The Bumblebee Flies Anyway (1999) User Reviews

Incredible questions are asked, but does the film care?

[moses-11 · 7/10 · 1 January 2000]

The Bumblebee Flies Anyway was certainly a drama. People die, sad things happen, and the viewer is blown away by the stunning storytelling. That's what it's supposed to be, right? And was it, in this case? Sort of. Major plot points came and went without much surprise from me. But I still found it interesting and entertaining. The title comes from the fact that bumblebees are actually too big for their wings, and shouldn't be able to fly, but they do. The acting was fine, but it's funny to see that Elijah Wood did better than Janeane Garofolo. The script was similarly passable. Soundtrack: Pretty good, and sometimes quite effective.

On the plus side, some awesome questions are asked, and that's what makes this so powerful. I can't go into detail without giving away the plot. Overall, it's not a waste of time, but there are probably better movies out there. I'd recommend it for people who like to ponder philosophically.

Not Deep Enough

[bethlynch91 · 6/10 · 14 April 2002]

It was a flat movie that didn't take the opportunity to tell a very deep and emotional story. It was too short. However I love Elijah Wood in any movie, so that was a plus. He needs to learn how to kiss on film. I also liked Rachael Leigh Cook. A good match for Lij. Hope they do other movies together.

Great movie, not overly dramatic but makes you think.

[marc_0006 · 7/10 · 16 February 2006]

I haven't seen this movie from the very beginning, but I remember watching it late at night and it really puts a lot of ideas into your head. It's a definite must see if you enjoy a movie that will get you emotional, make you think, and even laugh. I wonder if anyone has tried this in real life or is based on any truth. The acting is well done for such a young cast and the ending is really enjoyable, it doesn't make you feel sorry for any of the characters even though there is a lot to feel sympathy for. If you get the chance, watch this movie! It's a great movie to watch alone, I wouldn't recommend watching it with a group of buddies cause it does make you quite emotional.

Mind over Matter-what you believe is what is real

[loraine2 · 3 February 2002]

The Bumblebee Flies Anyway is a mysterious maze of a movie, twisting and turning throughout its hour and a half time span. What you see is what you believe, and what you believe is what becomes reality. This is mind over matter. Despite the laws of aerodynamics, bumblebees can fly. These concepts are the basis for an experiment involving Barney Snow.

Barney Snow (Elijah Wood) is a young man with amnesia. He cannot remember anything prior to his arrival at a small experimental hospital, and some days, he even has trouble remembering his own name. He is the only amnesia patient in a hospital for terminally ill children, so the doctor warns him to remain detached.

Such a warning is hard to heed when Barney's home (and all he remembers) is the hospital. Naturally, the other patients become friends, even family to him. His new friends include Billy (George Gore II), a boy with a kidney disorder inherited from deceased parents, and Mazzo (Joe Perrino), a young man with bone cancer. Mazzo's twin sister, Cassie (Rachael Leigh Cook), comes to visit her brother, and meets Barney.

Barney's relationships are truly beautiful. He is not rude or condescending to the others in the hospital-nor does he seem to pity them. He takes them for their personalities, looking beyond face value. Even though Mazzo is constantly angry about his disease and projects this at Barney, the two share an amazing bond. Barney won't stop trying with Mazzo. When Mazzo gets mad at Barney, Barney doesn't pity him-he exchanges tense banter. They are real characters; they have human traits, beliefs, and struggles. Billy, the boy with the kidney problem, is a stoic, sarcastic, and even humorous child with something to say about everyone and everything. He ignores his own disease, but he doesn't deny it. His sarcasm provides a way of dealing with his problems. Finally, there is the element of romance, coming into play with Cassie and Barney. This is a subtle, effective romance, one that makes sense and moves at the right pace. Both Cassie and Barney are at crossroads in their lives, and this is reflected in their time together.

The film itself is a pensive piece. The maze that it is must be solved before it makes sense, but then it does. Every twist and turn are accounted for finally. The last approximately twenty minutes are truly outstanding. It shows something about human nature and the reality of life.

