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Monkeypunch 05-25-03 11:37 PM

Bruce Almighty
 
I wanted this to be good in the worst way. An apology for having to sit through The Majestic, if you will. And it succeeds for a little while. Jim Carrey is his usual spastic self, and the laughs keep coming until they stop. About 2/3 into this movie, something bad happens. The Jim Carrey who was in The Majestic rears his dewy eyed, "Give Me An Oscar" head, and the film stops being funny. It's trying to be "Spiritual," I suppose, but why can't Hollywood make a religious themed movie where the subject isn't simplified to an third grader's comprehension level? (Dogma, maybe, but that wasn't a hollywood movie..) The film does make it's point, but not even two minutes later, contradicts itself, and goes for the "happy ending" no matter how forced and cliched. Oh, and the "Poignant" music drove me nuts. I should have realized this wasn't going to be good: It was directed by the guy that made Patch Adams, A.K.A. the single worst movie ever made. Skip this, watch Dumb and Dumber or Ace Ventura again....

GraphicMD 05-26-03 01:54 AM

I just watched the movie and I loved it.

I think it is definetly worth a watch.

The goal of the movie wan't to be clever and keep you guessing until the end. It was to be funny, and it happen to have added a little enlightning in the end, which I thought was done in a tastefull way.

greppin 05-26-03 11:07 AM

Some people just can't handle happy endings.

Tuna 05-27-03 09:48 PM

The last half or two thirds bothered me as well. The spiritual parts a bit but also the conversion into a generic romantic comedy about a guy trying to get his girl back. Reminded me of the problem that plagued Mr Deeds. I was hoping for a completely comedic jim carrey movie like Dumb and Dumber because the way it was described made it seem like Jim carrey went back to his old style. I'd give it a B- or C+

Yoda 05-27-03 11:03 PM

It was funny.

Kong 05-28-03 01:24 AM

The first 2/3 of the film were passably funny, but the last 1/3 was sentimental didactic after-school-specialesque pap.

** of ****

Focker 05-29-03 01:46 AM

I think capitalism is good. I can appreciate an American who creates a product that other's want to purchase. Jim Carrey's films are just such products.

I doubt this "Bruce Almighty" is worth seeing. How many times am I supposed to be amused by Carrey's facial gestures? He has about drained every last ounce from the character who is out of step with society, something weird happens to him, and he suddenly becomes a regular ole good guy. This plot is so tired, that those seeing it for the first time will wince.

I have a a proposition for Carrey: Make 3 movies every 2 years. In two of those movies, try to act. Try to play a real person, doing realistic things, don't do zany stuff, don't be outrageous.....be someone the audience can identify with. You can play any role you choose, but please play it straight.

In the third movie, act like a jerk. This one will bring home the bacon as the sheeple flock to see just how truly dumb you can get.

Rock & Roll.

Focker.
:yup:

Monkeypunch 05-29-03 12:55 PM

Originally posted by Tuna
The last half or two thirds bothered me as well. The spiritual parts a bit but also the conversion into a generic romantic comedy about a guy trying to get his girl back. Reminded me of the problem that plagued Mr Deeds. I was hoping for a completely comedic jim carrey movie like Dumb and Dumber because the way it was described made it seem like Jim carrey went back to his old style. I'd give it a B- or C+
Exactly my point! Nobody I know seems to get that this is why I didn't really like the film. :yup:

downgrade88 05-30-03 09:50 PM

Just saw this movie and thought it was great. Don't see what the problem was though, I thought the ending was pretty good and it had a realistic feel to it, beyond the whole "god" portrayal. In any case, Carrey is still my favorite comedian. Just needs some different scripts. However, his last real winner, in my opinion, was Me, Myself, and Irene. That movie was hilarious.:laugh:

jrs 05-30-03 10:48 PM

I saw this the other day and it is carrey's funniest andbest yet! I just loved it!!!!
My grade: A+

Kong 05-31-03 02:19 AM

Was Kong the only one who didn't like it when God said to Bruce, "What do you really want?" after Bruce prayed for peace, an end to hunger, etc.? Do the writers of this movie really believe that these are not sincere requests?

