I finally got out to see Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind this weekend, and I have to say I really, really loved the movie. I will say that the ending and "final twist" were not really necessary, and that it would have been a great film without that; however, with the ending it presents a whole new spin on a few things and brings up some interesting questions about people, human nature and relationships. That being said, I found it to be a very moving, and quite touching story. I can already tell that it's going to be something I really will want to see again, and probably quite a few times. Like with any movie that is not told in chronological order, it will probably change drastically for me the second time I see it, and hopefully in a good way. I haven't really talked to anyonee else who saw it and liked it, so maybe I'm alone on this; but the movie really made an impact on me so I wanted to write an entry about it. So there.
I did find a pretty hilarious review of the movie on IMDB's user comments that I thought I'd share with you:
Date: 27 March 2004
Summary: Deserves the Razzie for the stupidest movie
- After watching good movies with the "memory" stuff such as Paycheck and Butterfly effect, I thought, this movie would be a good way to pass a weekend evening - but boy, it royally spoiled my weekend.
THe movie has no storyline to tell - it is just a collage of absurd events pasted together - making no sense. The photography is even worse, as if done by an amature video-photographer. I do not understands the directors fascination with close-ups and profiles and poor lighting. It adds to the viewers woes, who is already tortured by a non-existent storyline.
No wonder, the movie is doing poorly at box-office. I saw people walking out of the movie in between. The auditorium was empty barring the last 3-4 rows.
Avoid it - unless you are an art-movie buff
Comments (3)
Dude, consider the source on that IMDB quote - if they think Paycheck and Butterfly Effect are the gold standard of storytelling!
I really liked Eternal Sunshine. Granted, I love almost everything Kate Winslet does. And they had Mark Ruffalo dancing in his underwear, which can never be a bad thing. But I actually liked Jim Carrey in this, and thought he and Kate had chemistry. After this and Punch Drunk Love (Adam Sandler and Emily Watson), it leaves you wondering what bizarre pairing will surprise and delight us next - Will Farrell and Juliette Binoche? Jack Black and Helena Bonham Carter?
P.S.: Let's not forget the classic comic pairing of Emma Thompson and Arnold Schwarzenegger in Junior. That's when I realized the apocalypse was imminent.
Posted by A-LO | March 31, 2004 9:45 AM
Posted on March 31, 2004 09:45
That "review" from IMDB was definitely posted as a joke, specifically because of the reference to Butterfly Effect and Paycheck and how good they were
I'm with you though, Eternal Sunshine was awesome. I think that's probably the best movie from 2004 that I've seen so far. If it doesn't come out on DVD soon, I may have to go see it in theaters again.
Also, the newest weird pairing has to be Jack Black and Naomi Watts in your idol's next project: King Kong
Posted by Yams | March 31, 2004 3:36 PM
Posted on March 31, 2004 15:36
I agree. This is by far one of the best movies that I've seen. People who don't like it must need movies to follow the traditional, sequential storyline arc of most Hollywood movies. Not that there's anything inherently wrong with that format for storytelling, but some people get confused by an unfamiliar structure and assume that the filmmaker is incompetent. Too bad for them.
Posted by Bill Snebold | April 14, 2004 11:05 AM
Posted on April 14, 2004 11:05