Curious often downbeat but generally gripping drama

[Mickey77 · 7/10 · 24 April 1999]

A teenage boy with apparent memory loss is undergoing experimental treatment in a cancer hospital. He befriends several of the young patients and his efforts to improve their lot and his own search for the truth leads him to some unexpected revelations. Curious often downbeat but generally gripping drama which had elements of mystery and some deeper things to say about quality of life. A million miles away for this directors previous film (THE BOY FROM MERCURY) although his handing of the young actors is once again highly impressive.

worst film kiss ever (small spoiler)

[nea_pea_ikea · 6/10 · 24 July 2003]

the movie itself isn't gonna be remembered for that long, but it is historic in one sense. it has what must be the worst ever kissing scene in history in it- between elijah wood and rachel leigh cook. first off there's no chemistry between them at all throughout the movie and on the day of shooting they must've served garlic in the canteen 'cos neither opens his/her mouth until the kiss is over. it disturbs me greatly that two young actors would miss the opportunity for a free snog. the whole scene is disastrous and the kiss should be shown to kids so they know what not to do. elijah looks like he's kissing his grandmother whilst frantically shaking his head. it's a must see.

Worth seeing, but just barely

[Jen-30 · 6/10 · 16 February 2000]

I had high hopes for this film, as I am a fan of both Elijah Wood and Janeane Garafaolo. While they both did the best they could with what they had to work with, this film overall disappoints. This film had all the makings of a unique and intriguing story, but somewhere it took a wrong turn and we're left with half-developed characters and scenes that try too hard to be deep and mysterious. The buildup outweighs the predictable ending.

Simply Horrible

[dpleasants · 1/10 · 5 March 2002]

Terrible acting, terrible script, wholly unrealistic. The Bumblebee Flies Anyway exemplifies the cliches and sentimentalism that movie studios love to cram down viewers' throats. Elijah Wood is unimaginably bad in the primary role, and the plot points are contrived and sappy. Cook's and Wood's relationship is laughable at best. But the worst element of Bumblebee is the script. This is some of the most mind-numbingly bad dialogue I have ever had the misfortune to hear. Bumblebees actually crawling inside my ears and stinging my eardrums would be preferable to hearing Elijah Wood robotically spit out his pseudo-profound lines. I wish a "Bumblebee Project" would be performed on me, so I could mercifully have no memories of this stinker.

Perhaps unrealistic, but a good show

[tgjenn · 9/10 · 28 July 2000]

When I first came across this movie at the video store, I had previously heard nothing about it; however, the storyline interested me, and I was also familiar with both Elijah Wood and Rachael Leigh Cook.

As indicated in others' comments, the storyline depicts Barney Snow [Elijah Wood], a young man who is the only "non-terminal" patient in an experimental hospital for terminally-ill youngsters. He is initially advised by the doctor [Janeane Garofalo] to remain "detached" as he encounters the other patients. However, before long he develops friendships with several of them --- Allie, a young kid who stutters and has some sort of brain disease; Billy, a wisecracking but honest kid (he appears to me that he is in his teens) with a kidney disorder; and Alberto a.k.a "Mazzo", who appears to be around Barney's age, acts somewhat hostile and has bone cancer. Barney especially develops a close bond with Mazzo's fraternal twin sister Cassie [Rachael Leigh Cook], to whom he regularly reports Mazzo's condition as Mazzo won't see her when she visits.

The title comes from the notion that a bumblebee is able to fly even though scientifically its wings are too small, and this is the basis of the experiment being done on Barney.

Although I found the movie somewhat slow-moving, and the storyline sometimes unrealistic as he learns the truth of why he is there, I still enjoyed it. I like sensitive storylines, and even though I generally prefer they be a little less serious than what this was, this movie still ranks as one of my favorites. It was also the first time I had seen Elijah Wood in a role other than in a "cute little kiddie" or "teeny-bopper" movie, and I thought he did an excellent job. He and Rachael Leigh Cook seemed to work well together.

I wouldn't recommend this to everyone --- if you prefer something more upbeat, you probably would not like this movie. However, I would advise anyone who thinks this seems even remotely interesting to give it a chance.

