Big Fish (2003)
Medium level violence, Mature themes, Low level coarse language, Nudity
| Director: | Tim Burton |
| Actors: | Ewan McGregor, Jessica Lange, Robert Guillaume, Billy Crudup, Albert Finney, Helena Bonham Carter, Alison Lohman, Marion Cotillard, David Denman, Matthew Mcgrory |
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 colors 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 traveling 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.
| Status: | QuickPick |
|---|---|
| Run time: | 125mins |
| Origin: | UNITED STATES |
| Aspect Ratio: | 1.85:1 16:9 Enhanced |
| Run Time: | 125mins |
|---|---|
| File Size (Approx): | 1.1 GB |
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Member Reviews (136)
136 Member
Reviews
Lynnieb
says
A delightfully quirky most enjoyable film. Not as weird as Tim Burton films can get. In life it's not unusual to see your parents in a different light than how other's see them. It would be nice to think everyone's passing be as pleasant as Eddie's. I think Ewan McGregor had alot of fun making this movie. Jessica Lange has aged beautifully and naturally. I enjoyed it
JenniferT
says
I didn't enjoy this film, but it is very well made so I gave it 3 stars. This is one of those films that celebrate fatherhood - while demonstrating a really bad relationship between a selfish father and an immature adult son. The mother seemed irrelevant, she had about 30 seconds of dialogue in the whole film and just drifted about looking tragically beautiful. I think that it would have been a great film if it had had a completely different premise and was just about a fantasy world without the boring and irritating "bonding" moments between terrible father and awful son.
David Williams
says
A wonderful movie,you need to see the entire movie to appreciate it fully.
hb_douglas
says
Takes a certain amount of 'suspension of disbelief' and then the ride is quite enjoyable.
Susie
says
Beautiful film. Very human.
Ewan
says
very good movie
Louisa
says
Hate this movie, but the kids liked it a bit.
shirley
says
Boring and stupid
nibshy
says
I could not work out what this movie was about, it was too meaningful for my taste
Cherryville_Chick
says
I found this quite bizarre and boring! Also it stopped working after 40 minutes which was a blessing really.
Helena
says
I watched first half hour l didnt like it.
Cgray
says
DiFferent
Rhys Cook
says
What to say about big fish, i guess the first thing to say would be if you havent allready gone out and seen this movie, get it. The second thing i would say is if you have allready seen it, watch it again. Big Fish is one of my favourite movies of all time. To me, it teaches the watchers that imagination doesent always have to be fiction, and that every life has a different story to be told. Ive rated this movie the five stars rating only because that as high as the rating goes.
Mamaluchka
says
I like good script and this one just doesn't clinch it for me.
rosasupposes
says
heart-warming, a lovely fantasy world
joffa
says
worth watching. A bit different (in a good way). Enlightening. Good storyline. One for the whole family
MLV
says
Quirky, beautiful, entertaining, funny, touching and beautiful
wilma
says
was an ok movie
Danuta
says
An interesting, charming and sometimes quirky, fairytale of a movie. Basically about relationships with people and in particular a relationship, between a father and his son, that needs understanding.
A feel good movie that is easy to watch and puts a smile on your face with a good cast and beautifully told.
Mark Newton
says
Big Fish is a rich, imaginative tale which is full of little morals and lessons. We watched it with our two sons, aged 9 and 7, and they were mesmerised. So were we.
Kimberley R.
says
Watched the whole movie and then thought what a waste of time. The plot was thin, the acting poor and the whole thing just really didn't jell together. Don't waste your time watching this one.
Matthew B.
says
As a Tim Burton film it's okay. Couldn't say this one thrilled me.
Earth.W
says
I actually got this movie home for my eldest child who I thought would enjoy it. Since I put it on for her, I thought I would sit and watch it with her and I am glad I did for this is a marvellous movie. Whoever put the trailer together should have been shot for it does not give the movie any justice.
This is a feel good family movie about a man who tells stories of his life with artistic licence yet which parts are made up and which parts actually happened?
Made by Tim Burton who made movies including Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands and The Nightmare Before Christmas, this is yet another Burton movie filled with an excellent imagination to be admired.
Alan J.
says
lovely magical fable.
