Really Different...But Great!

Rating: Null/10 (7 February 2004)

I'm so glad I found this 'site', to read others views, especially about this film, 'Big Fish', as it was very 'different', and thought provoking! I didn't know a thing about the movie or anything about the director before I saw it (hey... not a big movie buff, but learning!) and I can see now, by the listing of his previous works, most of his movies, normally, wouldn't interest me...though, I might get 'adventurous' and check out some of the others! We left the cinema and I said to my daughter that "it reminded me in many ways of Forest Gump", and now, I read and see, many others , feel the same...sorry to those who disagree,though, it would be really interesting to understand the 'similarities' for those who thought alike! For me, It was more than just the 'Southern' accents and scenery...I think the fantasy of the story, flowing into seemingly everyday/normal situations, that we all understand, and then,'tricking' the viewer back into the,'fantasy' within the story, with an easy assimilation, was the strong common element to both these films! Reading through other peoples perceptions has given me clarity to my jumbled 'feeling' about the movie..and yes I love the 'fantasy' and even the 'sentimentality'... though, the 'realistic' part of me kept saying,... " Wil, Ask your mother the truths"!(Like...How the parents met/got together, and about his misunderstandings and questions!) ...that... drove me nuts!... even though I adore Jessica Lange as an actress and all credits to her for a wonderful performance, but the character felt frustratingly 'weak' for my liking. The bath scene and (1st ending!)were beautiful...and the rest of the movie...great cinematography, great(big)cast, warm feeling and humorous story line, touching, though, at times, confusing, drawn out eg Spectre...(forest - spiders/trees etc)..though my understanding of this, was it was his fears and anxiety about 'getting out' in the big wide world!? I'll explore this feeling more when I watch it again! Wil's wife in the movie 'looked beautiful', especially close ups!Great 'facial expressions' for that role and the camera loves her!I'll be watching this movie again... no doubt, quite a few times!