There’s no one who enjoys a fanciful tale more than I. The idea of spinning yarns and embellishing facts is an age-old tradition, without which I doubt we would have the simplest of stories. Having an imagination is one of the greatest gifts we can be given in life, as not having one often leads to a dull, boring life. Worse yet, having one and not using it should be a crime. As children, the imagination can be wondrous thing. It allows us to travel to anywhere, meet anyone and do anything. As people grow up (a highly over-rated experience if you ask me), they tend to allow the imagination to stagnate. “We have to be adults…,” I often hear them say. “Pshaw,” I say. If being an adult means having to give up my imagination, you can have it. In “Big Fish”, we meet Edward Bloom (Albert Finney), a teller of tall-tales. He is friendly, boisterous, and loves to talk about all of the adventures he has had in life. Everyone loves Edward. Unfortunately, his son Will finds himself embarrassed by the stories he used to love hearing as a child.

This embarrassment comes to a head on the evening of his wedding, where Edward takes the spotlight while telling his tales. Will tells Edward the stories are just stories, and for once he would like to really know his father. But that is just an excuse. Poor Will has simply grown up. He has lost his imagination.

Will chooses to never speak to his father again, and doesn’t for several years. But then one day, he receives a call from his mother (Jessica Lange) letting him know that Edward is not long for this world. Will has only this one chance to reconcile with his father, and in doing so hopes to finally separate fact from fiction.

We are introduced to the ‘life’ of Edward loom in a series of these stories, as they are recounted by the various members of the family, and in a few cases, those involved in the stories. Early in life, he learned how he was going to die by looking into the eye of a witch (Helena Bonham Carter), and armed with that knowledge, he embarks on a life full of adventure, a life far more colorful than most. We see Edward as young man (Ewan McGregor) and travel with him through the life of a hometown hero, a friend to giants, and a man in love.

As directed by Tim Burton, “Big Fish” not so much a movie, as it is a fully realized presentation of Edward Bloom’s imagination. Burton is a master of the modern fairy tale, and here we are given a rich tapestry of images to back up Edward’s stories. The cinematography is often breathtaking, allowing us to compare the drab and lifeless world most of us see to the beauty and wonder of Bloom’s ‘memories.’

The entire cast did a wonderful job, but it was Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney who really made the movie for me. I’ve always loved Finney’s work, and this rates amongst his best. McGregor has come a long way from the grungy character he portrayed in “Trainspotting.” He has proven himself to be quite an accomplished actor, both in roles like this that require him to be, as well as those that don’t, such as Obi Wan Kenobi. He has an earnestness and likeability that can transform any character into one that the audience can identify with, or at least care about. I still remember being blown away by his performance in “Moulin Rouge.” For a guy who can’t really sing that well, he was able to deliver some of the most powerfully emotional renditions of the songs in that film.

For me, “Big Fish” was on the list with some of the more highly anticipated DVD releases this year. Mostly for the fact that it was a Tim Burton film and I know what he is capable of when he isn’t busy re-imagining someone else’s work. But there was also the angle of the father/son relationship which has a bit of personal meaning for me since I had lost my father at 15. A movie like this was sure to elicit some pretty strong emotions and memories, and that it did. It also speaks so highly of that all-important world of imagination that I hold so dear.

The DVD boasts a number of extra features, and for once all of them enhance the pleasure of watching the movie. The commentary by Burton is often thoughtful and reflective. But it is the look behind the scenes that really make one’s appreciation of the film even stronger. There are two main features, each broken down into a series of featurettes. All of the featurettes vary in length, and while most come in under ten minutes, there is a wealth of information. Seeing how a movie like this comes together is so much more gratifying, when the end result is as magical as “Big Fish”. Getting a look behind the scenes of the circus, or how the makeup artists turn the normally beautiful Helena Bonham Carter into and old witch is as delightful as the movie itself.

“Big Fish” is a modern fairy tale, and it will appeal the most to those of us who still have an imagination we like to nurture. If you’re imagination has faded, perhaps the film will spark just enough wonder in you to bring it back to full ‘bloom.’ But if you’re imagination is too far gone and is a lost cause, then I’ll feel sorry for you as you move through your black & white world.

Directed by: Tim Burton
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange
Extras: Tim Burton Audio Commentary, The Character’s Journey, The Filmmaker’s Path, The Finer Points
Specifications: Widescreen (1.85:1), Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Studio: Sony / Columbia Tristar
Release Date: 4/27/2004
Region 1
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (A Fight Scene, Some Images of Nudity and a Suggestive Reference)
Website

We'll give Big Fish an A.