My rating: Not to be missed

I must admit, I walked into this movie expecting to like it. I have long been a huge fan of anything Tim Burton puts out, and Ewan McGregor is, in my opinion, one of the finest actors to come through Hollywood in years. I was not disappointed.

Big Fish is one of those movies that gives you an incredible feeling. The feel and atmosphere of the movie are one of optimism, as the tale of one man who sees the world as truly better than it is. You question, through the course of the ride, whether or the experiences of Edward Bloom are real. At the risk of spoiling the ending for those of you not having seen it yet, I won't tell you whether or not they were. But I can also tell you this... it doesn't matter. The extra rays of sunshine that this movie leaves in you don't stem from the ending.

The characters Burton created are simply incredible. The main character, Edward Bloom, is portrayed beautifully by both Albert Finney and the always-so-captivating Ewan McGregor. Both of these guys bring incredible life to the person, and equally so. Also present is the Burton-movie regular Helena Bonham Carter, who brings with her a magic that is seldom found. Her dual character is, in my opinion, one of the defining points of the movie.

As many have said, it's not a typical Tim Burton film. It doesn't have the bizarre tone of Mars Attacks, the dark, gothic overtones of Sleepy Hollow, and it doesn't explore any bizarre set design as Edward Scissorhands did. But where those movies appealed to people looking for something new and artsy and mostly lost a following with common moviegoers, Big Fish scores. It's for everyone. It's something we all understand. It's one of the best movies to come out in 2003.

Back to reviews