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Author Topic: Defending Your Life Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 09-08-2002 02:52 PM                     Defending Your Life - 1991 With the recent mentioning of actual brain usage in another forum, it reminded me of this great movie and I thought I would post a quick review on this. One word: charming! Don't let that scare you away from it. By "charming" I mean that you cannot watch this movie and not have a smile on your face throughout almost every scene in the show. This is one of those extremely rare movies that will hold a 15 year old's attention, as well as an 80 year old. Directed and written by Albert Brooks, the tagline for this show is "the first true story of what happens after you die." The more times I see this film, the more I love it. It is thought provoking, genuine, creative, imaginative, unique and above all else, one of the most relaxed and yet funniest films I have ever seen. You will walk away from this film thinking about life a little bit differently. It's hard to someone to make a definitive "top ten" list of all time favorite movies, but Defending Your Life would probably be somewhere on mine, and I say that as someone who only uses 3% of my brain. (That will make sense later.) It may sound like a lame story idea (which is why I am not giving specific plot outlines), and the trailer certainly has a tendency to put people off to the film. Perhaps this is why it did so poorly at the box office. Regardless, stay away from the trailer and just watch it straight out. Everyone I make watch this walks away raving about it and it becomes one of their all time favorites. Check it out. (Note, for kicks I read the IMDB reviews section and there are a lot of spoilers in there that are not tagged. Do yourself a favor and DON'T read any reviews, just go out and rent/buy the movie and watch is cold.)  |  IP: Logged Mike Schindler Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1039 From: Oak Park, IL, USA Registered: Jun 2002 posted 09-08-2002 06:54 PM                     I agree with Brad. It's not one of my all-time favorite movies, but it is very funny.  |  IP: Logged Dwayne Caldwell Master Film Handler Posts: 323 From: Rockwall, TX, USA Registered: Apr 2000 posted 09-09-2002 12:30 AM                     I am one of the people Brad forced into watching this movie. And I say forced in the strongest sense. I really didn't want to watch it. And yes, it has become one of my all time favorites films. In my opinion, better than Mother, but Mother was pretty good too. ------------------ The man with the magic hands.  |  IP: Logged Dave Williams Wet nipple scene Posts: 1836 From: Salt Lake City, UT, USA Registered: Jan 2000 posted 09-10-2002 11:38 AM                        I have watched this film about 30 times. It is on my ten best of all time. And Brad, I use 52 percent of my brain, whats with you? Just a little brain envy. Dave  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 09-10-2002 01:44 PM                     quote: "I use 52 percent of my brain" Is that clocked?  |  IP: Logged James R. Hammonds, Jr Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 931 From: Houston, TX, USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 09-11-2002 09:32 PM                     I rented this based on the recommendations here and realized about 5 -10 minutes into it that I had seen it before, or at least some of it. The only parts I remembered though were near the beginning and the end. Pretty good movie. I liked it. ------------------ Find me online AOL: Dexter Caldwell yahoo!: dexter_caldwell "It is the opinion of the entire staff the Dexter is criminally insane."  |  IP: Logged Dave Williams Wet nipple scene Posts: 1836 From: Salt Lake City, UT, USA Registered: Jan 2000 posted 09-16-2002 04:16 AM                        Clocked! Dave  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-23-2002 03:32 AM                     Oh-oh, Have you all beat on this one! I got this on Laser Disk the year after it was released I have watched it at least 52 times.....48 times with other people that have never before seen it. As a result I use 58.97% of my brain. The dry wit and all the humor of the sight gags, especially the Universal Tour Trams, makes this a real classic. When it was originally released it was a bomb but I seem to remember Siskel and Ebert liking it alot. I can't wait to go to "Judgement City" and eat all those Shrimps that'll jump right up ina my plate, and to visit that Sushi Bar and Pavillion Of Past Lives! This film is exceptionally hilarious at times, and yes, charming at other times. I also thought it was one of the best rolls that Rip Torn has done.  |  IP: Logged

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