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 Big
Fish
Starring:
Billy Crudup, Albert Finney, Ewan McGregor, Jessica Lange, Helena
Bonham Carter, Alison Loeman, Steve Buscemi and Danny DeVito
Directed by: Tim Burton
Written by: Daniel Wallace
Movie
Review Below
But
It!
This
delightful DVD, with all its interesting extras and nummy
bits, is like stumbling upon a leatherbound masterpiece
of fairy tales in an old curio shoppe! Big
Fish is this wildy beautiful and unique work initself,
now, the DVD just gives that extra curly-cued cherry atop
a delishious visual treat from the mind of Tim Burton!
- Emily Blunt
DVD Features:
Four
Filmmaker's Featurettes:
Tim
Burton: Storyteller - A look at the director's process.
This short gives you a peek into the brilliant mind of
Mr. Burton. It's not a scary place at all...really.
He explains why he sometimes doesn't use CGI to get the
effect he wants. He's very passionate about his work -
it's nice to see a creative mind flourishing!
A Fairytale World - Tim Burton and cast discuss the importance
of myths and fairytales. Let's Face it Tim's our modern
day Grimm Brother. He takes the time to accent his works
with such a singular look there's a new phrase in our
culture, one I love to use at least, "It's very Tim
Burton." Big Fish is very grand story telling
- and who better to deliver the work than Timmy? Right!
No one.
Creature Features - The magic of Stan Winston studios.
Go behind the scenes and watch the jumping spiders and
wolves get ready for their close-ups.
The Author's Journey - Daniel Wallace's story from page
to screen. The author or the book talks about the story's
journey to the screen and his joy in the screenwriter's
adaptation. Like many "Southern" tales Big Fish
is meant to be big and grand-Wallace couldn't have been
luckier getting Burton as its director! No siree Bob.
Three
Character Featurettes:
Edward
Bloom at Large - Takes a look at the larger-than-life
world of Edward Bloom. This is a favorite feature of the
dvd for me...Ewan McGregor proclaims an "Edward Bloom
Day" when everyone gets to feel good about themselves...isn't
that a nice thought?
Amos at the Circus - Danny DeVito takes viewers through
the Calloway Circus. A creepier Big-Top there's never
been. Let the ultimate ringmaster give you a peeksky at
the going ons.
Fathers and Sons - Examines the father and son dynamic
. This is for the men viewers. Eh, um...I kinda skipped
through it...
Audio Commentary with Tim Burton. Tim's friend Alex keeps
Tim chatting via intelligent questions. Burton is candid
even speaking about his own shaky relationship with his
father...but, more importantly you feel the passion Tim
has for all has films; his stories.
The Finer Points - A Tim Burton Trivia Quiz: interactive
trivia game. For the Burtonians I passed will you?
Widescreen anamorphic format
Plus!
A review extra from Blunt Review: Emily Blunt Challenges
you, just for silly fun, to keep count of how many times
Burton, McGregor and his cast use the word "spirit."
It gets a tad bizarre kids!
But
It!
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Bluntly Speaking? Tim Burton
is back kiddies, once again proving he's the reigning king of
touching twisty tall tales. Big Fish is super toasty fuzzy
fun; kind of like Burton's Edward Scissorhands - in that
there's a half-world he opens to us; and a bit like legendary
Don Quixote - in that there's fanciful stories served up by a
regular Joe with a helluvan imagination. All that, Steve Buscemi
and a Danny Elfman soundtrack too - be still our little
art lovin' hearts.
Big
Fish, as with all director Tim Burton's film socials, assists
in transporting us into that little crevice of our minds we'd
misplaced somewhere along the way...he mines into the well-hidden
passageway that flows straight down towards the brain's dustier
section, now a faint glow, deep below long forgotten dreams, beneath
the years of school and network news, where a child-like belief
in tall tales and magical lands is all but still. And when he
gets there he turns up the imaginarium voltage to eleven.
Story
goes… Edward Bloom (both Ewan McGregor/young and Albert Finney/twilight)
has had a remarkable life. His son Will (Billy Crudup) isn't impressed
- at all.
While
everyone around old Edward enjoys hearing his stories of barely
believable events his son is sure he'll go stark raving if he's
forced to endure another of his father's verbal brewings.
When
daddy gets gravely ill, the prodigal son returns with his pregnant
wife in tow. He's determined to be there for his father - even
though his father has never been there for him. This kid's bitter
baby, bitter.
As
Will tries to get to know his dad before The Reaper comes calling
we are whisked back and forth through the tales of Edward's imagination
and come firmly to rest on a bit of remarkable ground, where we
all learn, sometimes the truthiest of truth is just too mundane
and there's nothing wrong with embellishing life's taken paths
a bit, if it brings smiles and wonder to those around you. SNIFF.
Ewan McGregor, plays Ed Bloom in his prime. This Hottier McLadofhot
just gets better looking with every hearty serving. He's a bit
like an expensive bottle of fine man port. His charisma shines
off the screen and makes every frame a pleasure.
Speaking of fine manly men ports...Billy Crudup is another of
those talented yet swell-on-the-retina types. On the coveted scale
of one to George Clooney he's rising to a firm seven.
But it's Albert Finney as the weakening Ed Bloom that steals your
heart; hook, line and sinker. He's always a treasure to watch
unfold, but Burton truly captured his subtle genius beneath the
cunning twinkle in his eye.
Snack recommendation: Catfish nuggets and Frankenweenie
torts.
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