What Dreams May Come
Published April 28, 2005
In the film's defence, the special effects are pretty and evocative of many famous works of art. Hieronymous Bosch is an obvious inspiration, for example. And there are many more that anyone interested in painting will have fun picking out. Some of the images are quite beautiful (until Ward violently cuts away from them to one of countless close ups of Robin Williams' face) and imaginative film copies of classic works. In this respect, What Dreams May Come is to art historians and art history students what Sin City is to comic books nerds.
Perhaps needless to say, I was disappointed with What Dreams May Come. I was keen on liking it, but quickly realized that it was not only far from being the overlooked gem Ebert deemed, but also close to being what my gut reaction had told me to expect, all those years ago. The ending of this film is as manipulative a doozy as you're likely to find on any given shelf of a video store (and I do mean even if it shares a wall with a Shyamalan flick). And the whole thing tastes strongly of soap. On the whole, the weird tension between Bass' Hollywood-esque script and Ward's quasi-arthouse manifestation of it make sure the film fits in neither category (your choice as to which is Heaven and which is Hell) and instead push it into some place in Purgatory where bad films with noble intentions and interesting ideas (like the overall premise of this film) go away until people like Roger Ebert bring them up and naive filmgoers like me get suckered into watching them.
Rating: 1.5 / 4.0
- What Dreams May Come
- Published: April 28, 2005
- Type: Review
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: Drama, Video: Fantasy, Video: Romantic, Video: Suspense and Mystery
- Writer: Akromatika
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Ward did the much better films "The Navigator" and "The Vigil." Navigator is about an English mining village waiting for the arrival of the Black Plague, mysticism, desperation and time travel. Vigil is set in New Zealand's mountainous back country and concerns a girl's becoming a woman. Both have great stories (better than What Dreams) and a beautiful visual sense. As I said in another Blogcritics post, Ward's painterly sense with a film canvas approaches that of Stanley Kubrick and Peter Greenaway.
the movie is nice but no realistic
The visuals were fabulous, but I think anyone other than Robin Williams would have fit this part better. And it would have resonated better with me if the couple, instead of being a well-to-do Doctor and museum curator were instead just every-man and every-woman (how about a teacher and a plumber?).
I'm from Poland, my English isn't very good, but I will be watch this film in TV. I have one question: where in internet I can download music and tracks from this film? I someone know, pleas contact with me on my site. I'll be very gratefull.
I forgot. You don't know Polish (for sure you don't know :)). My blog is only in Polish, but don't worry about it. If you will be on my blog click on 1% Czerni under new text "Filozofia" or click on "Dodaj Pióro..." on your right on my blog. Next on big pole write your message and under your message in the window "Podpis" write your nick or e-mail. At the end click on white button "Wyślij". It's all.
Sorry, I forgot, you don't have polish signs im alphabet. White button is "Wyslij".
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I have to strongly DISAGREE with your review. The movie was visually the most beautiful movie to watch with its use of colors and shades.
The dramatic acting by Robin Williams was totally believable as was the love he had for his wife (Annabelle Sciorra who was equally strong) and family. As the movie progresses and passes through Heaven, Purgatory and Hell, you feel the mood change and see the mood change.
This movie is about so many different things including the belief in soulmates as being truly forever.
If you are in love or love the idea of love, this is the movie to watch and yes, you will cry and you will be happy watching this.
This is one of my favorites and is truly underrated.