Customer Reviews

What Dreams May Come (Widescreen)

5 star:		(166)
4 star:		(52)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(19)
1 star:		(40)

 

 

This is a typical Robin Williams film, sentimental to the extreme which is fine if that's what you are expecting. If you are expecting a true rendition of Richard Matheson's book then forget it. The only similarity to the book is that Chris Nielsen, the main character, dies and discovers there is life after death. From thereon in the story differs wildly. The book focuses more on Chris's voyage of discovery in the afterlife and on his being drawn to his wife whose grieving is preventing him from fully letting go of his earthly life. The film sees the poor woman left grieving for not only Chris, but her two children who have been killed in a car crash.

All that aside, is this a good film? It depends on your expectations. The effects are excellent and the colour rendition of 'heaven' is truly amazing if somewhat Dali like in its surrealism. Heaven is portrayed a place from a renaissance painting. Hell is shown as a dark and despairing place, pretty much as you would expect but again filmed with flair and a brilliant eye for detail. Chris's 'guide' through the afterlife is played, with style, by Cuba Gooding Junior. Visually this film is a feast but the storyline will leave most viewers depressed and drained. It isn't a comfortable movie to watch. Unlike the book which, although very sad at times, portrays a more positive note, the movie leaves you with a feeling of desperation that so much tragedy could happen to one family.

It is probably worth viewing this film at least once as long as you are not depressed at the time...just keep tissues by your side. It isn't a movie you would want to watch time and time again.

The dreams that came to me while watching the newfound romance in hell movie What Dreams May Come came to me as a sort of shock. Being of only fourteen years of age now I was only around ten when I first saw this movie on an early afternoon matinee on a local television station while I was left at home alone. My sister being thirteen had a life of her own with her friends and my mother and father were either at work or shopping for supplies for their work. What Dreams May Come gave me a basis of an idea for an afterlife since my parents don't agree on a church to go to, and I hadn't gone since my first communion-me being a catholic from my mother's side of the family. After my mother got home that day I told her about the movie and at first she was a little concerned- it as though she wasn't sure if I should've been exposed to a movie with that kind of content since I was "only a little girl" to put it in her words. Later that night she pulled me out of bed and we had the first real discussion that we had ever had on the subject of death, christ, heaven, hell, and purgatory. It wasn't two weeks later that we rented the movie and had the whole family (with the exception of my Dad for twenty minutes) sit down and watch it together. This is more of a thank you than a review, but thank you.

This is a story about death. Chris and Anne meet and get children. The children die in a car crash, and their mom never forgives herself for not bringing them to school themselves. Chris (played by Robin Williams) dies himself in a freak accident when he wants to help someone. She herself kills herself later.

Chris ends up in heaven, which looks like the paintings his wife makes. Their he meets a sort of guardian angel played by Cuba Gooding. But he is still not happy, he loves his wife and wants her back but unfortunately: suicides go to hell. But through undying love he gets her back to heaven.

The colors and the settings are beautiful, the artwork is amazing and therefore alone worth watching. The ending is however a little too cheasy. The DVD has a different and sadder ending, it would have made the movie better but Hollywood probably thought it a bad idea.

If you like dreamy movies about what is and what is not real: this movie is for you.

There are a significant number of movies that are heart warming, supportive and life giving . . . for families bereaved by suicide . . . this is not one of them. As a therapist, I have had to work through the trauma experienced by a number of my clients because of this movie. So . . . I decided to go and see it myself . . . and I agree with them. This movie is a sad attempt . . . through visual dramatics . . . to help people know that this life is not the end, but wow! not in this manner please.

Video: This 1080p 2.35:1 is very pleasant, but not spectacular. The cinematography and visual effects really stand out in this movie. Many frames are like vast oil paintings, with layers of bright colours and images. But somehow the colours look slightly subdued, and do not pop off the screen. Chris' concept of Heaven is related to his wife's talent as a painter: It's a riot of colour, festooned with fields of flowers and blossoming trees. Similarly, the scenes set in Hell are convincingly drab and surreal. Maybe the reason behind Universal's inability to get a top transfer was that the original prints of the film, which were stored at a video vault in Universal Studios Hollywood's backlot, were lost in the June 1st, 2008 backlot fire. (4/5)

Audio: This DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is much improved over the previous HD-DVD's Dolby Digital. Michael Kamen's score is impressive. Dialogue is clear. And thanks to Universal for putting the subtitles within the picture frame, if you are using an anamorphic lens. (4/5)

This movie won the Oscar for Best Effects (Visual Effects) in 1999 for Joey Hynek, Nicholas Brooks, Stuart Robertson and Kevin Scott Mack. It was also nominated for Best Art Direction - Set Decoration.

The title is derived from William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" (Act 3, Scene 1): "To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub; For in that sleep of death what dreams may come When we have shuffled off this mortal coil must give us pause..."

Trivia: When Chris goes to the city in Heaven where people are flying around, watch for characters from "Peter Pan" (Wendy, Michael, John) and "Mary Poppins" (Mary Poppins) among the people flying.

The estimated budget for this movie was $85 million, but unfortunately the final gross was only $55 million.