Yoda 05-31-03 04:13 AM

Originally posted by Kong
Was Kong the only one who didn't like it when God said to Bruce, "What do you really want?" after Bruce prayed for peace, an end to hunger, etc.? Do the writers of this movie really believe that these are not sincere requests?
I'd say yes, if they're realistic.

Obviously the overwhelming majority of people really want those things...but they work harder to bring about things like what Bruce "really" wanted. Their actions, in a way, speak a lot louder than their words. It's easy to DECIDE to value the good of the needs of the human race above your own, but I think it's damn near impossible to want that instinctually when your own desires are staring you in the face. In other words: what do you want that you don't have to somewhat talk yourself into wanting?

I'm relatively sure that that's all that the film was referring to.

Kong 05-31-03 03:02 PM

Originally posted by Yoda

I'd say yes, if they're realistic.

Obviously the overwhelming majority of people really want those things...but they work harder to bring about things like what Bruce "really" wanted. Their actions, in a way, speak a lot louder than their words. It's easy to DECIDE to value the good of the needs of the human race above your own, but I think it's damn near impossible to want that instinctually when your own desires are staring you in the face. In other words: what do you want that you don't have to somewhat talk yourself into wanting?

I'm relatively sure that that's all that the film was referring to.
Kong understands what you're saying, but it still felt like an unneeded potshot at philanthropy.

The writers seemed to want to make a meaningful story at the end so Kong assumed they were telling the members of the audience that they, the audience members, were deluding themselves about their hopes for a better future for the human race. There was really no reason for God to respond the way He did. He could have simply said that "free will" prevented him from granting such a request, but instead He said that Bruce, the character we are all supposed to identify with, was disingenuous.

Yoda 05-31-03 04:42 PM

Originally posted by Kong
Kong understands what you're saying, but it still felt like an unneeded potshot at philanthropy.
Really? I'm surprised. Given the fact that God asks Bruce things like "and how many people did you help?" throughout the flick, and given the film's conclusion and ultimate catchphrase ("be the miracle"), I don't think it was taking a shot at philanthropy at all...to the contrary, I think it was taking a shot at people who hope, but don't act. Frankly, that kinda pissed me off...hope and faith are what lead us to action. You can't reject either. I'm with Augustine on this one:

"Pray as if everything depended on God. Work as if everything depended on you."

The one line that bugged me was: "that's your problem. You're always looking up." In my mind, the moral of the story would've been better served had it gone something like "that's your problem: you're too busy looking up to ever see what's in front of you."


Originally posted by Kong
The writers seemed to want to make a meaningful story at the end so Kong assumed they were telling the members of the audience that they, the audience members, were deluding themselves about their hopes for a better future for the human race. There was really no reason for God to respond the way He did. He could have simply said that "free will" prevented him from granting such a request, but instead He said that Bruce, the character we are all supposed to identify with, was disingenuous.
Surely, before God's response, you thought to yourself "yeah, right...like that's what's been on his mind all this time." Sad as it may be, what God said to Bruce rings true. One could also interpret it as God simply rejecting insincere prayers...and, coupled with the examples of encouraged altruism mentioned above, that seems pretty consistent to me.

Plus, ya' know, the insincere prayer freed Freeman up to deliver that killer "if you wanna be Miss America" line.

Kong 05-31-03 05:48 PM

Originally posted by Yoda

Really? I'm surprised. Given the fact that God asks Bruce things like "and how many people did you help?" throughout the flick, and given the film's conclusion and ultimate catchphrase ("be the miracle"), I don't think it was taking a shot at philanthropy at all...to the contrary, I think it was taking a shot at people who hope, but don't act. Frankly, that kinda pissed me off...hope and faith are what lead us to action. You can't reject either. I'm with Augustine on this one:

"Pray as if everything depended on God. Work as if everything depended on you."

