Big Fish

So I went to see Big Fish last night with my friends Jay, Dave, and Terena (more on her later) and I was pleasantly surprised. The reviews for the movie weren't great and the commercials made it look very Hollywood. Tim Burton's last film, Planet of the Apes was ass piss, but as it turns out, this one was a solid little film. There were some neat visuals, like the frozen time in the circus and the field of daffodils scenes. Ewan McGregor was great, as per usual, as the charming optimist carving his way in the world. I would agree that the plot might have been a little obvious, but it was the story told that I especially liked. Through a father telling embellished stores of his own life, the film dealt with the way people present themselves to others and how we in turn view our own lives. It also dealt with the sometimes difficult relationships between fathers and sons, especially when the fathers are away for long periods of time. In a subtle way, it showed how to conquer jealousy. The son resented the stories that the father constantly told about his life and seemed angry that everyone always loved them. I thought that he seemed jealous of how likeable his dad was. POSSIBLE SPOILER It was only when he shared the moment of his father's death that he truly saw that the stories were about the art of storytelling and creating a vision of ourselves that is larger than life in the service of the community. It was not about garnering attention, but enriching other's lives. The only part of the film that I did not like was the final voice over. It was a little too "hit you over the head" obvious with trying to get the theme of the movie across. On the whole though, I totally recommend the movie. ****/5