Not a great fan of this one

Rating: 7/10 (21 November 2006)

Not a fan of the movie. Spoiler ahead I liked that she saved him in the end but it just completely defeats the point of the movie. Also I'm all about suspending disbelief but I just couldn't completely go there with this one. Why her? Where did she get this power to narrate people's lives? What about the rest of Harold's life? Why this instant? Okay, So I know why. She was too preoccupied with death to live and through his "death" he had to learn to live- blah blah blah_ but still. What about her other stories? She was preoccupied with death then why not those people? Where does this gift come from? Maybe I would be able to believe a little more if an explanation was given.
Also this movie fell prey to breaking its own rules. Harold is not in control of his life right? But when he finds out how he going to die and decides he's in control then that defeats the whole point doesn't it? Also she narrates that he is unaware of his death as he makes last phone calls. But Harold is aware. If one can assume that the movie is book and she says then end it is just okay but doesn't make sense with the rest of the book (which is true) doesn't the movie also suck? (which it does in some ways). Furthermore, is Dustin Hoffman's character honestly telling Harold he should die for the sake of the novel ( granted at this point we don't know how he dies but still)? Saving a boy is great and all but come on.
I thought that maybe there was a point to the movie. That maybe is was some kind of metaphor that the narrator is God or something and showing how sometimes he/she as to take good people even if they don't want to but have to. Then they had the real ending which I'll admit I like that he lived, but totally went against where the rest of the movie was going.
One more nuisance, anyone else notice the mise-en-scene? It was hitting you over the face with it almost. I keep trying to figure out the point of it.
The movie wasn't horrible. If you don't over think it, it was funny the acting was mostly good and only a little too long. However a lot of better movies have shown the whole live life to the fullest song and dance a lot better. See, My Life, Life As a House, It's a Wonderful Life, Pay It Forward, even Angelina Jolie's long forgotten, Life or Something Like It for much better versions.
7.5-8/10