Sometimes over wrought with its own self-indulgences

[Agent10 · 5/10 · 7 March 2003]

Sure, The Bumblebee Flies Away had some interesting thematic elements and a neatly placed twist at the end, the over sentimental feel of the script felt like it dragged on for too long. Elijah Wood seemed out of place in his role, considering he looks as old as some of the younger kids in the movie. Nonetheless, despite the misgivings, I will give this little film a 5/10. It wasn't sappy enough to make me egress my dinner, but not great enough to get over its own sad misgivings.

Powerful and bittersweet; MAJOR SPOILERS

[kaylenns · 9/10 · 22 December 2001]

I admit to initially being interested in this film because of Wood, but Gore, Perrino, Garofalo, and Cook were strong, as well. Cook's role is muted; some of her fans may be turned off by the quietness of her performance, but I felt the portrayal entirely within reason, since her character is tied to the film mostly because her brother is dying. Her character was displaced and knew it, and her friendship with Wood's character was very much one of mutual comfort. They were basically just content to be in each other's presence; there were no unneeded theatrics between them. I thought it was cool.

The film began slowly and the pace it picked up to was not in action but in psychology. The premise (which you don't discover until the end), is that cancer may be put into remission if the mind forgets it must support the cancerous cells; mind over matter, so to speak. This "cure" comes at the expense of your memories of who you are, however. You have a sort of amnesia--the painful part is when you are faced with going through the procedure again when the cancer reappears, and you will probably loose all of the memories of the friends you made, and the things you learned, and once again, who you are.

It took me a few minutes to understand the premise after it was revealed, but the painfulness of what it would be like to live like that did not sink in until the scene where Wood's character effectively said good-bye to Cook's. They were two young people who were thinking and serious beyond their years. They were faced with death and illness when most of us are out partying.

When he is facing losing himself and his memories of their friendship, he grabs on to the lapels of her coat as if holding on to them will keep him there. You can see that she knows what she's loosing, as well: a friend who has just listened and not demanded. Someone who took the time to know her as a person, who she felt could understand when she expressed her own pain and frustration.

When they kiss, you realize with a start that they are both barely out of their teens. They somehow feel older until you see the innocence and the inexperience evidenced in their kiss. I've never before seen a moment quite like the one Wood portrayed there--a young man, desperate and saddened in the knowledge that he will lose what he holds in his arms, yet unwilling to let her go and trying to express his need for her for the first time. The moment that really struck me was not the initial feeling of desperation, but rather the expression that immediately followed it, of "wow" and relief and release of tension and a breath of stunned virginity, for lack of a better term. And then, immediately following on the heels of that, a desire for more--and then a moment of simply being held. It was young, it was old, it was poignant, sweet, painful, and very well acted.

I've seen my share of film kisses, but this one was different. Just go and watch this movie! It's under-appreciated, and it is not your usual sick-ward sort of movie. It was effective, but like Connie Willis' "Bellwether," you don't realize it until you reach the end--which in some sense is its brilliance. You are just as disjointed and in a fog as Wood's character, only finding definition as he does, as he builds friends and experiences. That is why it is so painful by the end, because you have begun to treasure what he does, and it will be gone.

Attracting flies is more like it.

[hgolytly · 2/10 · 21 January 2002]

I rented this movie because Elijah Wood has done some good work and I thought this might be an overlooked treasure. It was not a treasure. I don't know if this was straight to video, but it should have been straight to the dump.

Elijah Wood fans will like the fact that he appears shirtless in a much-too-brief shower scene. But, no sane person would like this script. Imagine Memento played by teen actors, but ten times more confusing and a hundred times less plausible. Case in point: Janeane Garofalo plays a caring psychologist (apparently `keeping the chain of mediocrity alive').

As if false memories syndromes and mind-over-matter medicine weren't hokey enough, the movie also hinges on one of those unexplained psychic twin bonds that keep the plot moving and the audience baffled. This same twin bond creates a few too many contrived love scenes between Wood's character and the girl from She's All That, who plays the saintly sister of Wood's angry cancer-victim friend.

Adding to the triteness of this screenplay, Wood's other friends are a mentally challenged cancer victim and Kidney, a young black boy afflicted with a mysterious kidney disease. Kidney's dying wish comes true when Dr. Garofalo gives him his own Walkman. This character's hackneyed function in the story is matched by his on-again, off-again relationship to walking. Usually bound to a wheelchair, Kidney has several inexplicable scenes showing him pushing others around in it.

