Am I the only one who like this movie....
Don't know why but I love this movie - I love the location, I love joely Richardson, I just really liked this film... and I can't explain why.
shareI loved this one too. I'm surprised, however, that no one here has mentioned its deeper theme, as everyone seems to decribe it as "nice, lighthearted and enchanting with a happy Disney-esque ending".
While this is true, and I like this aspect of the film, I latched on to something heavier and more potent, something virtually anyone can relate to, something that explores life's most vital questions:
Danson has given up on love in the aftermath of a divorce; he's also given up on his life's work, his dream. He's a laughing stock in the scientific community. Note his powerful statement to his Scottish partner at Loch Ness:
"I'm a joke. I'm the guy who chases looney tunes and you think I don't wanna find something out there? If I nailed a dinosaur in Loch Ness I would be vindicated a thousand times over. I would have it all back and more. But it's not gonna happen. There's nothing down there, there's nothing up in British Columbia, there's nothing unexplained flying around the skies at night. That's just a wish list to make us feel like there's something more to life than the $#*% we got stuck with."
As you can see, the film is more than just cutesy family fare or mindless monster mayhem. The struggle Danson is going through is real and we can all relate to it on some level. We may not be looking for the Loch Ness monster, but we all have dreams; we all hope to discover love in some manner; we all hope to find meaning in life. Unless, of course, we've given up, like Danson's character in the story. Yet, even then, in the blackest pit of anguish & despair there's hope.
There are two general views on life: 1.) That life and the universe are one big meaningless accident and you're just an insignificant bug that will soon be squashed out of existence and memory. And 2.) that there's an intelligent design to the universe and, although it's somehow fallen (i.e. severely messed up), there IS meaning, love, hope and purpose, even if we are presently unable to fully comprehend it.
The film addresses the clash of these two opposing views. We've all experienced the conflict of these two positions within our OWN hearts; it's the clash of flesh and spirit. On the one hand, we WANT to believe the latter position, but life keeps dishing out so much crap that we are seriously tempted to give in to the former.
This is the struggle Danson faces in the story. He's given up; he's stumbling in the darkenss; he's just going through the motions to exist. His smile is mostly a facade.
The little girl is a key factor in his deliverance. She is able to see things as they truly are, including beyond the areas of normal perception. Danson says seeing is believing, but the little girl insists that believing in unseen reality is more important than physically seeing, if you know what I mean.
If all this sounds like a bunch of mumbo jumbo you're not ready for this film. Check out "Freddy V.S. Jason Part VI" instead.
That's a good description Wuchakk. You should write it on the main page for people looking to see what the film is about.
That's a good description Wuchakk. You should write it on the main page for people looking to see what the film is about.
I cut & pasted it from my review but, now that you mention, maybe I will post it as a separate post on this board. Thanks. share