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What Dreams May Come [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
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The multitextured visuals seem to have been created from a lost fairy tale. Heaven recalls the landscape paintings of Thomas Cole and Renaissance architecture complete with floating cherubs, while hell is a massive shipwreck, an upside-down cathedral overgrown with thorns and a sea of groaning faces popping out of the ground (one of those faces is German director Werner Herzog). Williams is the perfect actor to play against the imaginative computer-generated imagery--he himself is a human special effect. But the lack of chemistry between Williams and Sciorra is painfully apparent, and the flashback plot structure flattens the story's impact despite its deeply felt examinations of the heart and the spirit. Still, there's no denying Eugenio Zanetti's triumphant production design and the Oscar-winning special effects, which create a fully formed universe that is at once beautiful, eerie, and a unique example of movie magic. --Shannon Gee
Our Price: £2.46 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
Robin Williams and Annabella Sciorra star in this visually stunning metaphysical tale of life after death. Neurologist Chris and artist Annie had the perfect life until they lost their children in an auto accident; they're just starting to recover when Chris meets an untimely death himself. He's met by a messenger named Albert (Cuba Gooding Jr.) and taken to his own personal afterlife--a freshly drawn world reminiscent of Annie's own artwork, still dripping and wet with paint. Meanwhile a depressed Annie takes her own life, compelling Chris to traverse heaven and hell to save Annie from an eternity of despair.
Wonderful, beautiful & thought provoking
Review date: 2008-03-27 Rating: 10 out of 10
THIS IS MY REVIEW OF THE FILM & NOT THE HD-DVD
I love this film & can't wait for it to be released on Blu-ray.
It tells the story of life, death, afterlife & rebirth. Robin Williams plays Chris Nielson, a man who finds his soulmate (the beautiful Annabella Sciorra), they have two children & are all happy for mny years. Untill a car accident kills the children. That takes a toll on their parents & the bond between them wavers. However, after four years of healing, there comes another car accident which kills Chris. He is, after a transitional period, guided to Heaven by Cuba Gooding Jrs character & as he's settling in he realizes that he still has a connection to his wife. After settling down, Chris is informed that his wife has killed herself in despair & has gone to a specialised hell for people who've commited suicide. This is unacceptable for Chris & embarks on a quest to find her.
I wont give out any more but its a wonderful story, with some stunning SFX. Heaven looks as it should, beauty beyond words & Hell is an erie, desolate looking place filled with torment & drained of hope.
For me, this is one to own. But everyone else should at least give it a try.
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Reviews
One word - Grim!
Review date: 2007-12-20 Rating: 2 out of 10
What a disappointing film. I nearly switched off but stayed in the faint hope it may improve. I shudder to think how it would make anyone, who has lost a loved one to suicide, feel.
It had it's moments, unfortunately though, they were over-shadowed. Probably the only film I have watched with one raised eye-brow and a curled lip all the way through! Writing this with cramped face!
Oh this film is soooo very bad
Review date: 2007-09-25 Rating: 2 out of 10
So very very very bad. Dreadful script, awful acting. If you told me this was the first effort of a twelve year old girl novelist wannabe I'd say you were doing a dis-service to twelve year old girl novelist wannabes. Oh it's bad. How bad is it? ..... very. You have been warned.
Time is the teller of all tales
Review date: 2007-08-30 Rating: 10 out of 10
This film swims in very deep waters, if you are privvy to new age concepts of the afterlife then this film reinforces such idea's. Of course the depiction may differ to you own thoughts but still a thought provoking drama. It is a very sad film, very dark, I would only recommend watching when you are feeling a little depression.
Robin Williams AKA Demi-god brings a lot to the table with this one, and the main female lead is a bit of beauty in my eyes, so it caters for both sexes, the wife or the girlfriend will be needing some tissues however.
At the end of the day this film is not for everyone, but there is an underlying message this film has, and it is very much a pertinant one given the state of the world today, watch it to find out why.
Not for everyone
Review date: 2007-01-06 Rating: 4 out of 10
I found this irritating and boring. I can appreciate the rich efects and sweeping visuals, but after a while it simply gets boring. I just could not swallow the Hollywood concept of a heaven with rules just waiting to be broken. The whole place seemed like hell to me. My recommended approach is to do what we did - watch the first 45 minutes to get the concept, then skip to the final scene. My wife still cried, even though we had skipped the majority of the action!
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Robin Williams
Annabella Sciorra
Jessica Brooks Grant
Cuba Gooding Jr.
Max von Sydow
Director(s):
Recording label: Universal Studios
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
EAN: 9780783277547
Binding: DVD
ISBN: 0783277547
Number of items: 1
Format: Closed-captioned, Colour, Dolby, DVD-Video, Special Edition, Widescreen, NTSC,
Release date: 2003-03-04
Universal product code (UPC): 025192267826
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 1
Running time: 114 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1998-10-02
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: Spanish (Subtitled)
Language: French (Subtitled)