Kindey's characterization may be one small detail, but it is indicative of this film's many other flaws. The Bumblebee Flies Anyway is definitely bumbling, but it never flies.

Come on, now.

[ErikaHaines · 21 November 2002]

I think some replies here were a little bit harsh on the movie. Mind you, this is a movie critic's haven, so I can understand. But let's try to level here.

First of all, I knew when starting this movie that it was going to be an indie, low-budget, sort of film, so I wasn't expecting some kind of Lord of The Rings or COlor Purple. I also knew not to expect anything too complex--in my experience with movies such as these, there is more there than just a simple, plausible plot that appeals to everybody. I knew going into it: Hey this is an Elijah Wood movie. Now everything I have seen him in, with the exception of Flipper, has been in some way great, and always told a great or complex story. Summing up all of those conclusions, I went into the movie knowing I shouldn't try to apply any other movie criticisms to it until I had seen it all the way through twice in order to fully catch the drift of the movie.

That being said, the movie was fair. I don't think it is the greatest thing he has ever done; it in no way compares to the Ice Storm or Lord of The Rings. However, I think the end of the movie sort of pulls everything together and helps me to see why Elijah might've chosen to do this movie.

Here is what I liked: The ending, the one that leaves everyone questioning a few things; the sarcastic kid, Billy, and his acerbic sence of humor; the thought processes of Barney Snow (Elijah Wood seems to have mastered the subtlety that is required for this role; Most people here complained that Barney was too apathetic for someone who knew nothing about his past or future, but I think it reflects some of Elijah's character in there too. At the end you see Elijah's happiness restored, when he is able to let go of everything (the very last scene), but throughout the movie it is quiet, subtle nuances; the introvert in Elijah shines through, and I think it is fantastic, and almsot mysterious.) I also liked Mazzo, I think he was a great actor in this movie, and the role worked well with him.

Here is what I disliked: The romantic scene with Rachel Leigh Cook when he finds out she is leaving for Europe...I think their chemistry is terrible, and I don't think the actors are to blame--I think the casting directors are to blame. EW and RLC can both be great, Elijah much more so than Rachel Leigh Cook, but I don't think they worked well together at all.

Suprisingly, I think he and Jordana Brewster from the Faculty had a better chemistry. Also, I think there was too little effort put into the love story. It was like...out of nowhere...they were in love...which is okay sometimes, as long as the characters' feelings are out in the open, but their feelings weren't out in the open. It made it seem strange that the cover of the video box was Elijah and RLC hugging; to me that wasn't the greater message of the movie. THe cover should have been Elijah as the central figure, and then, perhaps, the supporting characters behind him, sort of blended into the background.

Overall, I rate it an 10 for Elijah, Billy,and Mazzo. I rate it a 7 for Rachel Leigh Cook, and I rate a 5 for that silly romantic scene that just didn't flow well with the movie(though I rewound and rewound a few times there...). I give a 9 to the ending because I like enigmatic things but it didn't flow perfectly either. Overall, that's about an 8.

Amazing

[got_a_penny · 8/10 · 13 February 2005]

When I was 14, out of my sheer "love" for Elijah Wood, I rented this movie. To say the least, I was pleasantly surprised with this movie. I found it to be thoroughly enjoyable and not at all the disappointment I faced after watching "Try Seventeen" (But that of course, is another comment.) Mazzo is by far my absolute favourite character in this film, and Barney is perfect (along with his two sidekicks, Billy and Ally) for helping Mazzo reach his goal of how he wanted to end his life. The love that happens between Rachel Leigh-Cook's Cassie, and Elijah Wood's Barney Snow is somewhat a reach of desperation for those two characters. We see that come out fully when the two finally embrace with a passionate (yet immensely sloppy) kiss. We as an audience are able to forgive them the mess of a kiss because it is oddly suited with the scene. All in all, an amazing film, and I would recommend it to anyone who would ask. The soundtrack, as well, is definitely worth it.

Great, excellent movie.

