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Amazon.co.uk Review
After a string of mediocre movies, director Tim Burton regains his footing as he shifts from macabre fairy tales to southern tall tales. Big Fish twines in and out of the oversized stories of Edward Bloom, played as a young man by Ewan McGregor and as a dying father by Albert Finney. Edward's son Will (Billy Crudup) sits by his father's bedside but has little patience with the old man's fables, because he feels these stories have kept him from knowing who his father really is. Burton dives into Bloom's imagination with zest, sending the determined young man into haunted woods, an idealised southern town, a travelling circus and much more. The result is sweet but--thanks to the director's dark and clever sensibility--never saccharine. The film also features Jessica Lange, Alison Lohman, Helena Bonham Carter, Danny DeVito and Steve Buscemi. --Bret Fetzer
Synopsis
In Tim Burton's family film Big Fish, a wonderful storyteller named Edward Bloom (Albert Finney), who lives in a small town in Alabama, recounts tall tales of his wild worldly adventures. These are shown in flashback with Ewan McGregor playing the young Bloom. Wonderful special effects and vibrant colours that pop off the screen make this Burton film a much sunnier experience than his macabre gems Edward Scissorhands and Beetlejuice. Yet his signature quirky artistry is unmistakable, and the movie benefits from crisp production values and a loveable, bizarre cast of characters.
Told through a series of vignettes, Bloom's stories involve a witch, a giant, a haunted forest, and yes, a big fish. A self-described small-town hero, Bloom explains how he left home at 18 determined to experience anything and everything life could dish out. He worked for the circus, took on daring assignments as a WWII soldier, and rambled across the country as a zany travelling salesman. Utterly unbelievable yet magical and delightful, Bloom's stories just don't translate to his son Will (Billy Crudup) who wants to know his dad's "true" life story. But little by little--through increasingly outlandish tales at which Will cannot resist smirking--the two begin to understand each other, and Bloom weaves his stories into their genealogical fabric.
Told through a series of vignettes, Bloom's stories involve a witch, a giant, a haunted forest, and yes, a big fish. A self-described small-town hero, Bloom explains how he left home at 18 determined to experience anything and everything life could dish out. He worked for the circus, took on daring assignments as a WWII soldier, and rambled across the country as a zany travelling salesman. Utterly unbelievable yet magical and delightful, Bloom's stories just don't translate to his son Will (Billy Crudup) who wants to know his dad's "true" life story. But little by little--through increasingly outlandish tales at which Will cannot resist smirking--the two begin to understand each other, and Bloom weaves his stories into their genealogical fabric.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a great film, unlike any other you will have seen before. It tells the story of Edward Bloom (played by Albert Finney and Ewan Mcgregor)through the eyes of his sceptical son Will. Edwards life, as told by Edward himself, was a whirlwind journey across the world where he encounters giants, a fantasy village, and a half-man, half-horse circus conductor (played by Danny DeVito). As the film continues, it becomes clear that Will has strong doubts about all his fathers stories. But when he realises his father has little time left to live, he finally starts to explore his fathers life and it emerges that some of his stories may actually be true after all. This is a heart-warming tale of fantasy colliding with reality, and has a truly magical ending. You will not be disappointed. You do not have to be a fan of Ewan Mcgregor to enjoy this, as i wasnt before seeing this film, but i found his acting range superb. Excellent Film for all ages.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
What a great story about the art of story-telling. This is the first review i have ever written, which shows how highly i rate this film. I have watched it a number of times now... and each time it gives you something new and leaves you satisfied. There is so much to this film that its hard to know where to begin. Firstly, it is pretty obvious that this is a bit of a departure for Tim Burton, being that it is not as dark as most of his other films. However, his quirkiness and eye for detail remain (his best qualities as a film-maker in my opinion) and together with a story that is driven by the narrative (again-rare for Burton-esque films) and a cast on top-form (esp. Danny DeVito & Albert Finney) he has put together a great great film, that really does have everything. It has lots of hilarious moments, a few scary moments, romantic moments, and some very sad and emotional moments. It is a story rooted in reality with a dose of fantasy combined with a dash of Burton brilliance.... to make it truly magical.
This film reminds you of the power of story-telling. It tells you that it is a gift to have an active imagination and to use it to inspire others.
Its just a shame it wasn't a commercial success. On the other hand, it doesn't surprise me...for a film to be a commercial success nowadays it has to either be; epic in some way; full of CGI; filmed in New Zealand; starring Tom Cruise.
This film reminds you of the power of story-telling. It tells you that it is a gift to have an active imagination and to use it to inspire others.
Its just a shame it wasn't a commercial success. On the other hand, it doesn't surprise me...for a film to be a commercial success nowadays it has to either be; epic in some way; full of CGI; filmed in New Zealand; starring Tom Cruise.
So, buy this film and make it into a commercial grower!
Oh....it has a really great song over the end credits aswell.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Tim Burton has often been, well, a little too weird for me. This film is one of his more accessible ones, and is very charming with it.
With a great cast (Billy Crudup of Almost Famous is particularly good, as are Ewan MacGregor and Albert Finney), the general impression is of a sort of Alice in Wonderland for the modern age.
A son and a father who haven't talked in 3 years are brought together when the father seems like he's about to die. The son has been embarrassed by his father's tall tales for years, and now he wants to REALLY know what his father did with his life. It appears the truth is at least as stange as the fiction, as we are taken through numerous flashbacks to see the incredible life he led.
There's no huge drama here, and nothing in the way of explosions or other obvious Hollywood tools for manipulating the audience. Just a darn good tale and some wonderful photography to set it off.
The extras on the DVD are excellent too, making this well worth buying for those kind of Saturday nights where you just want to relax and watch a NICE film.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Inventive!
An inventive and imaginative plot. A father with larger than live tales, and a son that his grown out of believing them. Read more
Published 2 days ago by Mark
Great Family Viewing.
Arrived on time and great price. Whole family loved this film. Watched this a few times and enjoy it every time. Brilliant idea, very different to other films I've watched. Read more
Published 24 days ago by Betty
What a Lovely, Strange, Film....
Tim Burton always produces remarkable motion pictures, whether they're ultimately that good, or not. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Tim Kidner
Quick delivery-Great condition.
My product was very cheap- i expected it to be a lot more expensive. The delivery stated it would take 3-5 working days but i received my item 2 days after ordering which i was... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Eilidh
"The story of my life..."
Edward Bloom was always a teller of tall tales, his stories make him king of the dinner party and a well-loved family personality, but his son Billy finds them boring and a barrier... Read more
Published 6 months ago by GeekZilla
Brilliant Big Fish
Its no Big Fish to say this film is an all time great film, it has you gripped from the very start, truelly makes you happy sad and all kinds of emotions rolled in to one event of... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Hicksonone
Very touching and inspiring
Before i watched the film i was a bit dubious about it as i didn't really know what it was about.
However within the first 10 minutes, i was hooked and it just went from... Read more
However within the first 10 minutes, i was hooked and it just went from... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Alex Habeck
A Tim Burton modern classic!! Yummy
If you love quirky weird and wacky here is your film! It's got Tim Burton written all over it with a weird plot and surreal characters, its more than i could have asked for. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Mrs. D. Guest
Awesome
The first time I tried to watch this film there were distractions from family members so lost the plot of the film. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Lambchop
Great movie shame about the blu ray
This is a great movie and one of Tim Burtons best.Unfortunately it is not worth watching on Blu ray as the dvd is almost the same quality,not sure what happened with the high... Read more
Published on 8 Mar 2010 by Pete B
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