from whom Edward had bought property. Steve Buscemi and Danny De Vito also star.
Review
What can I say. What a film. Tim Burton's 'Big Fish' is fantastic from beginning to end. The charming tale of Ed Bloom's life and the amazing adventures he has been on make this film a great one to see.
Whether you are a Burton fan or not I highly recommend this film to anybody who enjoys adventure films. The great thing about this is that the movie doesn't just focus on the adventures themselves, it goes deeper to show the basis of the adventures and the ways in which they are told. The adventures of Ed Bloom are paralleled in his son, Will, who is on an adventure of his own, to find out the truth to his fathers life.
Overall, the journey we see all characters go on and the tale of a storyteller makes this film a definite must see. -
MCT:October 25, 2008
A very good movie! Much what you would expect a Tim Burton movie to be. Its truly unique, quirky and inventive, with funny and far-reaching stories which are really entertaining. My flatmate hated it though >_<
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MCT:October 10, 2008
Directed By: Tim Burton
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Helena Bonham Carter, Marion Cotilard, Danny DeVito, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup
My Review:
An adventure as big as life itself. Life is adventure.
For this movie, yeah, maybe for this movie only, I will make it shorter I hope. One way or two to describe this movie? Wonderful and very creative. Who else could be that creative except Tim Burton, that eccentric director. Yeah, this movie is imaginative, and I've mention the way I describe this movie above.
The cast are good, especially Ewan McGregor of course. This movie is quite colorful, unlike Tim's other movie that contain Gothic style. Maybe it's Tim Burton best romance since that Edward Scissorhand. Same Tim Burton but different Edward eh? Well, I love the score, the story, quite confusing in first five minutes but stunning for the rest of it, and also heart-melting in the end. Nice cinematography, fresh humor, romantic scene and quotes, also full of wise words.
Short isn't it? Well, I dunno why, but I just wanna make a short and simple review for this movie. There are some fish that cannot be caught. It's not that they are faster or stronger than other fish, in this case, that fish is Tim Burton's Big Fish.
Memorable Moments:
Every story about young Edward. Especially when he met Sandra in her college, calling her name, surrounded by lots of daffodil.
Memorable Quotes:
Young Ed Bloom: You don't know me but my name is Edward Bloom and I love you.
Young Ed Bloom: Sandra Templeton, I love you and I WILL marry you!
Sandra Templeton:Daffodil!
Young Ed Bloom: Your favorite flower.
Sandra Templeton: How did you get so many?
Young Ed Bloom:I called everywhere in 5 states. I told them this is the only way to get my wife to marry me.
Sandra Templeton: You don't even know me.
Young Ed Bloom: I have the rest of my life to find out. -
MCT:October 5, 2008having a little imagination, fantasy allows an interesting journey in life. as long dun bring any harm to any1 will do lor. ;p
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MCT:October 4, 2008
This movie was better than I thought before I watched it. Well worth a watch. Very entertaining. I loved the stories told by the father.
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MCT:October 4, 2008
A dreamy experience that ponders on the truth behind our lives. Life can be however you want it to be.
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MCT:October 4, 2008
An Adventure As Big As Life Itself
Rated: (PG-13)
Directed by: Tim Burton
Casts : Ewan McGregor,Albert Finney,Billy Crudup,Jessica Lange,Danny DeVito,Helena Bonham Carter,Marion Cottilard
Genres: Drama
Released: December 10, 2003
THE TAGLINE SAID IT ALL
Burton's Big Fish is a features full of whimsical imaginary creatures and an exquisite tales,which attacks every childlikeness in people's soul,and make it completely believable and truly honest.Big Fish is a amazing adventure also a ride of joy,with it's every magnificent details.
Burton and Elfman,once again,brought a story so impeccable,so everyone can relate to it without feeling ashame nor skeptical to this utterly engaging tales.Big Fish revolves around man's peculiar imagination,which tore down his relationship with his own son.And along with father-son reunionship,the film unravels father's life story,which being so unbelievably fancy,more dreamlike.
The story of Edward Bloom,is more of a pack of grandiose extravaganza than a biopic tales.And similar like all Burton's movie,this film packed with wonderful scenes,and poetic string of scores.
And despite all the fanciness of this movie,I discovered more,the true essence of this story.Big Fish is a story of a family,not so filled with trust,and how they can ended up with trusting one another,and how's story so unbelievable can be a story of man's life.The true essence of this movie is about believing dreams,the same way with Will Bloom,who discovered his dad's dreams lies within a true stories.
Big Fish is is an embodiment of man's life story,whether fact or fiction.With magical illumination spread along the way,but in the end,all we got to do,is just believe.Big Fish is a movie larger than the story itself,a standing ovation for Burton and his amazing talents behind or in front-of the camera.
Warm.Dazzling.Captivating yet so enchanting,without questioning the intellegence of the audience.BRILLIANT!
A man tells his stories so many times that he becomes the stories. They live on after him, and in that way he becomes immortal.
Will Bloom -
MCT:October 3, 2008
Big Fish is a lil bit different that most of Tim Burton movies...but don't expect any normalcy here, I mean It's Tim Burton, what do u expect? The story is unique and the cinematography is waesome
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MCT:October 2, 2008
This is one of my favorite of Tim Burton's and one of his best. I love the story and feel of the film! It's full of Burton's strangeness, but it doesn't overshadow, darken, or depress the film at all. Its very well acted by all, except a few one liner characters (I'm looking at YOU Miley Cyrus). Finney and McGregor are amazing. They look and seem like the same person throughout the whole film. Buscemi and Devito were also fun to watch.