[jenti_gadje · 10/10 · 16 January 2005]

At first I was very skeptical of this movie. While watching it, the actors captured my heart. There dazzling performances made the movie so much better. This movie touched my heart in several ways. I am not usually very touched by movies. They are usually fiction and I am a verisimilitude person. I recommend that everyone see this movie. People of all ages will be touched by the themes and performances that are existent in this film. I have not seen such an exceptional movie in quite a long time. Stories and movies of this type are worth-while to me. I find these very interesting. If you know of any movies similar to this one please recommend them to me. It would be greatly appreciated.

Intriguing and Brilliant! A Must See Film!

[Jennabean17 · 7 March 2004]

I found the title to this little known classic while scanning through Elijah Wood's filmography. It was, in fact, the title that jumped out at me the most. I decided I had to see it. After searching through two different rental places in my area I finally found it. I must admit I didn't know what to expect. There were many aspects of the film which intrigued me. Most of all I loved the fact that for 75% of the film you're very unclear as to what Elijah Wood's character is experiencing. This actually mirrors his character's whole role in this film. Both viewer and character are confused and disoriented, thrown into a strange world where dying and terminally ill children are the only company. This brings a unique bond between audience and Barney Snow (Wood) because we are forced to experience his incomprehension. I thought that the acting in this film was on target. Everyone from Elijah Wood to Jeffrey Force was just brilliant. Both Joe Perrino and Elijah Wood have the most expressive eyes and they utilize this gift to really tug the viewer's heart. Though some parts of this film came across a little on the cheesy side, I really found it spectacularly done and completely captivating.

Wonderful

[christiansmovies · 10/10 · 31 March 2002]

Not Bad, Not Bad! Sad and emotional. Good drama. Rachael Leigh Cook's best performance so far, of what I saw of her in movies. And Elijah Wood has been one of my favorites ever since `The War'. Very good if you like sad dramas that have a lot of heart and feeling!

Interesting plot with great acting performances.

[joshuastephen4 · 9/10 · 14 September 2001]

Being a fan of the three main stars (Garofalo, Wood and Cook) led me to sit down and enjoy the movie which is "The Bumblebee Flies Anyway". Though not a movie I believe would appeal to mass audiences, the brilliant performances by all the actors involved made for a great film. Set in a ward for terminally ill children, the mistake of allowing for caricatured and melodramatic emotions/relationships was thankfully not made once. The basic plot: Barney(Elijah Wood) is a volunteer for an experiment run by Dr. Harriman(Janeane Garofalo) with no memory of his past. Being the only non-terminally ill kid in the clinic, Barney is warned to remain detached, but obviously that does not happen. He develops relationships with several of his fellow patients, and those are what make this a good movie. His romance with Cassie(Rachael Leigh Cook)is especially nice for its subtlety and lack of overt sexuality. Janeane Garofalo does a wonderful job with her role as the doctor who struggles with her own advice of detachment. Any person who claims to be a fan of her's needs to see this movie, for it allows us to see just how truly capable of an actor she is. I take away from this film the following question: is a peron's identity made up of the memories we collect throughout our lifetime or the relationships we make throughout and is life worth living without a sense of that identity?

Like most bees, this film just buzzed around

[helpless_dancer · 21 February 2000]

I found this film tedious and slow. A boy admits himself into a research facility for terminal patients. He isn't terminal, but is part of an experiment to conquer cancer by removing the brain's memory of the disease. He spends most of his time interacting with the other patients and trying to remember his past. This was just another dull and tepid film in a long line of flimsy tear jerkers.

Fantastic

[Ten13Grl · 9/10 · 3 January 2003]

This movie was so great. Watching it one wonders why we had to wait until The Lord of the Rings to see Elijah Wood hit it big. He brings a sense of depth to the role of Barney Snow and the movie itself just draws you in. Rachael Leigh Cook is another fine young actor who should be bigger than she is and she delivers an awesome performance in this film as well. This movie both frustrates and pleases its audience and I recommend everyone see it.