The one line that bugged me was: "that's your problem. You're always looking up." In my mind, the moral of the story would've been better served had it gone something like "that's your problem: you're too busy looking up to ever see what's in front of you."



Surely, before God's response, you thought to yourself "yeah, right...like that's what's been on his mind all this time." Sad as it may be, what God said to Bruce rings true. One could also interpret it as God simply rejecting insincere prayers...and, coupled with the examples of encouraged altruism mentioned above, that seems pretty consistent to me.

Plus, ya' know, the insincere prayer freed Freeman up to deliver that killer "if you wanna be Miss America" line.
After Kong's last post Kong got to thinking about Bruce's use of his new powers, and it is certainly consistent with Bruce not being sincere in his rejected prayer. Which is basically you're premise as well. So, problem solved. Except for a few more problems...

As far as the, ""that's your problem. You're always looking up" line... If you are always looking up then of course you are too busy to see what's in front of you. Both lines mean the same thing to Kong.

The film took a very cynical view of Bruce up until his epiphany. Did this feel forced to you? Kong never liked Bruce very much; he was selfish and whiney throughout the whole film. Kong supposes that the epiphany might feel more genuine if you could relate with Bruce, but Kong found him to be too shallow to really care for.

led_zeppelin 11-11-03 03:06 PM

Bruce Almighty
 
I like this more than any other Jim Carrey movie I've seen. I hope he plays in more movies like this, I laughed harder than I'd laughed in a theater in years. (i'm not that old, 14 but anyway, you get the point)

PenclArtst 11-17-03 12:49 AM

oh, for crying out loud!

are you people serious? all you hate mongers... or hate stylists? bruce almighty was fantastic. as well as majestic, the truman show, and liar liar, and whatever movies you morons groan about because jim carrey wants to be a versatile actor. you people get so biased and curse him when he tries to do other things beside beserk comedy... and i LOVE comedies more than any other category. give the guy a break.

you expect him to be one way and only that one way. you critisize the man before you give him a chance. jim carrey does a fantastic job in all his movies, but if isn't blunt comedy, you belittle him. if you really are a jim carrey fan, than be a jim carrey fan. not an ace ventura fan. remember people, ace ventura was a character, not a real person.

jim carrey's job is to act, not to make you laugh and only laugh. it's okay to cry with him as well. it's people like you that well smother an actor and force him to be typecast. then that character you love and expect will destroy the actor to the point where he will shun that character completely. then you know what you have left? a crummy sequel 20 years later of an irritating movie trying to spark his career with an old character. get away from the tunnel vision, people. jim carrey has a lot of talent to share. don't cause him to smother all of it.

LordSlaytan 11-17-03 12:56 AM

Originally Posted by PenclArtst
oh, for crying out loud!

are you people serious? all you hate mongers... or hate stylists? bruce almighty was fantastic. as well as majestic, the truman show, and liar liar, and whatever movies you morons groan about because jim carrey wants to be a versatile actor. you people get so biased and curse him when he tries to do other things beside beserk comedy... and i LOVE comedies more than any other category. give the guy a break.

you expect him to be one way and only that one way. you critisize the man before you give him a chance. jim carrey does a fantastic job in all his movies, but if isn't blunt comedy, you belittle him. if you really are a jim carrey fan, than be a jim carrey fan. not an ace ventura fan. remember people, ace ventura was a character, not a real person.

jim carrey's job is to act, not to make you laugh and only laugh. it's okay to cry with him as well. it's people like you that well smother an actor and force him to be typecast. then that character you love and expect will destroy the actor to the point where he will shun that character completely. then you know what you have left? a crummy sequel 20 years later of an irritating movie trying to spark his career with an old character. get away from the tunnel vision, people. jim carrey has a lot of talent to share. don't cause him to smother all of it.
Please, shut the **** up.

PenclArtst 11-17-03 01:10 AM

heh, heh... well, it's still my opinion.

