Big Fish

Big Fish

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Editorial Reviews

A MAGICAL JOURNEY THAT DELVES DEEP INTO A FABLED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A DYING FATHER & HIS SON. THE SON RECREATES HIS FATHER'S ELUSIVE LIFE IN A SERIES OF LEGENDS & MYTHS INSPIRED BY THE FEW FACTS HE KNOWS, DISCOVERING BOTH HIS FATHER'S GREAT FEATS & HIS GREAT FAILURES.

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 (Moulin Rouge, Down with Love) and as a dying father by Albert Finney (Tom Jones). Edward's son Will (Billy Crudup, Almost Famous) 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 idealized Southern town, a traveling circus, and much more. The result is sweet but--thanks to the director's dark and clever sensibility--never saccharine. Also featuring Jessica Lange, Alison Lohman, Helena Bonham Carter, Danny DeVito, and Steve Buscemi. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews

Big Fish

Reviewed by A. Muhly, 2010-01-17

I enjoyed the movie very much. I've wanted to expand my movie collection and found this is a perfect addition.

Big Fish

Reviewed by J. Weichers, 2010-01-17

We looked for this movie EVERYWHERE around home and no one carries it. a lot of stores cant even order it... but we found it on here. love it!

LOVE this fun movie!

Reviewed by Shuree D. Munden-Wagstaff, 2010-01-07

If you loved The Princess Bride..you will love this one too! This is a great movie for ANYONE to cherish! Fun, thoughtful and well written and directed. Would highly recommend. Great gift movie too!

A moving story

Reviewed by Janice Gilchrist, 2009-12-28

A great film I must say indeed. I first saw this movie as a young child. Appreciation of cinema has led me back to once watch it again. I Give this film 4 stars, but I do not have the desire to tell you anything about the story, it would't be the same, but I'll give you a hint. Its a combination of a more believable Alice in Wonderland and Forest Gump in the most delightful way imaginable. I hope you enjoy this film as I sure have.

Are The Tales Really All That Tall?

Reviewed by Scott, 2009-11-29

I really liked this movie, and despite its emotional ending I was somewhat disappointed to find out that the man was a liar all along. Okay, the few final scenes may be open to interpretation, but I still say the guy's a liar. Of course, most people probably know that before they even open the DVD box, but I've always been quite gullible.

But the more I thought about it, the more I thought that we all have tall tales to tell about ourselves. I mean, I've had a cat that could sleep with his eyes open, I've had a job where I cremated people, I once drove home and saw part of a miniature golf course lying on my neighbor's lawn, I've beaten a multi time world champion powerlifter in an official meet, and I once arm wrestled a guy who survived the concentration camps of the holocaust. All of these statements are true, but I'm leaving out a lot of information regarding each one on purpose. I guess knowing what not to say is an important part of storytelling too.

The music in the film is perfect. Perfect. The tall tales are pretty good at bordering reality and fantasy just right, although there are one or two instances where they cut clear into fantasy completely.

Big Fish may not have the originality of The Neverending Story, but it certainly has a lot of charm. The Alabama setting adds a lot to the atmosphere. The title fits in perfectly with the symbolism and themes. I don't recall the use of any bad language. It's probably the closest thing to a George MacDonald story you'll find on film.

(12/12/09 - actually, I do remember some slightly bad language from Devito, and the kids visiting the witch house)