Sorry have been away I am still getting over having my baby so early. I had preeclampsia again and h...
Sorry have been away I am still getting over having my baby so early. I had preeclampsia again and had to have a C Section. Baby on Scbu and I will get on with writing soon.
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I once knew an old man who was a strange man and I wasn't ever quite sure of him. Even though he looked old he seemed very young. Everyone around thought he was old because he looked old, but you can't judge a book by its cover as this film goes to show. As I got to know this old man I realised that even though he looked old inside he had a youthfulness that matched that of a young boy. He was charming, smart and witty. He was also very caring and as I got to know him I realised just how caring he was. The older I got the younger his looks got. We had a wonderful friendship and as we talked we shared stories of memories that we both had. He used to work on a boat and his adventures were fascinating. He watched many of his friends die and yet he still lived. He had a lonely life, but through it all he kept his faith. I was born to dance and unfortunately our paths separated for some time until one day a terrible accident happened to me. I was run over and Benjamin came to my rescue.
This is a short synopsis of the plot, but I don't want to carry on and spoil it for you. I feel after watching the film that I have actually got to know Benjamin personally and each character shared their life with the viewer. This is a heart warming and lovely film the kind of film that only comes along once in a life time. I feel very privileged to have watched it.
I watched it on DVD, but was sad to see there was no special features. It would have been nice to watch the making of it or where they got their ideas from. This type of film will probably be a Christmas film shown at Christmas and maybe other holiday's.
I was looking forward to seeing The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button for a long time and sometimes I find that when you expect too much of a film you can often be disappointed, but I wasn't disappointed with this film. Not at all, the only slow part I thought was the start of the film.
It wasn't a very fast film, but it was gentle and pleasant. It's not an action film so you wouldn't expect it to have lot's of action in it anyway. At first I thought that the script writers might rely too much on the story of Benjamin Button and his life going backwards in terms of ageing. However the script writers didn't rely too much on this and weaved other interesting stories into Benjamin's life to make the film have more substance. The film in the way it was written reminded me a bit like the style of Fried Green Tomatoes At The Whilstle Stop Cafe, another favourite film of mine. It was also a gentle kind of slow film, but it had a good story. The film also was quite similar to Forest Gump in its nature. Benjamin Button's character has similarities to that of Forest Gump. He is a bit simple, gentle and innocent. It is difficult not to feel for Benjamin Button and what he is going through. You would have to be totally devoid of emotions not to feel anything towards Benjamin Button. Similarly to the way you fall in love with Forest Gump you also fall in love with Benjamin Button.
I thought that Brad Pitt's acting was very good and honest to the character. Although at times Brad Pitt can be a bit cheesy he does seem to be able to get into the character of Benjamin Button. At times Brad Pitt was very inspirational, but it would have been good to see some of the other characters given bigger roles in the movie so they got more of a chance to shine. This film was very intense and gripping at times. Although it could be slow there were parts of the story that were really intriguing. It was interesting to see how Benjamin Button coped with certain of life's obstacles like finding work, meeting his first girlfriend and getting drunk for the first time as an old man. I found that this film was a great reflection on real life. Brad Pitt does seem to understand his character very well and his empathy comes across well. Although the film is at times depressing it also is heart warming and thought provoking. It is a film that you take something away from and it has an effect on your life. I must admit at times the film did seem a bit too much centred around Brad Pitt and the fact that he his body beautiful. Like when Benjamin Button got to the stage in his life where he actually looked like Brad Pitt I noticed there was more scenes then of a sexual nature. It seemed to focus on Brad Pitt's body a lot more than when he was older, but then I suppose that sells movies. It will probably also appeal to young teenage girls because Brad Pitt is in it.
You definitely realise just how blessed you are by watching this film and even though life might be not as good as you want it to be this film gives you hope. Director David Fincher certainly adds a gentle touch to F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story. It makes you see just how short or long life can be and what can occur in a person's life time. It also presents the idea that the mind and body are not always connected. I have always said throughout my life that age is just a number and that you are only as old as you feel. This film demonstrates that idea in its entirety. Although this might seem like a simple tale it has a lot of depth and emotions. It takes the viewer on an emotionally charged roller-coaster. Benjamin's mother dies tragically in childbirth and his father is a rich businessman who owns a button factory. I suppose it was too difficult for the father to bring Benjamin up on his own, hardly an excuse to abandon him, but this is what he does. Only years later does he realise that he actually wants to get in touch with his son again.
It is fortunate enough that a loving lady who cannot have children of her own comes to the rescue. It is quite appropriate that Benjamin was left in an old person's home since this is closer to the way he was born. Watching Benjamin grow up with the struggles of crippling infirmities is terrible and so are the attitudes of people around who do not understand the situation. It shows how people often judge others situation without knowing the true life experience's of that individual. Eventually Benjamin leaves the home where he was brought up and goes off to explore the world by way of working on a tugboat.
The make up is amazing and very realistic. Whilst you can see it is Brad Pitt it also looks like an old man. The older he gets the less wrinkles appear and the more his appearance improves. His body definitely looks like that of an old man until he gets much younger. It is funny to see what a young lad of about 10 would get up to with an old man's body. There is certainly a lot of comedy in this film as well as seriousness and emotion. The comedy is real and puts it on a human perspective. Benjamin falls in love with Daisy (Cate Blanchett) who is also under his adopted mother's care. Throughout the film this love relationship is explored in depth. The differences in age are insurmountable and eventually come between them. Although throughout the film the pair manage to remain close and fate plays its hand.
There is no denying that this film is a classic even though some of the themes have been explored in other films. Like the way we learn of Benjamin through Daisy who is reading his diary. Similar things have been done before like recently in Bedtime Stories and also in other films. It doesn't lessen the power or depth of the film it just isn't very original.
The film is long, 2 ½ hours in total but, although it got off to a pretty slow start I didn't want the film to end. It is an amazing film that opens your eyes to a world that is very different to the one we experience. The loneliness that Benjamin feels is subtle and not really shown outwardly though you know it is there. Brad Pitt gives a moving performance and therefore I can see this film winning awards. A film that you wouldn't want to miss.
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Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Production Year: 1997 - Drama - Director: Gillian Armstrong - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Cate Blanchett, Ciaran Hinds, Tom Wilkinson, Richard Roxburgh
This is an anthology of the best stories written by Francis Scott Fitzgerald - including ... more
"The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button" "Bernice Bobs Her Hair" and "A Diamond As Big As The Ritz". People who were unfailingly polite racked their brains for comp...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
I was born under unusual circumstances. And so begins The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, ... more
adapted from the 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards: a man, like any of us, who is unable to stop time...
I was born under unusual circumstances. And so begins The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, ... more
adapted from the 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards: a man, like any of us, who is unable to stop time...
Adapted from the classic 1920's story by F. Scott Fitzgerald The Curious Case Of Benjamin ... more
Buttonstars Brad Pitt asBenjamin Button - a man born in his eighties who agesbackwards! The film follows Benjamin's story, set in New Orleans, from the endof Worl...
Advantages: Everything. It's got depth, good characters, good plot, its well thought out, thought provoking... Disadvantages: You have to pay attention... That's it. No half watching this film.
surveysista1988 10.06.2009 (10.06.2009)
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