The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

MagicMarker

Just finished watching this, it's a very good movie it has to be said. Albeit rather long at over 2 and a half hours.

The overall concept is very much like Forest Gump I thought, but it's very well done and Pitt as an old man is absolutely incredible. For me though, as he gets younger you stop seeing Benjamin Button and start seeing a hollywood star!

Overall though it's well worth a watch!

Basq

Been meaning to watch this (as a big ol Fincher fan) for the last 2 days... and just haven't got a chance.

Will watch it tomorrow, but have heard quite mixed reports. Some praise it's slow pace while others blast it for being boring.. suppose that's true of most 150 minute plus movies.

Zwillinge

I watched the trailer and felt like I spoiled it on myself I really hope I haven't. It looks like good fun!

The Freeman

when odes it hit the cinema over here lads?

there is some drought in the theatres the last few months.

mewso

For me it could have been much much better. Also commits the cardinal sin of dubbing a child actor with the adult actors voice. I do not understand why anyone thinks this ever works.

Weak chemistry between Pitt and Blanchett, overlong but entertaining in parts. Didn't realise it was a Fincher movie until after I watched it. It's certainly a new kind of movie for him. Not surprisingly the imdb plebs seem to think it's a masterpiece.

johnny_ultimate

The Freeman wrote: »

when odes it hit the cinema over here lads?

there is some drought in the theatres the last few months.

Start of February according to the poster.
Looking foward to it - interesting if slightly spoilerish trailer, and a cool central concept from a good director.

Basq

I absolutely loved that.. and so did my girlfriend who was far from looking forward to it.

We did both think

it lost a bit of steam in the final 10 minutes when Brad Pitt was replaced with the child actor. It was worthwhile to show his demensia as a child but I think the scenes with Daisy walking with and reading to Benjamin as an infant and his "death" were much more powerful.

Fincher still remains one of the best film-makers.. you can take your Wes Anderson's and Darren Aronofsky but Fincher most recent efforts (this and 'Zodiac') were some of the strongest I've seen from him, but I am a big fan so may be slightly biased.

Anyways, I loved it but can see why people could have a problem with it (you could have shaved a good 20 minutes of it to be honest).

Snake Plisken

Ok boys from reading the relevent sites, the versions you've been watching are missing an important 5 minutes, that has dialog that ties in with the end of the movie, gonna hold out until the official release next month. But I'm hopeful that it will be good as Basq reckons its as good as Zodiac, which I loved and thought was Fincher's strongest movie since Se7en.

MagicMarker

Snake Plisken wrote: »

Ok boys from reading the relevent sites, the versions you've been watching are missing an important 5 minutes, that has dialog that ties in with the end of the movie, gonna hold out until the official release next month. But I'm hopeful that it will be good as Basq reckons its as good as Zodiac, which I loved and thought was Fincher's strongest movie since Se7en.

Funny you mention that, because mine did skip a part. At the time I thought ''fúck! Hope that was nothing important!!''

But I didn't get the feeling that I missed anything by the end.

Any chance you could post a spoiler? Because I'm not going to watch it again for an added 5 minutes of dialogue.

As for Zodiac, I only watched it yesterday, was really good!!

Snake Plisken

MagicMarker wrote: »

Funny you mention that, because mine did skip a part. At the time I thought ''fúck! Hope that was nothing important!!''

But I didn't get the feeling that I missed anything by the end.

Any chance you could post a spoiler? Because I'm not going to watch it again for an added 5 minutes of dialogue.

Kind of avoiding it as I haven't watched it yet so not sure what missing.

starn

Snake Plisken wrote: »

Kind of avoiding it as I haven't watched it yet so not sure what missing.

Well then,how do you know the scene is so important then ?

Snake Plisken

starn wrote: »

Well then,how do you know the scene is so important then ?