Siobhan W.
says
Great tall tales, very poignant at times - quite quirky but also a very touching story of a man's relationship with his son.
mandarin
says
I saw this movie when it came out in 2003, loved it and needed to see it again. I had to hire it when I saw that Bigpond Movies had it. Big Fish has a lovely storyline to it, quite different from other films out there. Like most people who have watched this film, Ewan McGregor was a favourite. It took me a while to warm to Billy Crudup's character, because it was sad that he didn't believe his father's stories. In the end he came through for me. This is one film that I will definately consider hiring again.
Freyja
says
Again Slow Quiet n boring..Fell sleep watching this one too
Julie B.
says
waste of time
Rod L.
says
Sonya K.
says
A mixture of real life and fantasy. A beautiful love story, beautifully told.
Alexander M.
says
Freddy D.
says
Mark T.
says
This is very cute. Ewan McGregor is a delight as usual. We considered stopping watching at the start, but perservered and where glad we did. A heartwarming story about a son understanding his father, but without the cloying oversentiment.
Eloise C.
says
Go into this movie with an open mind. Is a little strange but a lovely ending.
chicken
says
what a gorgeous, tender, funny and unusual story. It's like a dream that you don't want to wake from......
Sandra R.
says
The film has true magic but sadly it drags a little in the first half. It is however worth the wait cause the ending is fabulous. And the overall 'look' of the film is superb - wonderful colour a little Willy Wonka style.
Christine C.
says
Nathan A.
says
Kim P.
says
Carol M.
says
Not the least interested in this one. I was waiting for the punchline, but it must have lost it's way.
Roslyn M.
says
Delightful movie exploring a father son relationship and different ways of communicating. Really well done.
Judy L.
says
Samantha B.
says
filmasart
says
An enjoyable film experience with the contemporary subject of males and father and son relationships. Long live our imagination and the art of storytelling - Life is beautiful.
Luba
says
Nigel R.
says
Patricia Catchpole
says
Truly enjoyabe movie.
Stephen Josland
says
Russell Bramley
says
A fun fillled and whimsical fantasy of story telling. Enjoyable to watch.
Dianne Ashton
says
This is one of the most beautiful movies I have seen for quite a while.
Brian Graham
says
An absolutely superb movie! Wonderful story-telling and fantasy, interspersed with extraordinary actuality. Great photography and character acting which kept us utterly entranced.
Daniella Garunovic
says
Sof Kapalos
says
Tim Harrison
says
Loved it. Not for everyone but the crossover from reality and fantasy is brilliantly done. A delight.
Adam Cresswell
says
PrincessOfTroy
says
Not a bad fantasy type movie, I probably will eventually like this movie it was just the watching of the first time that I didn't quite understand it or where it was heading that made me dislike it initially, but overall a good movie
Nathan Salmon
says
Daniel Jumpertz
says
A very sweet and surreal movie. one of the best tear jerkers i've ever seen.
Mussy
says
Refreshing with a magical quality.
Ron
says
A very strange movie about a father who tells such tall stories that they become believable to him. This is intertwined with the son, who is embarrassed by these stories, until the father's last living moments. I wouldn't call it an entertaining movie, but there is nothing bad about it either.
Mark Ptolemy
says
Tim Burton's best film.
Terry Scully
says
Quirky and a great tail
David Keane
says
A bit boring for me
says
Tim Norton
says
Leanne Humphry
says
Phil
says
There are some great tall stories in this one.
Wendy
says
Different but well worth watching.
Karen Jones
says
Petama
says
Interesting movie that kept you guessing. Challenges the relationships we have and how we view them.
Meryn Pratt
says
Ralph Orth
says
Norman Ruffels
says
Debbie Abbott
says
Something different! I thouroughly enjoyed this movie and so did all the kids.
Mark Bradford
says
Ever told a story that got bigger the more you told it - until it becomes seeemingly truth. Well this is a movie that explores the phenomina of "I caught a fish that was this big"!
I would not recommend it unless you a looking for a movie that is similar to Forrest Gump!!
If you are then I am sure you will rate is as excellent.
Leanne Zai
says
The film is visually very entertaining but Billy Crudup is disappointing. Worth watching for the cameos from Danny DeVito and Steve Buschemi.