But what I love about this movie is the story. It's morals, it's message, and the imaginative stories that Bloom tells. You never know what will happen next in them. The movie is a really Big Fish tale, but it still has that ring of truth about it that helps it seem real.
"A man tells his stories so many times that he becomes the stories. They live on after him, and in that way he becomes immortal." -
MCT:October 1, 2008
Good movie...
Subtle, delicate, touching and fascinating pledge for the life as fruit of dream. About the ambiguous taste of imagination and about existence like a spectacular trip. About desire and reality like warm bread.
The director of "Big Fish" is Tom Burton. It is only decent definition of a film -mixture between childhood and small miracles, about a special image of ordinaries gestures and about hope in eccentric aspects. The texture is same of grandmother's tales in Christmas Eve or Sunday morning. A brave hero, strange village, temptation and huge love, success and discoveries, miracles and public,secret sense of life and courage. So, in many cases, the reality is only boring passage and the dream, the childish game, the sound of angel's voice or the strange facts are heart of magnificent act of contemplation.
It is a moral story but, in same measure is source of a way to look the world. The life is not a punish or bag of routine. The faith is not only part of a relation with God but with yourself. The others are, in great measure, parts of funny miracle and ineffable expectation.
The Ewan McGregor acting is brilliant. Nuances, accents, inflexion of words, smile or gestures are bricks of a magnificent character, touching, warm, credible. In some moments, the film is spectacular dialog between McGregor and Albert Finney interpretation.
In fact, "Big Fish" is a tale. A fairy tale about life's magic out of words or exterior facts.
I love it. -
MCT:September 28, 2008
An adventure as big as life itself.
DIRECTED BY: Tim Burton
STARRING: Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Blly Crudup, Jessica Lange, Helena Bonham Carter, Alison Lohman, Robert Giullaume, Marion Cotillard, Steve Buscemi, Danny DeVitoSynopsis
Tim Burton directs the fantasy drama Big Fish, based on the book Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions by Southern writer/illustrator Daniel Wallace. Billy Crudup plays William Bloom, a young man who never really knew his dying father, Edward Bloom (Albert Finney) outside of the tall tales he told about growing up, making his way, and meeting his mother, Sandra Bloom (played as a young woman by Alison Lohman and in older 
age by Jessica Lange). During Edward's last days, William and his wife Josephine (Marion Cotillard) hold bedside vigil as the old man recollects elaborate memories of his youth (in which he is played by Ewan McGregor). Still doubting the the legends and folklore, William makes a journey to meet a mysterious woman (Helena Bonham Carter) from whom Edward had bought property.Source: StarpulseMy Review
With the director Tim Burton and the composer Danny Elfman, we all have imagined Big Fish to be a NICE EDWARD SCISSORHANDS ENCORE. The truth is, not exactly an encore, but still supplied with the same tone, heartwarming fairy tale for all ages, and Burton-Elfman-ish style.
Adapted from a book by Daniel Wallace, Burton convinced us that the movie is at least as good as the book, without losing his directing style in each angles. The UNIQUE storyline with imaginative characters were represent well by Burton into the screen of a movie. I haven't watched the book yet, but I'm sure that the movie Big Fish is exactly what the readers hope. Bunch of great casts, and memorable quotes, deeply acted, and well executed. But what I concern about is, I'm afraid that after a few years, Big Fish will be only well remebered as another hot job from Burton, a nice Scissorhands' follower, and then there will be nothing much left about it, becuase it is not as good as Scissorhands is every way.
Albert Finney gave a perfect performance as the older Edward Bloom, his performance was REMARKABLE. And to mention Jessica Lange and Ewan McGregor which gave honorable pwerformances, supported the movie well, quite convincing. Helena Bonham Carter is without any doubt, a true actress, she nailed all her roles in every movies she played well. But, only heaven knows whether she got her roles here because of her quality, or well, nepotism. I mean, first this Big Fish, and then Corpse Bride, and Sweeney Todd. But who cares, I'm sure she'll be as great as she is now without staying under Burton's shadow.
Overall Big Fish is a fairy tale with a troop of great casts (means you don't have to worry about the actings development, they are all in the good hands). ANOTHER 'BIG' WORK OF ART FROM BURTON.
I was thinking about death and all. About seeing how you're gonna die. I mean, on one hand, if dying was all you thought about, it could kind of screw you up. But it could kind of help you, couldn't it? Because you'd know that everything else you can survive.
-Edward Bloom-
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MCT:September 21, 2008
"A man tells his stories so many times that he becomes the stories. They live on after him, and in that way he becomes immortal."
"You become what you always were - a very big fish."
"You were a big fish in a small pond, but this here is the ocean and your drownin".- -
MCT:September 20, 2008
Amazingly artistic. Yet very melancholy, but somehow I loved it in whole. It was a beautiful film and is one of those movies that at the end, when you are all teary and slightly saddened, you begin to think about your life and what you can do to live adventurously, freely, and to the fullest :)
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MCT:September 18, 2008
This show is just another one of Tim Burton's greatest ever. I feel Albert Finney gave the best performance out of all of them, Ewan McGregor following close behind. This really makes you think and you'll have a whole new appreciation for life. It's awesome!
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MCT:September 17, 2008
This is one of the strangest but yet one of the best movie i've seen. This movie is a great tall tale. Tim Burton really catches the attention of audiences with his work of art in this film. It must have taken lots of planning to make this wondrous film.
