Big Fish

Director: Tim Burton Tim Burton

Overview

"A touching tale of a son who sets out to find the truth about his adventurous father, Tim Burton's Big Fish arrives on DVD with an abundance of features that will no doubt have Burton devotees flocking. Presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, the image is near perfect -- with bright, vibrant colors, even skin tones, and no sign of edge-enhancement. Burton has always been known as a flamboyantly visual filmmaker, and this disc offers a truly fantastic view of his skills behind the camera. The English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio mix is bold without being overwhelming, saving directional effects for just the right moments and offering a great showcase for the film's wonderful sound design. An alternate French Dolby Digital Surround mix is also included, along with optional English and French subtitles. Though it's not being touted as a ""special edition"" of any sort, the features presented on this disc put most so-called comprehensive releases to shame. Beginning with an insightful commentary track that is co-hosted by Burton on Burton author Mark Salisbury, Burton truly opens up while discussing the film. If at first the inclusion of Salisbury seems somewhat intrusive to fans, as the film progresses, the probing interviewer draws details from the director that may have otherwise been left unexplored. From childhood inspiration to technical information, the commentary track reveals a Burton that the casual viewer as well as the dedicated fan will surely find compelling. ""The Character's Journey,"" separated into three parts -- ""Edward Bloom at Large,"" ""Amos at the Circus,"" and ""Fathers and Sons"" -- expounds on each eponymous subject with insight and clarity while never ceasing to entertain, with ""Fathers and Sons"" offering a touching look at the familial bond that drives the film. Fans of Burton will get plenty of insight from ""The Filmmaker's Path,"" which is divided into four parts: ""Tim Burton: Storyteller,"" ""A Fairytale World,"" ""Creature Features,"" and ""The Author's Journey."" From discussing the origins of Burton's career in ""Tim Burton: Storyteller"" to offering a revealing look at how fairy tales and mythology influenced the film in ""A Fairytale World,"" this segment explores the foundations of the film in a way that will capture viewers' imagination as well as their attention. ""The Author's Journey"" talks with Big Fish author Daniel Wallace and screenwriter John August, exploring the roots of Wallace's career as a writer while addressing the difficulties of adapting such an imaginative tale for the screen. The adventurous viewer can explore the film itself by opting to enable a pop-up feature that offers revealing facts about the characters and filmmakers, and for viewers who wish to test their knowledge about the director, a Tim Burton trivia quiz offers an opportunity to flex their brains with the promise of a hearty reward."

Product Details

Release Date:	04/27/2004
UPC:	0043396008373
Original Release:	2003
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	SONY PICTURES
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, Dolby Digital Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	2:05:00

Special Features

Closed Caption;Tim Burton audio commentary (co-hosted by "Burton on Burton" author Mark Salisbury); The Character's Journey: "Edward Bloom at Large" - Take a look at the larger-than-life world of Edward Bloom; "Amos at the Circus" - Danny DeVito takes us through the Calloway Circus; "Fathers and Sons" - The cast and filmmakers share their thoughts on the father and son dynamic; The Filmmakers' Path: "Tim Burton: Storyteller" - A look at the director's process with great moments and insights on how Big Fish came to be; "A Fairytale World" - The importance of fairytales and myths and how these elements were incorporated into Big Fish; "Creature Features" - Explore the magic of Stan Winston Studios; "The Author's Journey" - Bringing "Big Fish" from the page to the screen, with author Daniel Wallace and screenwriter John August discussing the origins and inspirations for Big Fish; Fish Tales pop-up feature: Offers revealing facts about the characters and filmmakers; The Finer Points - A Tim Burton trivia quiz