Jon Baxter
says
Tracey Howe
says
Shana Oxley
says
Maurice
says
At 125 minutes the quirky storyline becomes tedious in spite of good performances from Finney and MacGregor
H Anstice
says
Peter Lanzetti
says
mja
says
One for fans of Tim Burtons movies.
Janet Stronach
says
Anita Woollard
says
Mark Collard
says
Kylie Mason
says
Marilyn Strauss
says
Difficult.
Lance Abel
says
Sue Wyatt
says
Fantastic Movie with great ending...
Linda Keeling
says
says
A little out of the ordinary, fortunately.
Karen Von Rosen
says
Nicola Rutzou
says
A little cheesy but worth watching. Good escapism.
Terri Fealy
says
I thought it was brilliantly done. It differs from the book to make it work on film but the heart of the story is left intact.
Jennie Mullane
says
Hilary Delbridge
says
Beautiful story
Ian McCauley
says
Hit a nerve, I wept frequently and copiously at many spots. Unusual, lyrical, visually striking.
says
Maybe good for the kids
Patricia Mifsud
says
You really need to listen to the storyline. I thought it to be interesting & different.
Margaret Cox
says
Starnge, interesting, unusual are some words to describe this film. It will nit be everyones cup of tea. probably deeper than you first think.
says
Helen Truscott
says
Woosha
says
Excellent feel-good movie with captivating characters that keep you hooked.
Cowgirl
says
Synopsis appearing with Big Fish is accurate. It is a special film that blends all the right movie making ingredients.
Matt Moran
says
Matt Moran
says
Kui-Kwong Shum
says
Matt Peacock
says
Dale
says
Very creative and entertaining film but quite 'outthere' and very 'American' in it's sentimentality.
Neilc
says
Sappy, overly long and a bilious performance by Albert Finney (watch Saturday sunday morning for his best). Sometimes eccentricity alone is not enough to keep you interested
Daryll
says
Gaynor Mason
says
I found it very entertaining and an escape from reality. Refreshingly absent of violent images and themes.
Pat Bohan
says
Daniel Macpherson
says
Another of Tim Burton's modern day fairytales/legends.
Tanya Thompson
says
Denise Mcconnell
says
Maurice Ambrosoli
says
Bindi
says
What can I say - very Tim Burton! All his trademarks, great casting and quirky enough to keep you amused.
Libby Wheeler
says
This was an unusual movie that had part fantasy, part drama and was a little slow in places. Overall it was enjoyable and had no swearing, sex or violence so you could watch it with your Granny.
Kerrie Stewart
says
Beautiful! Magical! If you loved "Chocolat" you'll love this too!
Harry Betschwar
says
Henry Svedas
says
Good fun movie to watch
Suzanne Newman
says
Natasha Tysoe
says
If not for the occasional humour I would have turned this one off. Not for everyone.
Alexander Harman
says
Vaughan Grant
says
Chris Sage
says
Slow at first, but gradually came together, and the ending was good.
Lisa Sanders
says
Fantastic movie leaving you feel good.
Wendy-Anne Lewis
says
I went to the Theatre to see this and loved it so much I had to see it again. It is funny and yet wierd, I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a bit of excitement and fantasy!!
Andrew Tunks
says
I found it difficult to empathise with the characters for the first hour of this very surreal film. However, the movie became more watchable towards the end as the bizarre episodes depicted earlier in the film started to make some sort of sense.
Rhiann Gosper
says
Chukka Boy
says
Not a bad storyline and well directed, however Billy Cruddup was disappointing as on the lead characters. His performance lacked depth & interest. Watch out for Steve Buscemi, superb always as the lonesome loser!
Terry Larkin
says
One of Tim Burton's best!
Sandy
says
This was an unusual film, difficult to get into at first. However the magic of the story, which revolves around a father's fantasy world and how this creates tension with his son, draws you in very quickly.
Excellent acting, especially by Albert Finney and Ewan McGregor, beautiful cinematography, and the intelligent and moving story all make this a 'must-see'.
Father and son relationships are often difficult and almost everyone will be able to relate to this son's struggle to understand his ageing parent.
This is a real tear-jerker so be sure to watch with a big hankie or a box of tissues!
Bob Crisp
says
Wonderful story telling, mixed with the Tim Burton quirkiness! My family watched it three times over on the weekend.