LordSlaytan 11-17-03 01:14 AM

Originally Posted by PenclArtst
heh, heh... well, it's still my opinion.
You're still "talking". Damnit. I bet if someone told you to jump off a bridge, you wouldn't do it. Figures. No one listens to me.

PenclArtst 11-17-03 01:21 AM

don't make me hulk out... uh oh... too late... inseam ripping... muscles bulging... labron hummers tearing... brown pants turning purple...

GRRRRRR... *hak-agk*

i'm ok

Sidewinder 11-17-03 03:42 AM

I agree, the first 2/3 were decent then it all went downhill. The major thing that annoyed me about this movie was that all of the good parts were shown in the trailer so by the time I saw the movie there was nothing funny left.

PenclArtst 11-17-03 08:24 PM

i didn't think that was completely the case. there were a few funny parts in the movie they didn't let out in the previews.

the scene with the newscaster doing his gibberish was hilarious. i laughed so hard, my face hurt. thought i was going to hurl. i didn't see that in a trailer until after it had been out for a while.

Psyklone 11-18-03 01:44 PM

I thought it was one of the funniest movies I'd ever seen until about the last 20 minutes, when it turned into a church service.

"I want you to be in control of my life! I want you to decide what's best for me!"

I almost left the theater. I'll bet my life that the Christian Coalition had a hand in writing THAT script...

PenclArtst 11-18-03 07:30 PM

what do people have against christians!?!

Psyklone 11-18-03 09:22 PM

Originally Posted by PenclArtst
what do people have against christians!?!
Nothing in particular. I just don't want to be subjected to a church sermon (which is was that movie turned into 3/4 of the way in) when I've paid $8 to be there. It became nothing more than a recruitment film.

Yoda 11-18-03 09:39 PM

Originally Posted by Psyklone
Nothing in particular. I just don't want to be subjected to a church sermon (which is was that movie turned into 3/4 of the way in) when I've paid $8 to be there. It became nothing more than a recruitment film.
Please. One line (which really wasn't that bad; the only message from it was "people shouldn't play God"), the film suddenly becomes a "sermon"?

Many films depict religious or moral sentiments not all of us agree with; if you need a film to line up with your own personality morality, theology, or philosophy to enjoy it, you're depriving yourself of an awful lot of quality cinema.

This is not to say a film cannot be heavy-handed or preachy, but this one would only qualify under the most rigid standards. The concept of God, for better or worse, is an integral part of this world, so whether you believe it or not, what's with the seperation of Church and Cinema ideal? Not only is it impractical, but it would surely lessen the emotional impact left by most films who explore such ideas.

Aside from that, I'd say most films could be said to "recruit" people to a particular ideology, even if not always deliberately. Few films are without a moral or a message.

Psyklone 11-18-03 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by Yoda
Please. One line (which really wasn't that bad; the only message from it was "people shouldn't play God"), the film suddenly becomes a "sermon"?
Bullsh*t. That movie came down to the one main ideal that is given when people get "saved", which is that since we can never live up to the greatness of God, we can only try our best to serve him. You cannot tell me that that wasn't the message of that movie.

And I have NO problem with movies about religous topics. Hell, Dogma is one of my all time favorites. But I don't want to be duped into thinking I should go to chruch this sunday.

Yoda 11-18-03 10:26 PM

Originally Posted by Psyklone
Bullsh*t. That movie came down to the one main ideal that is given when people get "saved", which is that since we can never live up to the greatness of God, we can only try our best to serve him. You cannot tell me that that wasn't the message of that movie.
Yes, I can. It never got half as specific as that. There are only two objectively discernable morals:
  1. Men should not play God.
  2. "Be the miracle"
Anything beyond that is either speculation, exaggeration, or fabrication. The film's primary focus was comedy. The fact that a single line apparently touched a nerve of yours does not make it a "sermon."

