As Good As It Gets

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

Prepare to enter the land of good story-telling with "heaven" no less in the starring role. A secret city that is hidden from all but a few that remains perfect in its theme and purpose is the center of attention in this movie magic story presentation based on a novel. It represents the Kingdom of Heaven quite nicely. Just like the Kingdom of Heaven it has the same dynamics. 1. It cannot be found by accident. 2. It cannot be taken by force. 3. Kings & wise men cannot have access or know its where about. Yet who is allowed to enter? The sick, down-trodden, the humble and the least of them depicted well in this movie. If one stops to consider the theme, one is swept away in contemplation as the ending of this movie submits quite well stating may we all find our shangra-la. But the story of "how" remains different for us all again shown very well in this film. Moving parts with the founder in the movie Father Perrault helps us to be still as we hang on every word he speaks trying to get more clues and information about this magnificent place. Surrounded by mountains, hidden by clouds and at a high altitude, this heavenly place lacks for nothing. Perfect weather within, lakes, streams, waterfalls, wildlife, good soil for farming, grazing for animals, room to explore, no need to think but to live and all fear, competition, striving and greed is absent. Ones existence in this movie to find a meaningful existence within this community and the various people who are invited into this place surely do that. A very poignant and unforgettable ending in a movie I have never seen where we are treated to a fascinating summation of the last few days of a man who is trying to get back his shangra-la sparing no expense, allowing no excuse, refusing all hardship, turning away defeat and has no other purpose or want except to find and return to his shangra-la. What a moving and perfect portrayal of our own lives and how we should yearn to seek out the righteousness of it until we find the origin ourselves. Good movie to eat a sandwich, tasty drink and sunflower seeds but pay attention. For those that can watch this with captions: do so as some of the words add to the mystique of it all. My parting words to you; don't just exist but truly live until you cannot (at least for here)

Sayeth Captain James T. Kirk, commanding officer of the U.S.S. Enterprise.Why did I quote a science fiction captain of a TV show totally unrelated to a film from 1937? Because "Lost Horizon" deals with finding heaven on Earth, and dispensing with a lot of the egotistical walls we erect for ourselves to protect our pride."Lost Horizon" is, in essence, a story about individuals who are frustrated by the conventions of society to the breaking point as Communist Chinese forces sweep across China, setting everything alight. The main characters escape, or so they think, only to begin another adventure.This film examines the character and behavioral pitfalls that can get exaggerated and ruin our personality if we don't deal with them in some shape or form. The characters in "Lost Horizon" are the epitome of what we might call our flaws, or traits of mankind. The legendary "Shangri La" is a place where those frustrations can be dealt with in one form or another. But does paradise come with freedom? At what cost do all your dreams come? Maybe it's time to watch Captain Kirk in "This Side of Paradise"."Lost Horizon" is actually a ground breaking film in a philosophical approach to addressing frustrations of mankind. Ah, but not in the social vein that the casual reader of my review might think. For that you'll have to live some more.Well shot, this black and white film shows how medium master shots can carry the day for a film. Technically it's a very good film with few flubs. It is dated, but I think stands the test of time.I'm not a huge fan of the film, though I understand it far much better than I did as a boy when I used to see it as a kid on TV. At the time I dismissed it as a simple adventure story. Looking at it with adult eyes, I see it with a far more worldly mindset, and now understand why the film was given praises by past generations (although I've yet to make up my mind entire about it).For the younger viewer, it is a slow film. But, if you've had a lot of world experience, then you should have a gander at this film, by try not to understand it all at once and right away. Just accept it for what it is, and enjoy it.A bit slow, full of intrigue and adventure, an interesting bit of escapism that might lead you craving for your own slice of reality and nirvana all at once.In short, Captain Kirk was commenting on living in bliss in a hospital like environment where nothing can hurt you, and all your desires are met. Even though Shatner spoke those words for his character some 30+ years later, it is applicable, because this is what Shangri La, in actuality, is; a hospital.

The Appeal of the Message Hypnotizes Audiences with the Belief that They are Visiting or Witnessing a Utopia. Because Ultimately what is Shown Fails, Except on the Most Superficial Level Imaginable. What Amounts to Nothing More than some Interesting Long Process Shots, Modern Architecture, and a Deer Park. There is Hardly Anything Ethereal or Heavenly about it.The Movie Seems to Gain Artistic and Philosophical Reverence in its Journey from the Screen by way of the Eye, to the Brain and it Takes Up Residence in the Subconscious and Conscious Recollection and Reflection are Nothing Like what is Actually Up there being Projected. Because the Film is Extremely Unrealized, Disjointed, and Flat.It takes a High Road to be Sure, but the Exalted and Elevated Locale is Rather Bland, Boring, Dull and is Barely Picturesque. Not the Ideas or the Message but how it is Expressed Cinematically. If Director Frank Capra couldn't put together a Better Movie than this from a 6 Hour Initial Cut, there's Trouble in Motion Picture Paradise.It is Heady and at Times Inspirational, Moving and Interesting in a Few Spots but Overall this is Overrated and Over Praised, and that is Probably More of and Insight into the Hopes and Dreams of the Audience than the Excellence of the Film. With its Mega-Budget Seemingly Wasted because so Much More could have been Shown with Only Moderate Financing.

Last night I watched a DVD rental of the restoration of this classic movie, and was reminded of how I and the other students of San Luis Obispo High School had been privileged to watch what, in retrospect, was a pre-release test by the studio for teen-agers' reactions. This took place at the Elmo theater and probably occurred in 1936, the first half of my senior year. Which are deductions on my part resulting from the fact that in February 1937 our high school coach had ordered me to pay for my shiny new orange and black basketball uniform which the team's star had stolen from my locker, and sent me to the principal when I indignantly declined to do so. The principal ordered me to leave school and not return until I paid.In 1937 they mailed me my diploma and I was able to enroll at Cal Poly. In the meanwhile I had a number of jobs and wonderful days on the beach and evenings at the Stag pool hall and a voyage to Japan working on a Swedish oil tanker. Our high school also got to see Romeo and Juliet, which was released in 1938, and reinforces my conclusion that we were a testing location for the studios. I recall one of our high school wags, at the play's most dramatic scene, "Romeo,my Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo," calling out, "Heah ah is, Sunshine." Which brought down the house. God only knows what the studio execs made of this. Curiously, we are just about ready to publish a novel titled "Paper Doll," about a half baked psychiatrist who, along with several of his patients, lost their horizons in their struggles for dominance with a young hooker.