Big Fish

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: December 10, 2003

8.5	USER SCORE Universal acclaim based on 444 Ratings

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User Reviews

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BrechtS.Jan 1, 2008

Poor film - not a good story for a fim. Visually not captivating. No suspense. Mellow ending. No evolving characters (or characters with depth).

0 of 1 users found this helpful

J-ShapAug 27, 2011

Big Fish is a sad film, but not in the way it wants to be. It is a film of such tremendous imagination and such poignancy in its moments of genuine emotion, that when it betrays itself for a shallow and unfair resolution, you're astonished atBig Fish is a sad film, but not in the way it wants to be. It is a film of such tremendous imagination and such poignancy in its moments of genuine emotion, that when it betrays itself for a shallow and unfair resolution, you're astonished at how everything about it has gone to waste. The audience feels betrayed that everything they've come to enjoy takes a turn for something they would like to avoid, such as unresolved emotion disguised as closure, and selfish actions being accepted.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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thomasljoguesNov 14, 2014

A most imaginative film, this movie shows some thought in plot construction. However, there is no sense of pacing or climax until the movie's end is 4 minutes away.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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amheretojudgeNov 13, 2018

a stretch of an undercooked script..

Big Fish Burton's another avant-garde fictional bubble unfortunately backfires vigorously and the primary reason to that is his commitment to the practicality which he never fails to hold on toa stretch of an undercooked script..

Big Fish

Burton's another avant-garde fictional bubble unfortunately backfires vigorously and the primary reason to that is his commitment to the practicality which he never fails to hold on to completely. Wallace's novel has enough room for the tale to be both practical and fictional, his characters can fly and still be grounded. And frankly August's adaptation doesn't have that. And it itches the picture throughout the course and is why Burton keeps leaning on to practicality, he somehow feels obliged to keep it true and on track. As far as all the tactics that paints the fantasy world on screen, it is Burton's home ground.

That half of the tale is not only intriguing but exhilarating to encounter, it is also emotionally fueled. The emotions, in fact are real, the giant, the red car, the daffodils and the witch, these are the facts. And Burton never feels short handed in such genre. Ticking for two hours, the overkill sets in early. And that somehow fortunately follows up to be McGregor's strength. He gets enough time and range on screen for us to fall in love with him, when he does, and laugh at him when he is having fun. But personally, I prefer, Ed Bloom when Finney plays it.

He is more mature and overprotective as much as stubborn he is. His last act with his son is what the entire movie thrives on. The supporting cast like Cotillard, Crudup and Carter fails to live up to the lead ones. Burton emerges the emotions aptly on screen, it's the mechanism that it follows needs some polishing. Merely as a concept wise, it can be an intriguing discussion for a dinner table conversation but as far as major motion picture is concerned, Big Fish is frankly a stretch of an undercooked script that should have broken up a long time ago.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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Voodoo123May 30, 2021

Melancholic adventure with its story told through narration, packed to the brim with visual effects and over the top sequences. Sadly the pacing is off and we never spend long enough with any of the characters to form any meaningfulMelancholic adventure with its story told through narration, packed to the brim with visual effects and over the top sequences. Sadly the pacing is off and we never spend long enough with any of the characters to form any meaningful connection between them. Whats clearly meant to serve as a metaphor for paternal discourse ends up as a flat and meaningless whimsey.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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