Meet Joe Black (Ultimate Edition) | Fredric March, Evelyn Venable

Meet Joe Black (Ultimate Edition) | Fredric March, Evelyn Venable | A Long though Wonderful Film

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Meet Joe Black (Ul...

	Meet Joe Black (Ultimate Edition) Fredric March, Evelyn Venable Universal Studios, 2001 average customer review:based on 447 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Worth the trip.

If you have an MTV attention span, you do not need to read further. Otherwise, let me tell you about this movie that has something for almost everyone. Naysayers will argue that it is too long. My personal opinion about ANY movie is--If it's good, then it doesn't matter how long it is (see Dances with Wolves, Titanic, Braveheart,etc.)
This is an even-paced movie that lets you get a glimpse into all of the characters without becoming a tedious 7 character analysis. It is a love story. It is a tragedy. It is a drama. William Parrish's tragic tale of a life near ending is somehow uplifted by his recognizing all of his accomplishments, and his children's happiness. His daughter Susan is rescued from her seemingly corporate relationship with a cad. His other daughter is supported greatly by a lovable shlub named Quince. All in all, this makes us look at our lives perhaps. For all the bad things that may have happened, it is, overall, a beautiful life and adventure. Take the time to immerse yourself in this movie. If you don't get goosebumps at the end scene, then you may not be human.

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A Long though Wonderful Film

Meet Joe Black is a re-make of Death Takes a Holiday, a 1934 film directed by Mitchell Leisen. This classic differs from the re-make in many respects, however, Joe Black, despite its length, (three hours) maintains its own particular magic. Though many critics praised Sir Anthony's performance, Brad Pitt as Joe Black carried the film.

Similar to the original screenplay, Maxwell Anderson and Gladys Lehman's adaptation of the Italian play by Alberto Casella, the central idea of the Death Angel taking a small vacation to then fall in love with a beautiful woman remains the same.

It is rare that Sir Anthony Hopkins ever gives a bad performance. He was wonderful in this film but Brad Pitt, forever trying to shed his pretty boy image, does a great job as an angel inhabiting a recently dead person's body with such innocence and believability, that expression in the eyes and his awkward movements, carried the film. It was only after seeing this film that my opinion of Brad Pitt's skill as an actor was revealed. There is an ethereal quality to his performance, a particular look in the eye that suspends all disbelief that he is the Angel of Death.

Clare Forlani as Susan Parish is absolutely stunning and her beauty actually grows as the story progresses. The love scenes were exceptional, her expressions heart felt and overall performance, to my mind, outstanding.

As many have said before, Meet Joe Black is a celebration of life, a reflection on a life well worth lived and the opportunity to contemplate life before its exit. Although the cynical might label this film sentimental, considering the subject matter, in my opinion, it is appropriate though, interestingly, without a hint of irony.

The interesting outcome or climax of the film had a slight twist and seemed perfect for a movie of this kind.

This is a film that can be watched again as its nuances and subtlety can be discovered over many viewings.

A well acted and well produced film.

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Good script but without expressive vigor!

After the superb cult movie "Devil's advocate" of 1997, we return to a renowned confrontation that claims the life of a industrial billionaire and emerges from the ashes of darkness in human form. Until here everything's fine but the lines of the personage of this hellish character are extremely smoothed. The character loses starriness, perversity and credibility. On the other hand think in these actors: Malkovich or Irons; both of them have the credentials to impress this sinister presence the required specific weight. Pitt simply was not the most adequate actor for this role and so, the movie shines due Hopkins once more; this necessary counter weight was fundamental to create the dramatis personae. Finally, the movie seems to strand and explores common places that have nothing to do with the initial premise; to my mind this script deserved to be in hands of a major expert director,who knew to handle with this material, I would have suggested three names: Alan Parker, David Lynch or David Fincher.

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Meet Death

First of all I would like to get the negative points of the movie out of the way. For starters, it is way too long. I think it is completely un-necessary for a movie to go longer than two hours, and at 173 minutes, meet joe black plays out way too long. Some scenes seem to drag out forever and could have quite easily been edited down even more. Second of all, the sound quality on the DVD is poor. The music score is recorded too loud while the dialogue is too soft. I found myself continuously adjusting the volume to hear the dialogue in some parts and to turn down the music in others.

On a positive note, I found Meet Joe Black to be a very entertaining movie nonetheless. Well scripted and featuring excellent performances by Anthony Hopkins, Brad Pitt and Claire Forlani, it is a sad movie while delivering a positive message at the same time.

Brad Pitt faces his toughest role to date as the Grim Reaper, or Death. Spending a few days on Earth, he is shown the world through the body of an ordinary person by his tour guide Bill Parish, played by Anthony Hopkins. Parrish agrees to be his tour guide in exchange to spend a bit more time on earth to be able to close up a few loose ends of his business as well as to properly say goodbye to his loving daughters.

Along the way, both Pitt and Hopkins learn many valuable lessons about love, honesty, betrayel and strength of character. The two actors play their parts perfectly and Forlani also is a shining light as Hopkins daughter and Pitt's love interest. The film builds to a dramatic yet predictable conclusion, but yet is still an emotional ending.

Not a great deal to speak of in the special feautures, but you get a trailer, cast bio, production notes and an on the set documentary.

A feel good movie with a positive message, a good movie to add to the collection.

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