Sadly Over-hyped

It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Blistering performances.

This is one of the most beautiful movies I've ever seen. Elijah Wood is great as Barney Snow -- the frustration and fear of not knowing who he is, where his family is, all that emotion pent up inside till he seems ready to burst with it, but showing only in his eyes and the endless, rhythmic bouncing of the rubber ball. This is the movie, even more than Fellowship of the Ring, that convinced me Elijah really is the tremendous actor everyone says he is! The storyline is sad, and yet somehow hopeful -- the way these terminally ill kids are able to reach out to each other, to give each other support in an intolerable situation. The other actors are wonderful and believable in their roles, as well, especially the guy who plays Billy the Kidney (I can't remember his name, but I'll find out -- I want to see more of his films!) And Barney's real question -- if he can't remember who he is, is he anyone at all? -- is haunting. Who would I be, if I couldn't remember my past? What is it that makes life worth living? If this isn't my favorite movie ever, it's certainly one of the top five!

I really tried to like this movie because I really like some of the actors in it. But - it had so many flaws that any thinking person should have found it unwatchable.This film is so full of confusing and implausible scenes and especially reactions that it's hard to accept almost any following scene without wondering what the heck had just happened. Or why it happened. And the cinematography was uneven. Some of the shots were nice, where others were shot so badly that I wondered if they had handed the camera to Forrest Gump himself.Okay, to start, the Elijah Wood character is supposed to be stricken with amnesia, which would be profoundly disturbing and worrisome for any real person. Elijah does stress over this, randomly, now and again, in brief and obvious shots. But it's amazingly understated. That's just one example of how all the players under-react (or badly act) to every situation in Bumblebee.As much as it tried to be different and, I guess, 'artsy', this film is as chock full of obtuse emotional manipulation as any mainstream, big budget, Hollywood piece of crap: feel sorry for the dying kids, understand the detached but not-really-detached doctor, ache for the long-shot romance, laugh with and love the funny kid, but worry about his health. Please.The worst things about this terrible piece of work were the dialogue and the acting. I honestly don't think the actors are to be entirely blamed for their bad performances. There's only so much one can do with a botched script and bad directing. There are many moments when you feel like you're watching a teeny-bop romp (albeit, a depressing one) or a watch-by-numbers after school special.It's all very confusing how the movie slaps scenes together which don't fit, and barely explains things which clearly need more definition.The idea wasn't bad. It could have been an okay film, at least. But they screwed it up all the way through.Thumbs (and other ligaments) down.

I read the book for this film awhile ago, and the book was amazing, so when I discovered that it had been made into a film (starring Elijah Wood, one of my favorite actors since I was a little girl seeing him in Huckleberry Finn etc.) I was really excited to see the film, and it took me ages to get a hold of it, because it was more or less impossible to buy in Europe. But now I have finally seen it, and I'm sad to say it was a huge disappointment. It was such a messy film, which didn't seem to have any certain point at all, characters had been radically changed in the film and the storyline had a had a completely different end to it. I think if I hadn't read the book it would have been hard to completely understand the storyline, but I might change that point of view if I hear anyone else's opinion. However, I must say, what did keep the film going when all is said and done, was the amazingly fine acting skills of Elijah Wood and Rachael Leigh Cook. They merely saved the highly insignificant lovestory which had been stuffed into the story, from being a disgrace to the story. So thank god we have great actors like that!

Really, there isnt much to say about this one. So why say anything at all? I don't know. What I do know is that I felt nothing for this film. It contained an incredibly awkward kissing scene between Elijah and Rachel Leigh Cook. I had to look away. I still don't understand why their characters felt so passionately about one another. This kiss seemingly came out of nowhere. Boom. I cannot comprehend why people like Janeane G. and Elijah W. would sign on to it. Perhaps the script changed mid-shoot, or the script looked like a good idea on paper. For some reason I don't want to assign blame to anyone but the writer and director. Correct me if I am wrong, but I am pretty sure this is the third movie with Elijah Wood in it that involves a) a junkyard and b) building something from that junkyard (see The War and Radio Flyer for further examples of this). Perhaps his character also jumps on or off a bicycle mid-pedal too (cf. Deep Impact, Radio Flyer, Flipper). Why have I seen so many EW movies? I have deep respect for Frodo. But I have to say, I wouldnt even rent this one.