The Bumblebee DOES Fly Anyway

[Aim-10 · 10/10 · 1 January 2000]

I have been waiting to see this film for some time now. I am a fan of Rachael Leigh Cook's work, and this is the main reason I had for watching this film. As an actress, she has introduced me to some great films, and The Bumblebee Flies Anyway is NO exception. As a scholar of film and an aspiring young filmmaker, I saw not only more evidence that Rachael Leigh Cook is here to stay, but I saw the same in Elijah Wood. These young actors have done their fair share of teenie bopper films, but this film appeals to all ages because they give performances well beyond their years. The material in the film would be hard for ANY adult to grasp. Their performances lend much hope to the future of today's young actors/actresses. The supporting cast gave wonderful performances too, especially Janeane Garofalo's performance (her performance let us see what she's really capable of as an actress; she should win an award for her role). Other notable performances where given by the three young men who befriend Elijah Wood's character.

Without giving anything away, I just want to say that the cast, script, cinematography, and direction combine to produce a film that speaks to the hearts of all who enter into the dreamworld created by cinema. In my opinion, so many pointless films are made today, but The Bumblebee Flies Anyway is NOT in this category. This movie exemplifies why movies are made and what makes a good film. Movies are made for many reasons: they speak to us, the offer us an escape by making us voyeurs, but most of all, they tell us a story with which we can identify. The Bumblebee Flies Anyway more than allows all these cinematic miracles to take place. It tells a story so compelling and gripping you feel like a part of the film, you feel like the characters are your best friends, you feel, at times, like jumping into the film and showing your compassion for the characters.

In addition to exemplifying why movies are made, The Bumblebee Flies Anyway also shows us what makes a good film. It has everything: drama, moments of comedy, wonder, mystery, intrigue, and most of all, it provides a solid story which has all the elements of a good narrative (a protagonist who is faced with a problem or struggle that he has to find his way through). The film has elements of love and romance; I must say that Elijah Wood and Rachael Leigh Cook have a wonderful rapport and chemistry together. The film also serves as an example of true friendship between two people. Young people could learn a great deal from the friendship between Barney Snow (the Elijah Wood character and Mazzo (don't know the name of the young man who played Mazzo).

The only thing I wished had been done differently about the film is I wish it could've been longer. I know for certain reasons directors, editors, and producers make the decision to take time out of the film for length purposes. I didn't want this one to be over. The film did resolve all of its conflicts, but as a lover of film and one who finds solitude in the dreamworld of cinema, I wanted more.

I won't say anything more, but to say that I highly recommend this film. The last twenty minutes of the film are enough to take your breath away; it's beautiful!!! The Bumblebee DOES Fly Anyway.

Subtle drama that doesn't make much sense

[Aeris4ever · 25 January 2003]

Since seeing LOTR: The Two Towers, I've been on an Elijah Wood kick, trying to see as many of his films as possible. I first saw him in "The Good Son" almost 10 years ago and immediately saw his talent, as he upstaged the great Macauley Culkin in that film. I knew this was an independent, low-budget film, so I didn't expect much. The movie was so strong in some areas, but very weak in others, making it an odd viewing experience.

All the characters in this film were incredibly well played. The acting was top notch. The actors playing the kids in the hospital did such a fine job, that I really fell in love with their characters. In my head, I chastized Mazzo for being so mean to Barney, but came to like him in the end. These are the kinds of feelings any great actor tries to elicit in his viewers, and in this case, they all succeeded. The big names, Elijah, Rachael, and Janeane, were just as good. Especially Elijah, who has this incredible gift of conveying emotion with a simple glance. I was so impressed with the acting, overall, that I could go on forever.

Now it's time for the not so good things, mostly due to the film's low budget. I wasn't thrilled with the film's environment. The hospital looked so cold, I felt like shivering. I'm sure that was the point, but I wish we could have seen more than just the hospital, the junkyard, and the little park outside. There only seemed to be 3-4 patients, including Barney, so the hospital felt really empty. I won't take extras for granted again, because tossing a few in this movie would have added so much. I can come up with symbolism for everything in this movie, but at first glance, the film is just "cold".

Another "low budgetism" is that rush to get everything filmed and in the can. One of the most annoying mistakes was mentioned by another user, the way Mazzo's name was pronounced "Mazzo" by everyone except Elijah, who said "Matzo" every time. Things like that shouldn't happen.

