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Big Fish (2003)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
9 January 2004 (USA)
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Tagline:
An adventure as big as life itself.
Plot:
A story about a son trying to learn more about his dying father by reliving stories and myths his father told him about himself. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar.
Another 32 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(88 articles)
Ewan McGregor's Link Saber
(From FilmExperience. 22 November 2009, 12:25 PM, PST)
Ken Ober, The 'New Moon' Red Carpet And Neil Patrick Harris In Today's Twitter-Wood
(From MTV Movies Blog. 17 November 2009, 3:00 PM, PST)
(From FilmExperience. 22 November 2009, 12:25 PM, PST)
Ken Ober, The 'New Moon' Red Carpet And Neil Patrick Harris In Today's Twitter-Wood
(From MTV Movies Blog. 17 November 2009, 3:00 PM, PST)
User Comments:
Lying as an Art Form
more (734 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Ewan McGregor | ... | Ed Bloom - Young |
 | Albert Finney | ... | Ed Bloom - Senior |
 | Billy Crudup | ... | Will Bloom |
 | Jessica Lange | ... | Sandra Bloom |
 | Helena Bonham Carter | ... | Jenny - Young / Jenny - Senior / The Witch |
 | Alison Lohman | ... | Sandra Templeton Bloom |
 | Robert Guillaume | ... | Dr. Bennett - Senior |
 | Marion Cotillard | ... | Josephine |
 | Matthew McGrory | ... | Karl the Giant |
 | David Denman | ... | Don Price |
 | Missi Pyle | ... | Mildred |
| Loudon Wainwright III | ... | Beamen (as Loudon Wainwright) |
 | Ada Tai | ... | Ping |
 | Arlene Tai | ... | Jing |
 | Steve Buscemi | ... | Norther Winslow |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for a fight scene, some images of nudity and a suggestive reference.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
125 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Netherlands:MG6 |
Brazil:Livre |
Canada:G (Quebec) |
Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) |
Malaysia:U |
Spain:T |
South Korea:12 |
Philippines:PG-13 |
Germany:6 (f) |
Sweden:11 |
Argentina:Atp |
Australia:PG |
Hong Kong:IIA |
Portugal:M/12 |
Singapore:NC-16 |
Singapore:PG (cut) |
Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) |
Norway:11 |
UK:PG |
USA:PG-13 |
Iceland:L
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: When Edward leaves Spectre, there are fresh tire tracks in the grass, probably from the crane being used to film the scene.
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Quotes:
[first lines]
Young Ed Bloom: There are some fish that cannot be caught. It's not that they are faster or stronger than other fish, they're just touched by something extra.
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Young Ed Bloom: There are some fish that cannot be caught. It's not that they are faster or stronger than other fish, they're just touched by something extra.
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Movie Connections:
Featured in The 61st Annual Golden Globe Awards (2004) (TV)
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Soundtrack:
Dinah
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FAQ
Is this movie based on a book?A Note Regarding Spoilers
What war was Ed supposed to have been in?
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more (734 total)
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What do you say about this movie?
I am at a total loss to describe it. The concept itself, a son tries to come to terms with his dying father that he knows nothing about but an enormous catalog of unbelievable stories, doesn't sound very promising. It sounds like a tired old formula, and I expected such when the rental started playing
It's not.
Werewolves, giants, witches, siamese twins, bank robbers, hidden cities, sirens, etc. are all present in the fantasy, but they seem unremarkably to be part of the life of an otherwise ordinary traveling salesman. Whether they really are or not is never made completely clear, but that's the rub.
I once read a review by Harlan Ellison in which the main point was how a well told lie illuminates the truth in far better clarity than a simple recitation of the facts ever can. At one point in the film, the questing son remarks to his bed-ridden father that he's heard all of his stories thousands of times, and he has know idea who his father really is. The father's reply is, `I've never been anybody but me from the day I was born. If you don't know who I am, that's your failing, not mine.' Later investigations make the point clearer. I'll bet Ellison loved this movie. It is an extraordinary lie.
Did I like the film? You bet. It's Tim Burton's best work without a doubt. Is it for everybody? Probably not. Many will find it confusing and pointless, but good fantasy is like that. All I can say is, relax and let it happen. You won't regret it.