This is an unashamedly sentimental film. These soul mates have such a strong bond that it transcends death. Chris is willing to risk his immortal soul to find Annie and at least attempt to pull her from the despair of eternal damnation. It boasts some stunning imagery, strong performances and award-winning special effect. It is a moving film that requires handkerchief ready because you are going to need it. Highly recommended.

Beautiful story and graphics about deep connection and love for each other, even in the afterlife.

There are surprisingly few movies dealing with a nonterrestrial afterlife. While there are hundreds of films dealing with the existence of individuals following death as embodied or disembodied spirits on earth, there are remarkably few that provide any glimpse of heaven. The few that do tend to present it as an inconceivably white, vast, and indistinct place, from HERE COMES MR. JORDAN to A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH to THE HORN BLOWS AT MIDNIGHT. In contrast to these other films, WHAT DREAMS MAY COME stands out as one of the most intensely colorful, beautiful, and vividly concrete films in cinema history.

The cast of the film is strong, but it would be a mistake to imagine that they are the reason for the film's success. Robin Williams as Chris Nielsen, Cuba Gooding Jr., Rosalind Chao (who I previously mainly knew only from STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION), Max von Sydow, and the lovely but underused (not only in this film, but by Hollywood in general) Annabella Sciorra all hand in wonderful performances, but they are largely overwhelmed by the astonishing beauty of the sets, the inconceivably vivid colors, and the marvelous use of light. No performers could have competed, though they try gamely.

I find the film especially interesting for theological reasons. Ron Bass based the screenplay on a novel by Richard Mattheson. I must confess to not knowing the work of either, but I would lay heavy money that one of them (probably Mattheson) knew well C. S. Lewis's THE GREAT DIVORCE. In that work Lewis was concerned to lay out a concept of heaven and hell that did not regard God as responsible for sending people to hell. Instead, he described an afterlife in which people in hell still had the option of leaving hell and departing for heaven. These two ideas--of people placing themselves in hell and of having the option to leave hell for heaven--drive the metaphysics of WHAT DREAMS MAY COME, as I'm sure anyone who has seen the film will recognize.

So why do I give the film only four stars after all the nice things I have said about it? Primarily because the film doesn't really have all that much of a story to tell. The plot feels like a short subject stretched to feature length film proportions. Once you subtract all the amazing visuals, there simply wasn't that much to the film. The challenge for the filmmakers was primarily padding out the action of the film. Nonetheless, I do recommend this as an interesting and intensely beautiful film, despite the slender narrative.

Interestingly, the title of the film comes from Hamlet's famous soliloquy, in which he ponders whether or not to commit suicide. In the end, he decides not to because of the dreams that the dead may dream, presumably worse for having killed oneself. But such dreams did not prevent Annie Nielsen in the film from committing suicide. It is a nice ironical touch.

This is a wonderful tale of death and love. Robin Williams dies in a car crash and wakes up in heaven. He sees his old dog and friends from his life that have died before him along with his two children that have died in a previous car accident. Robin finds out he that his wife is having an impossible time of living without him. She ends up committing suicide and then is sent ot hell. The rest of the movie is Robin on his quest to find his wife in Hell. The movie is stunning in detail and is truly beautiful to look at. Cuba Gooding Jr. and Max Von Syndow give stellar performances as supporting actors in this film. The DVD has the usual extras including a less than happy alternate ending.

"What Dreams May Come" is an overlooked film that should have gotten more attention than it did. While not perfect, it's one of the most visually stunning and thought-provoking films to come around in a long time. Chris (Robin Williams) and Annie (Annabella Sciorra) are a happy couple who suffer the devastating loss of their children. Shortly afterwards Chris dies himself and goes to an afterlife, which turns out to be a surreal lush dreamworld that is a reflection of his wife's paintings (which deservedly won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects). While there Chris meets an "angel" (Cuba Gooding Jr.) who guides him through the transition. Meanwhile, back in the real world, Annie becomes unable to cope with all the pain and losses and takes her own life, sending her to Hell. Determined to rescue Annie from an eternity in damnation, Chris sets out to find her and re-establish their bond together.

This movie could have easily been a masterpiece, with such a great cast, excellent visual effects and production. However, there are two things which severely take away from its effectiveness. For one, the flashback style becomes tedious after a bit and interrupts the flow of the story. Many other reviewers have commented on this. It's a major drawback. And two, some scenes simply do not work. For example, when Chris arrives in Hell and begins maneuvering around the heads sticking out of the ground. This scene is done in a humorous way, seemingly for comic relief. It simply does not work and is majorly out of place. Comic relief isn't what should happen here.

Aside from these flaws, "What Dreams May Come" is an enlightening viewing experience and will stay with you long after you're finished watching it. It can be interpreted in many ways: a film about the possibility of life after death: a film about never-ending love: a film about affirming the beauty of life. However you may see it, you will surely take away at least something from it after the credits roll.

Visually beautiful movie. The Heaven sequences are alive with color and possibility. The plot bogs down in William's usual maudlin sentimentality. Williams has always had a need to be taken seriously as an actor and person while staying true to his comedic roots. This is more true as Williams heads into middle age and forces the audience to watch him "act".