Vanilla Sky (2001)

A Beautiful Film - But Not For Every Taste

Vanilla Sky has been called superficial, vain, over-produced and arrogant, and it is all of those things, I won't deny it. You have to accept and even appreciate these flaws if you're going to enjoy what this film has to offer.

At its core, the film is a classic tale of redemption with some sci-fi elements tossed in to add to the flavor. At times it is shocking and violent, at others schmaltzy or vulgar, and the characters can come off as vapid urbanites who have never even had to think about working a normal job. Still, the film manages to connect emotionally on many levels despite the fact that it's hard to identify with the characters.

Perhaps the film could have accomplished its task without coming off as pretentious, but somehow I doubt it. This is one of my favorite films, and one I've shared with many friends. From experience I know you'll either get bored of the movie after 10 minutes or you'll be hooked. In other words: Try this one before you buy! October 8, 2008

Descartes for the masses: a frozen dream

I suppose what I dislike about this movie is the misuse of cryonics
technology as an asleep and dreaming scheme.
To make an eternally young Tom Cruise sex film out of a
sci fi and philosophic concept seems obscene to me.
The twist of insanity at the end of a very long set of reruns...
I found it hard to watch this film which was obviously made
for big box office alone.
I didn't like is very much. August 10, 2008

Sci-Fi Twist

Whoops, I gave it away, but what the hey. Cameron Crowe's fifth film is brilliantly orchestrated. I watched this film over the course of three days. As each day ended and I was on my way home from work I replayed what I watched the previous night in my head, hyping myself up for what I was going to see that night. I simply loved every twist and turn of this film.

This film, I believe, marks a departure for Cameron Crowe's film making. You will quickly see that this film is not as focused on the MTV generation, generation X or music in general. So the story goes, he became infatuated with the whole concept of Abre Los Ojos (the original Spanish film)that he felt as though he must try it himself. Cruise is the lead and I realized it in this film that he really is an odd actor. His acting seems so very fake and over-the-top, yet at the same time, poignantly real. I do like him for this. Cruz and Diaz are wonderful. Cruz we knew she was this kind of an actor, but Diaz surprised me with a different performance than her usual.

All in all, Vanilla Sky is visually stimulating; the mannerisms of the characters in the film are so natural and pleasing to the eyes, the dreamscapes are delectable and the end is beautiful. This is a film for film buffs. May 27, 2008

Hate/Love it? I'm on the hater's boat!

All the reviewers who said that this is a movie you love or hate,and I really hated it. It was long, boring, and I just didn't connect with any of the characters. I would have turned it off long before it was over, but I was watching it with other people. The only thing remotely good is Camron Diaz, I guess I did like one character after all. Stay away unless you feel you just have to, and if you hate it, you can jump into our ship! April 14, 2008

One of my favorites

Original, fun, with a sad unconventional ending. A definite love it or hate it movie. Makes you appreciate what you have rather than taking everything for granted as David Ames does. If you "don't get it" at first, watch it again. If you watched it once and hated it...don't bother. March 17, 2008

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