Originally Posted by Psyklone
And I have NO problem with movies about religous topics. Hell, Dogma is one of my all time favorites. But I don't want to be duped into thinking I should go to chruch this sunday.
You're implying that Bruce's submission to God in the film is a trick to get people like yourself to attend worship services? This smacks more of religious paranoia than reasonable complaint.

projectMayhem 11-18-03 11:19 PM

I don't think this movie inspired much religious thought at all even thought he got to be God. It just wasn't good enough to inspire that kind of response, and plus they didn't really try and make it to deep. I almost wish this was made as a more serious movie because the premise is cool, but they just got to silly with it.

cazz 11-20-03 06:19 AM

i thought that this movie was really good, i thought that was really funny and one of the best movies that jim carrey has made in my personal opinion.
i think that my only problem was jennifer aniston, i really dont think that they got the right actress to play that part, i think its because im used to seeing her on friends and being a bit of a pratt but i dnt think she looked right alongside jim carrey.
i thought morgan freeman was excellent, he played a really good part, i really enjoyed seeing him playing this role.
i think it was excellently directed and was brilliant, a good laugh with friends.

cazz
x

Jackie Malfoy 12-03-03 08:47 PM

Good movie not great but still good!
 
The movie was good I thought funny I say a classic Jim Cerey movie even though Lier lier was still better and the mask was great too!
So I would give this movie ** because it was funny but it still was not one of Jim Ceray Good movies he has talent and he waste it on this movie I think he could had been given a better role and movie for that matter!
But it was still not that bad Dumb and Dumber was way worst now that movie sucked!See you around!JM :cool:

jrs 12-03-03 09:37 PM

I thought this was Carrey's funniest film. I laughed all throughout with scenes like the "How many fingers am I holding up??" scene. Where he holds up his hand and "AHA!".... :laugh:

Originally Posted by PenclArtst
..the scene with the newscaster doing his gibberish was hilarious.
Especially that as well !!! :p


Originally Posted by sidewinder
...the first 2/3 were decent then it all went downhill. The major thing that annoyed me about this movie was that all of the good parts were shown in the trailer...

Say what?? No way. Sure there were some parts that weren't that swift (like any film), but Bruce Almighty was good all the way around. :yup:

T-850 12-03-03 10:10 PM

I saw this movie when it came out and I thought it was funny!

Arwen_M 12-17-03 10:37 PM

I give bruce almighty 3 1/2 stars

CrazyforMovies 12-30-03 03:20 PM

Quote:: It's trying to be "Spiritual," I suppose, but why can't Hollywood make a religious themed movie where the subject isn't simplified to an third grader's comprehension level? (Dogma, maybe, but that wasn't a hollywood movie..)


This movie was bad as a 'movie' theatre going film, I don't think I would of been able to watch this at the theatre, however in reply to your question about "simplified to an third grader's comprehension level" I think Hollywood, has to walk on egg shells with respect to a 'religious' movie simply becuase everyone challenges those types of movies. Perhaps in the earlier to middle part of the twentieth century, beleiving in God, was just the norm, nowadays you just have to becareful whom your going to offend. I actully liked this movie at home, your right Jim Carey is too spastic and his acting is a little rusty. His time is just about over with his type of comedy. It just aint' working no more.

the one 12-30-03 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by Psyklone
I thought it was one of the funniest movies I'd ever seen until about the last 20 minutes, when it turned into a church service.

"I want you to be in control of my life! I want you to decide what's best for me!"

I almost left the theater. I'll bet my life that the Christian Coalition had a hand in writing THAT script...
Bruce Almighty was a funny movie which i liked alot, i think the funniest part was when Jim controls the news anchor that he doesnt like speech. Has anyone seen the deleted scene for that part, the guy jim doesnt like hair comes on fire its probably more funny.

Gideon58 03-21-14 06:17 PM

This movie was a mess...Carrey's character was just a tired retread of several other characters he has played and Jennifer Aniston's role was thankless. The only thing that made this film worth sitting through was Morgan Freeman's performance as God, but even he wasn't enough to merit a re-watch...this movie got real old real fast.


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