One of my favorites: The Third Time Was A Charm

Rating: 10/10 (2 April 2004)

I watch hundreds of movies every year. Even though I saw Vanilla Sky in 2001 after the initial release, Vanilla Sky has only recently become one of my favorites of all time! I have never before cried with tears rolling down my face in my decades of movie going - I have had my eyes water, but have never been moved to the point of actually crying out loud with tears until I saw this movie for the third time. I am retired from the U.S. Marine Corps, so I was embarrassed as hell, trying to hide my tears from my wife.
The first time I saw Vanilla Sky in the theater, I was not significantly impressed, I enjoyed the movie and I felt that I understood the story, but there was no real impact upon me when compared with other films I have watched. At the time I would not have even considered the film among my favorites. The first time you watch this movie, you may even be a little confused or disappointed. The first time is not a loss though as the actors are beautiful in all aspects. If you have not seen Vanilla Sky, during your first viewing keep in mind that the movie is far deeper than what you may understand or grasp in that first viewing alone. Just enjoy watching the film; do not try to figure anything out. I really think of the first viewing of this movie as more of an introduction - don't try to judge the film upon this first view; just watch. Maybe this is why Vanilla Sky did not receive the best of reviews. How many times does a movie reviewer watch a film before writing, once or twice at the most?
Vanilla Sky is like work of art, upon first glance you may find the film distasteful, but with further study you begin to see the magnificence of the work and are moved. The more you watch, the more you may appreciate and cherish. The film has a depth and longevity that a typical blockbuster-type movie does not. This appreciation of the movie has to be developed over several viewings; this quality likely came at a severe sacrifice to box office sales and initial reviews. I am sure that most of the success of this movie at the box office was carried upon the shoulders of the famous actors and director involved. But, this is a perfect movie to own on DVD because you will enjoy watching the film again and again and with each viewing you may discover something new. After watching Vanilla Sky several times, you begin to notice the intricate details woven within the story. There are many powerful themes to be discovered in Vanilla Sky. The most appreciated things in life do not come to us easily, don't watch this movie just once, you will never appreciate the greatness of the film.