One Of Tim Burton's Very Best. A Cinema Classic.

Rating: 9/10 (19 September 2010)

next to 'Ed Wood' and 'Sweeney Todd', this is my favorite of all of Tim Burton's delightful visual works. Tim Burton has never made a bad film. some are kind of a miss, like the over-blown 'Alice in Wonderland', but never are they bad. as a matter of fact they're always kind of wonderful and magical. Burton has definitely sparked and revolutionized the conscious imagination of everyone who has seen his films.
this is also probably Burton's most sensitive film. it's pretty much a tear jerker, but it's not maudlin or syrupy either. just very sentimental in a rather dry, matter of fact way. it's a film that is honest about confronting death and makes no claims as to what is or isn't on the other side.
to say this film (or any Burton film), is highly imaginative, would be an understatement. i grew up on Disney films, but Burton's movies have still managed to take my imagination places it had never been before. i also think it's interesting how Burton always combines surreal images with ones that feel very real and ordinary.
it's also interesting to note several years later that this film marked the movie debut of Destiny Cyrus. and she's as cute as a button here. it's hard to believe she grew to be the jaded show business type she's become lately.
'Big Fish' is hilarious with it's messages. of course the obvious one being the title, a big fish is a whopper,and that of course means a lie. it also points out that in a lot of fabrications there is often a lot of truth to it and to be found.