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The story revolves around a dying father and his son, who is trying to learn more about his dad by piecing together the stories he has gathered over the years.
The son winds up re-creating his father's elusive life in a series of legends and myths inspired by the few facts he knows.
Through these tales, and commentary from some of the people who shared his father's life, the son begins to understand his father's great feats... and his great failings.
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I wanted to love this movie so much! Unfortunately being somewhat plebian in my movie preferences I found it difficult to follow. The jumping around between past and present confused my tiny brain, as did some of the actual events. Was it supposed to be real? Or not? I never did fully understand what was going on before it moved to the next big thing, and then it ended and I was still none the wiser.
Despite all that it was a gorgeous movie to watch. The sets and characters were amazing and complex and brightly woven, typical Tim Burton brilliance. Unfortunately however, it seems Burton or perhaps the author of the book was a much smarter person than I, as most of the story went completely over my head.
Not many movies move me to tears, but Big Fish had me sitting in the back row quietly crying at the story. As someone who can empathise with the son, this movie really made me think about my stuffed-up relationship with my father. He tries so hard to deal with his father's outragous stories, firmly believing them to be pure fabrications... until he finds the first thread that will lead him down a winding path to explore the tapestry that was his father's life.
While cleaning out the back shed (Home Turf to all males) he finds a stack of papers, deeds to the town of Spectre, one of the main locations from his fathers tales. SO he travels to Spectre and finds something, and someone, to open his eyes and heart to his father.
Big Fish is a great story, and it only fails in the See It Again factor because I don't think I could stand another dose of the heartache it caused me. But for those who DON'T have unresolved paternal issues, this would probably be a great one to take your loved ones to, as it will still give you the Warm Fuzzies in places.
Overall, it was another masterpiece, full of typical Tim Burton magic. If you liked Edwards Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow and Beetlejuice, you'll see his signature imagery in many scenes. Well worth seeing.
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"There's more to a person than the things they have done"
from 'Eastenders' TV show.