The romance between Barney and Cassie just wasn't working. Not that they're incompatible, but the story made it a rush job. The kiss at the end was so awkward and it was hard to watch. It looked like someone was behind Elijah, pushing him onto Rachael.

My biggest problem is with the story itself. SPOILERS! Barney is an amnesia victim, staying at a care center for terminally ill children. The only things Barney can remember are his name and a red convertible. He is subjected to some form of treatment that affects his memory. Mazzo, a terminal cancer patient the same age as Barney, is extremely angry at him for invading the kids' "turf". The other two kids befriend Barney for the most part. When Mazzo's twin sister, Cassie, comes to visit, she and Barney meet and start a rather unrealistic romance. All is well until Barney finds out who he really is - a cancer patient who was cured by having his memory erased. This theorizes that if a patient doesn't remember his cancer, his body won't recognize it, either. He had agreed to take part in the experiment, the stupidly titled "Bumblebee Project", but obviously can't remember. In the meantime, he manages to build a car out of junkyard parts and helps Mazzo in his longing to go out (die) in a blaze of glory. There is something so horribly wrong and ludicrous about pushing a dead person out a window. It may be symbolic, but geez was it wrong. I'll stop with that, because there is more to the ending, but I just about had it with the wheelchair going over the roof.

It probably sounds like I hated this movie, but I really didn't. It's a great film for die-hard fans of any of the castmembers. As a drama, it has excellent acting and a good setup, with the storyline developing at a good pace. The story manages to skip around the medical mumbo jumbo that could have killed it, so thank goodness for that. It just wasn't a captivating story for me. But the acting was great, so I'll give the film a 7.5/10.

A Real Movie

[hofmaj · 10/10 · 17 January 2000]

Today most movies are "common placed". I guess what I mean by that is there isn't a real story behind them. They are movies that we've seen before in some form or way. I guess I liked this movie so much beacuse it felt like a real story. I believed in it and all the characters. I didn't feel like it was another movie that "had no substance" It was a movie I could watch over and over again and not get tired of.

Verrry Interesting

[wyoon · 9/10 · 13 May 2002]

This is a film that needs watching more than once to get all the subtle symbolisms and meanings. Heck, I've BOUGHT this film, and keep noticing something new each time I view it. As an English teacher, I suggest that those who don't get it, try again. Maybe it's just over your head?

As far as the acting goes, I was initially disappointed at the lack of clear emotions being expressed. But as time goes on, I've decided I appreciate the low-key displays of emotion - certainly closer to real life than the usual soap-opera acting present in such an emotionally-charged movie, As for the plausibility of the story line, anyone who has a relative or friend being treated for cancer knows the importance of mind-over-body techniques; and certainly patients who tire easily will sometimes feel the need to use a wheelchair, and sometimes not - that is not the big issue here. The screenplay does a fairly accurate job of showing life in a long-term care facility, while restricting itself to a relatively small number of characters. What you want to consider is... what would your decision be, considering all the consequences?

Did anyone else watch all the way to the end of the credits and notice that at the end of the "Special Thanks to..." list they included a priest, and Elijah Wood's mother and sister? I HAVE seen all his previous movies, and this is the only time they have been listed. I'd love to know the true story behind that. Verrry interesting, hmm?

And people with money keep greenlighting things....

[red_manta · 10 June 2002]

Really, there isnt much to say about this one. So why say anything at all? I don't know. What I do know is that I felt nothing for this film. It contained an incredibly awkward kissing scene between Elijah and Rachel Leigh Cook. I had to look away. I still don't understand why their characters felt so passionately about one another. This kiss seemingly came out of nowhere. Boom. I cannot comprehend why people like Janeane G. and Elijah W. would sign on to it. Perhaps the script changed mid-shoot, or the script looked like a good idea on paper. For some reason I don't want to assign blame to anyone but the writer and director. Correct me if I am wrong, but I am pretty sure this is the third movie with Elijah Wood in it that involves a) a junkyard and b) building something from that junkyard (see The War and Radio Flyer for further examples of this). Perhaps his character also jumps on or off a bicycle mid-pedal too (cf. Deep Impact, Radio Flyer, Flipper). Why have I seen so many EW movies? I have deep respect for Frodo. But I have to say, I wouldnt even rent this one.