Tremendous film reaching for the sublime...

Rating: 10/10 (8 August 2007)

While this magnificent film should be seen in a theater it's worth it to see the DVD background and the intense devotion to the story by the various designers and crew caught up in the vision. Indeed, it's fun to see actors Jackman and Weisz pulling back a bit at times to poke a little fun at their roles. That said, there's little to add to the above reviews as to the film's imagery and beauty. I would suggest that the "Future-2500" segments may come close to overreaching at times for some but for me were enthralling. The acting was outstanding and career-making for the leads and the support alike...The Grand Inquisator and the Francisan being two especially fine performances.
Spoiler...My own view of the film follows a few others in feeling the 1500 segment is 2006 wife Izzy's book, her attempt to help her husband as well as herself deal with the inevitability of her death, while the 2500 segment is husband Tom's final chapter, written at her request in which he finally comes to terms with her death. The true ending for me is Tom planting the seed of the amazing Guatamalan tree which furnished a cure for both aging and cancer-one which came too late to save his wife- and then at last saying good-bye to her. But I'm probably being too pragmatic.
A hard film for me to watch, sharing some of its issues, but one you should not miss.