'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' - High-Def Digest Review

[Attebery]

Tom Landy has reviewed 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.' He says this is an intriguing film, though it does have a few minor story bumps. This Blu-ray has five star video and audio and several lifetimes' worth of bonus features. This is one of the first MUST OWN titles of 2009.

Full review here:
http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/2224...minbutton.html

[Emoney7]

So, soooooo good.

[crazzeto]

The movie must be a lot better than the book... Because the book is 21 pages, it's interesting but it fails to truely take hold of you. Honestly I was happiest with the ending which managed to find some humanity, but it was all so brief given it's short story constraints. I've read far better short stories though, The Lottery for instance.

[Emoney7]

Ok, I had to have 1st post. But now that I read the review. The only thing Landy didnt enjoy was the Daisy accident. And that knocks it down to 4 out of 5?

First of all, that scene is vital to the whole story. Unusual circumstances? its kinda alot to the with the whole theme of the movie. Anyways I wasnt sure if it was a masterpiece until that scene. And that completed my thoughts.

Anyways no doubt in my mind it's 5/5.

[Arturo Lugo]

I hope hope hope this exact version is released in Mexico

[LEHD]

Originally Posted by Arturo Lugo

I hope hope hope this exact version is released in Mexico

I doubt doubt doubt it

[QuasidodoJr]

Originally Posted by Emoney7

Ok, I had to have 1st post. But now that I read the review. The only thing Landy didnt enjoy was the Daisy accident. And that knocks it down to 4 out of 5?

First of all, that scene is vital to the whole story. Unusual circumstances? its kinda alot to the with the whole theme of the movie. Anyways I wasnt sure if it was a masterpiece until that scene. And that completed my thoughts.

Anyways no doubt in my mind it's 5/5.

I think it had characterization flaws. All the while, as everything kept moving on by and Benjamin kept growing younger, we never learned much about anyone, aside from the drunken ship captain. I also thought it was a little on the long side, which comes down to pacing issues. Am I saying I didn't like it? Nope. I thought it was great. But not a 5 out of 5 for me, either.

[joeymac]

I thought it was a 3/5 movie. Technically, from a visual effects perspective, it's a masterpiece, but the film itself was just 'okay'. It told a nice little story but it was all very pedestrian and underwhelming. It had nothing to say by the end. Forest Gump (which is the same film BTW) is 10 times the film this is. I very much doubt it will go down as a classic. It's not even up there with Fincher's best work... more like Panic Room than Se7en, Fight Club or Zodiac.

[Emoney7]

Originally Posted by QuasidodoJr

I think it had characterization flaws. All the while, as everything kept moving on by and Benjamin kept growing younger, we never learned much about anyone, aside from the drunken ship captain. I also thought it was a little on the long side, which comes down to pacing issues. Am I saying I didn't like it? Nope. I thought it was great. But not a 5 out of 5 for me, either.

Characterization flaws? Could you be more specific? What character needed to be fleshed out more for the movie to be more realized?

Pedestrian? pacing? I'm sorry but all these opinions are purely subjective.

This movie is alot more celebral, subtle and layered then any other movie out there. It is pure poetry in every frame and every word. So it obviously takes a different mindset then say Forest Gump which is throwing visual gags and jokes at you every 5 minutes. Not to diss Forest Gump which is a classic for ITS time. But thank god filmmaking can be mainstream now while still being very subversive and subtle.

[ToddS]

Good film, but certainly not perfect. 4/5 sounds about right IMO.

[cheez avenger]

I loved this movie.

[joeymac]

Originally Posted by Emoney7

Pedestrian? pacing? I'm sorry but all these opinions are purely subjective.

This movie is alot more celebral, subtle and layered then any other movie out there. It is pure poetry in every frame and every word. So it obviously takes a different mindset then say Forest Gump which is throwing visual gags and jokes at you every 5 minutes. Not to diss Forest Gump which is a classic for ITS time. But thank god filmmaking can be mainstream now while still being very subversive and subtle.

Just because it's quiet and slow paced it doesn't automatically make it subversive and poetic. Firstly it would have to actually "subvert" something for it to subversive. It's not, it's an old story told in a very straight forward (ironically) fashion. It's not very poetic either.. it doesn't say anything. What is it's message? That a couple that age in opposing directions can hook up for while in the middle.. but ultimately they are going to grow apart physically. Okay, great... yawn. Next time I see a guy who ages backwards I'll tell him to look out for that.

This premise/gimmick has many opportunities for questioning the nature of "men" as a sex.. It's a metaphor for the mid-life crisis and dementia and a river of other interesting facets of male life. Yet this film skimmed over those, neither subverting or exploring them. It was pedestrian and an absolutely 'by the numbers' film. What is does do is concentrate the gimmick on the relationship. That relationship never goes anywhere you aren't expecting... there's clearly a "creepy" aspect to the relationship of an old man falling in love with a young girl. That's where the real subversion lies and that was never even addressed.
So, as I said, 3/5. I wasn't bored by the film and it was well put together. But it did not set the world alight and it will be forgotten.

[Landy]

Originally Posted by Emoney7

Ok, I had to have 1st post. But now that I read the review. The only thing Landy didnt enjoy was the Daisy accident. And that knocks it down to 4 out of 5?

First of all, that scene is vital to the whole story. Unusual circumstances? its kinda alot to the with the whole theme of the movie. Anyways I wasnt sure if it was a masterpiece until that scene. And that completed my thoughts.

Anyways no doubt in my mind it's 5/5.

Like I said, that scene works from a story standpoint, but why would it be in his journal? That had me puzzled afterwards, and I think it could have been presented better.

I still thought it was a great film, though, just not 5/5.

[bembol]

Blind Buy. I love the Director and the Cast but the trailer just didn't work for me.

I got my BD a few days ago and was very impressed with the BD, stunning! This deserved every nomination it received.

[Emoney7]

Originally Posted by joeymac

Just because it's quiet and slow paced it doesn't automatically make it subversive and poetic. Firstly it would have to actually "subvert" something for it to subversive. It's not, it's an old story told in a very straight forward (ironically) fashion. It's not very poetic either.. it doesn't say anything. What is it's message? That a couple that age in opposing directions can hook up for while in the middle.. but ultimately they are going to grow apart physically. Okay, great... yawn. Next time I see a guy who ages backwards I'll tell him to look out for that.

This premise/gimmick has many opportunities for questioning the nature of "men" as a sex.. It's a metaphor for the mid-life crisis and dementia and a river of other interesting facets of male life. Yet this film skimmed over those, neither subverting or exploring them. It was pedestrian and an absolutely 'by the numbers' film. What is does do is concentrate the gimmick on the relationship. That relationship never goes anywhere you aren't expecting... there's clearly a "creepy" aspect to the relationship of an old man falling in love with a young girl. That's where the real subversion lies and that was never even addressed.
So, as I said, 3/5. I wasn't bored by the film and it was well put together. But it did not set the world alight and it will be forgotten.

You obviously missed the whole point of the movie. You we went expecting something that just never sent out to be.

Subversive in the imagery for one. Ok everybody knows what the feather floating around in Forest Gump is about. But the celebral connection between emotion and imagery is much more 'subversive' with the clock, the hummingbird, the sunrise and thats not even including the imagery that goes hand in hand with his condition. That goes with the aspects of the story, letting go of things you can't control, apreciating moments you are given and respecting loss if life. Hardly brand new concepts, but done with sincere performances, beautiful imagery, layered dialogue and steady direction it becomes a masterpeice. It will be remembered. sorry to dissapoint you.