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Ewan McGregor	M¿ody Ed Bloom
Albert Finney	Starszy Ed Bloom
Billy Crudup	Will Bloom
Jessica Lange	Starsza Sandra Bloom
Alison Lohman	M¿oda Sandra Bloom
Helena Bonham Carter	Jenny/Wied¿ma
Robert Guillaume	Starszy Dr Bennett
Marion Cotillard	Josephine Bloom
Matthew McGrory	Karl
David Denham	Don Price (lat 18-22)
Missi Pyle	Mildred
Loudon Wainright	Beamen
Ada Tai	Ping,Jing
Steve Buscemi	Norther Winslow
Danny DeVito	Amos Calloway
Deep Roy	Pan Soggybottom
Perry Walston	Ed Bloom (lat 10)
Hailey Anne Nelson	Jenny (lat 8)
Grayson Stone	Will Bloom (lat 6-8)
R. Keith Harris	Ojciec Eda
Karla Droege	Matka Eda
Zachary Gardner	Zacky Price (lat 10)
John Lowell	Don Price (lat 12)
Darrell Vanterpool	Wilbur (lat 10)
Destiny Cyrus	Ruthie (lat 8)
Joseph Humphrey	Little Brave
Morgan Grace Jarrett	Will's Date
Sallie Hedrick	Pretty Girl
Charles McLawhorn	Mayor
Frank Hoyt Taylor	Sharecropper
Savanna James	Little Girl
Billy Redden	Banjo Man
James DeForest Parker	Shotgun Toter
Russell Hodgkinson	Some Farmer
Don Young	Shephard
Jayne Morgan	Townsfolk
David Ramsey	Townsfolk
Greg Hohn	Townsfolk
Zach Hanner	Cashier
George McArthur	Colossus
Jeff Campbell	Jump Leader
Lawrence Sykkmon	Chinese Emcee
Bonnie Johnson	Actor
Howard Houston Jr.	Piano Student
Joanne Pankow	Heavy Set Nurse
Trevor Gagnon	Will's Son
Jacob Radford	Kid
Karlos Walkes	Dr. Bennett (Young)
Cathy Berry	Lobster Woman
John Fugate	Side Show Barker
Daniel Wallace	Econ Professor
Metz Duites	Ventriloquist
Vincent Ybiernas	Asian Officer
Barry C. Harvard	Chicken Plant Owner
Edward Aldag	Municipal Dump Owner
Michael Garnet Stewart	Auctioneer
Alan Rawlins	Pretty Man
Jake Brake	Old Zacky
Bevin Kaye	River Woman
David Denman	Don Price (Age 18-22)
Loudon Wainwright III	Beamen
Brandon Carroll	Spectre
Tom Tom	Actor
Fred Scialla	Actor
Nick Ingman	Conductor
Danny Elfman	Composer

Technical Credits

John August

Tim Burton	Director
John August	Screenwriter
Denise Chamian	Casting
Bruce Cohen	Producer
Charlie Croughwell	Stunts
Richard L. Hill	Special Effects
Dan Jinks	Producer
Kevin Mack	Special Effects
Hans Metz	Special Effects
Stan Parks	Special Effects
Arne L. Schmidt	Executive Producer,Executive Producer
Richard D. Zanuck	Producer
Lindsay MacGowan	Special Effects Supervisor
Corey Eubanks	Stunts
Sean Graham	Stunts
Darlene Ava Williams	Stunts
William Morts	Stunts
Mika Saito	Stunts
Scott Sproule	Stunts
Spencer Sano	Stunts
Kevin Metz	Special Effects
Yoshio Iizuka	Stunts
Sonny Tipton	Stunts
Michelle Croughwell	Stunts
J. Wayne Parker	Key Grip
C. Alan Rawlins	Key Grip
Tony Vandenecker	Special Effects
Seth Maury	Special Effects
David Rohrer	Special Effects
Thomas Weinacker	Special Effects
Dennis Sands	Sound Mixer

Editorial Reviews

Filmmaker Tim Burton’s apparently boundless imagination finds inspiration in Daniel Wallace's colorful novel, making this adaptation a delight for fans of both. In the waning days of his life, Edward Bloom (Albert Finney), a seemingly ordinary man who has crafted an elaborate personal mythology, hopes for reconciliation with his adult son, Will (Billy Crudup), who has grown alienated by his father's stubborn adherence to tall tales. Some of these tales are presented in flashback form, and it's in these sequences that Burton's skill at visualization is really put to the test. He paints Bloom's dream world with vivid colors and peoples it with sharply drawn characters. Ewan McGregor plays Edward Bloom as a young man, and he brings an almost childlike sense of wonder to the proceedings -- a quality that's vital to sustaining the willing suspension of disbelief you'll need to fully appreciate the film's charm. Finney has the difficult task of exhibiting passion and vigor in a decaying body, and though he plays most of his scenes in bed, he still manages to make Edward a boyish romantic. Jessica Lange is equally effective in the role of Bloom's adoring wife, the ageless princess to his Prince Charming. And Crudup perfectly conveys not only Will's nagging irritation with his father but also his less-obvious envy of the older man's ability to transcend the realities and heartaches of the workaday world. Burton has often copped to making films as a way of retaining his own youthful sense of wonder, and it's easy to tell that he relates to the character of Edward Bloom. As the film winds down, Will finally comes to grips with his father's character, and he begins to understand the introspective process by which people evaluate their successes and failures as they age. That's a valuable lesson to take away from Big Fish, but Burton doesn't hit the viewer over the head with it: He makes Big Fish an enchanted and entertaining journey, filled with extravagant imagery and beguiling characters.