If you read my post it states that based on what I read on other sites :rolleyes:

Anyway I took the quote from what I read

According to various other blog sites it's missing about 3 minutes. The few people who have seen the cinema release then got this have said that it's a pretty vital 3 minutes - with a few 'throwaway' lines that kinda make sense of the film by the end.

starn

I seen it and I think the scene with the throwaway line is definatly in it

The Captins line about the humingbird

I just found this myself

but they did fix the missing scene,and the scene that was missing wasn’t important to the story anyway

Get your facts right next time

Feelgood

MagicMarker wrote: »

The overall concept is very much like Forest Gump I thought

Thats mental, I was thinking exactly the same thing. Really really good film and
I enjoyed it a lot though they could have done a lot more with the ending, it ruins it slightly.

BenjAii

Watched this last night & it definitely charmed me. Though I thought the Brad Pitt character might as well be Forest Gump, they seemed to have the same narrators voice.

My letdown was the lack of character development, for a film of 2 hours 45 mins we learn very little about Benjamin as a person. A case in point being his involvement with the Tilda Swinton character, 15 mins on screen ov a really important episode in his life and all i could tell is that he likes tea & has trouble sleeping.

LovetohateTV

Saw it a couple of days ago. I have to say its the best NEW movie ive seen in a very very long time. Its a absoulute masterpice. Just make sure you find a nice quiet evening with nothing to distract you close the curtains get some popcorn and relax. I could not believe the movie is just under 3 hours long. It flew by for me. I consider this film a masterpiece IMO. Best film of the year i'd take a bet at!

Boo-yah

I thought it was fantastic. Between the story, the cast, the direction I cant think of anything in the film that was remotely weak. I wouldn't cut anything out of the film but I am a huge Fincher fan. I don't think this tops Zodiac as his best but I think it could be joint second with Fight Club. Quite an eclectic directing history Fincher has when you think about it

MisterAnarchy

It is an enjoyable film but it is by no means a great film or a masterpiece as proclaimed by some fanboys.
The first half of the film is far too slow ,tedious and pedestrian.
I was looking at my watch alot and hoping it would become more eventful.
It picks up steam in the second half and in the end I was wishing it wouldnt end.
It is quite similar to Forrest Gump but not as good.
It could have done with cutting 20-25 minutes off the running time .
Definitely worth a watch but too workmanlike to be a classic.

Craft25

You can tell it is adapted from a short story, its all about the central premise, with no real build up of tension or mystery.. i think thats why it brings to mind f. gump so much

Brimmy

I liked this, I didn't love it though.

I was really looking forward to this as well and I mean REALLY looking forward to it so I thought i'd be the first to sing it's praises but really it just left me feeling incapable of any empathy by it's end. The premise is great but the action of the film would always be hard to do. I loved the opening 30 minutes or so but after that I got the feeling that the film simply meandered along, waiting for it's conclusion.

It's not a bad film but I definitely wouldn't say it's a great film either. The direction is fine, adequite even...but I think it's Fincher's worst work. But I may be worng as I've still to see Panic Room.

LovetohateTV

No pleaseing some. Panic room is god awful rubbish.

Boo-yah

MisterAnarchy wrote: »

It is quite similar to Forrest Gump but not as good.

You lost me there. The only comparison I see from the two films is the length of time they portray and the Southern setting. I also think its vastly superior to Forrest Gump, man Tom Hanks was annoying in that film

LovetohateTV

Boo-yah wrote: »

You lost me there. The only comparison I see from the two films is the length of time they portray and the Southern setting. I also think its vastly superior to Forrest Gump, man Tom Hanks was annoying in that film

I could not agree more. Its so much better than forrest gump im not saying Benjamin is the greatest ever film but its much better and deserves all the awards it should get!

lostexpectation

well the forrest gummp eliment is the settiing and the historical events he comes across, and the things like his adoptive father father working for john wilkes booth.

The Freeman

lostexpectation wrote: »

well the forrest gummp eliment is the settiing and the historical events he comes across, and the things like his adoptive father father working for john wilkes booth.

can you please use spoilers??????????

MagicMarker

Forrest Gump is the superior movie imo.