If you know someone, but now don't know them, Do you know them?

Rating: 10/10 (17 July 2004)

***** Slight spoilers contained herein *****
A lot of people like this movie, but seem to be confused. It's easy to see why you can get confused, but it really isn't that confusing. At the beginning, Joel (Carrey) leaves his home to find his car dented, & ends up taking the train & seems aimlessly lead to the beach. On his way, he meet's Clementine (Winslett) & seems again, aimlessly drawn to her. They speak & hit it off instantly! They get along so well that, as a movie viewer, it is somewhat confusing. Because after their encounter that day & the following sequence, the next scene shows him go to her job, but she doesn't know him & he is obviously hurt. But what needs to be understood is, when the movie actually starts off, it is **AFTER** both Joel & Clementine have had their memories erased.
The key to this is Elijah Wood. He works at the clinic & meets Clementine when she goes there to have her memory erased. But he shows up at her house the day after Joel meet's her at the beginning of the movie & is wondering what Joel is doing there! Elijah Wood's character is your clue that this is after both have had their minds erased. She doesn't know why Elijah Wood is so drawn to her, but she doesn't really like him. & Neither she nor Joel understand why they are so drawn to each other. They have an undeniable kinship even thou they apparently just met. The other key to understand this is the twist at the end with the doctor. (All I'm going to say) But when that scenario plays out, it is basically explained that the mind erasure procedure is not perfect. It can't erase your lower, subconscious brain. Thus, Joel & Clementine know each other, thou they don't recognize each other.
That is what makes this movie so good. This is very realistic in my humble opinion. We don't know enough about the brain to dig deep into the subconscious subsystems of our brains, but the mind erasure procedure is pretty simple to understand. They don't go deep. They have you bring in everything you own that reminds you of the person, & then discuss each thing & explain how you feel about the relationship & the other person. During which, they do a cat scan on your brain & analyze the area's of your brain that are reacting! They have you explain the pieces in order, so they can make a road map thru your mind, & basically damage each small section in order. Erasing the all memories of this person. But this is all pretty much visual memory! So, you don't know the person physically or consciously.
Now think back to old relationships. There are foods or smells or places that you have fond feelings for or can put you in a good mood, but you don't consciously know why. You have to think about it, & then it dawns on you the thing reminds you of some person you used to know... but what if you couldn't possibly remember that person. Only the subconscious feeling would be left. Thou unexplained, you would feel drawn to this smell or place or thing... OR PERSON.
I wish this could be real... This would be so great for all our long-term relationships... if we could erase all the pain & anguish, but still keep the feeling of kinship to the person, & start over. That would be great wouldn't it?
This is the statement the movie made to me! I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, & will be buying it the day it is released on DVD.

5 out of 5 stars for me!!!