Eternal Sunshine of a spotless mind

Post by **Nathan** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 4:36 pm

I thought this film was great when I went to see it in the cinema, but looking back on it I can't quite remember why. I'll have to go back and rewatch it, hopefully I'll enjoy it just as much as last time.

What have other people thought of this?

Post by **The Dreaming** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 6:32 am

Charlie Kaufman has to be among the most brilliant writers of all media in the history of the world. Eternal sunshine is a complete inversion of the classic love story. It is a REAL love story, with surreal circumstances attached to it. It's undeniably poignant and powerful. It's nice to know that the Brits still haven't managed to completely wrest all our artistic greatness away from us. This has to be one of my favorite movies ever. (and I consider myself a huge movie buff). One of only 2 movies to make me cry in my adult life. The other was Edward Scissorhands.

Not only that, Kaufman has proven himself capable of writing stories that are completely different from each other while still having his unique touch. (His other movies I am referring to are "Being John Malkovich" and "Adaptation". Are you Paul Thomas Anderson fan Nathan? I thought Punch Drunk Love was another look at what love actually is. That is a highly underrated movie. (some of Paul Thomas Anderson's other movies are Boogie Nights and Magnolia)

Post by **Nathan** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 9:46 am

The only other of the films you've mentioned that I've watched is being John Malkovich.

I didn't particularly like it because I found the characters unbelievable

Post by **The Dreaming** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 4:25 pm

Really? I though Cusack was remarkable. His character seemed like a man with real desires, flaws, and gifts. Surreal things kept happening to him. Pretty much everyone around him was surreal too. I thought it worked out nicely.

Post by **Nathan** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 4:43 pm

Surreal things kept happening to him. Pretty much everyone around him was surreal too.

There was a doorway that led into someone else's mind and everyone took it as though it was something normal. The people queueing up to 'be John Malkovich' didn't seem to think it was strange either. Also, nobody decided to try and find out why it was happening either. First thing I'd have done after finding the little door and realising it let you see through Malkovich's eyes would have been to find out how it worked, bashed through the walls on either side or something to see what was going on.
It seemed to go on and on for ages too, without anything really happenning.

By the same guy as Eternal sunshine eh? I can see similarities between to two (the characters in sunshine were a bit weird too) but I found sunshine to be more believable and therefore enjoyed it more.

Post by **The Dreaming** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 8:04 pm

The story wasn't meant to be real. In fact, it was completely absurd. I actually really like stories about real people who experience completely surreal things. Did Covenant try to figure out how his transfer into the land was scientifically possible? Did Mhorim question the sureality of collecting fire from a stick to throw at his misshapen enemies?

Just because I story that on one end seems to be realistic has a bunch of surreal elements doesn't make it less valid artistically. You should have gotten the Idea as soon as Craig went to the 13th and a half floor.

While the setting is surreal, the humanity of the characters is real I think its funny that you can accept a device that takes away people’s memories one by one, but not a magic tunnel into another persons head. Did Jim Carrey try to find out how the machine worked?

Post by **Nathan** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 8:13 pm

Did Covenant try to figure out how his transfer into the land was scientifically possible?

No, but he did question the land's existence, he did believe that it didn't exist and he did attempt to verify the land's existence at certain points.
In Malkovich everyone just seemed to take for granted that such a thing could exist.

Did Jim Carrey try to find out how the machine worked?

it's a different situation, humans designed the machine, the door was a strange and mysterious object that nobody knew existed.

Post by **[Syl]** » Thu Nov 11, 2004 1:29 am

Great movie. One of the best movies I've seen in the last couple of years (Big Fish being the only other one that comes to mind). As you said, it was a look at real love, not the romantic, all-your-problems-are-solved-once-you-find-it love. And the scene when he's under the kitchen table - classic. Like most movies I really enjoy, it reminds me strongly of parts of my own life without really being too much like anything from it. I guess you could say that even with the surreal (or maybe because of), it still seems more real to me than most of the plastic movies made these days.

Haven't gotten around to seeing Adaptation, but yeah, Malkovich was excellent.

Post by **Worm of Despite** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 5:07 am

Just saw it and loved it! One of those "instant favorites" for me. Had a smile on my face throughout, and it made me think of my own memories/cherish them.

Post by **kevinswatch** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 4:03 am

dmm,jmttbttt

Just saw this movie for the second time. A lot better this time around. Of course, I thought it was pretty good the first time, but the first time the jumping around of the timeline confused me a bit, heh. But it was better now that I could follow everything easier.

Great movie though. A good story and a lot of fun. Just what every movie needs to be, heh.

And like every good movie, it reminds me how pathetic and empty my own life is. Or something like that. Heh.-jay

Post by **I'm Murrin** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 10:19 am

Very good movie - I have it on DVD.

Being John Malkovich was a bit strange, but I liked it.

Post by **The Leper Fairy** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 9:06 pm

Weird, I was just about to make a thread for this movie... I saw it two nights ago.

I loved it, most of my friends hated it.

Clementine reminds me a lot of a friend I had in elementary school.

Post by **sgt.null** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 6:03 am

Sunshine is a beautiful film about how love endures.

and if you like the film, please check out 13 Moons.
another great film, in fact it's my all time favorite. run out and rent it, right now. report back on how it made your life just a little bit better.

Post by **Avatar** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 10:56 am

Eternal Sunshine was good.

--A

Post by **Cail** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 3:46 pm

While I have to admit that Jim Carrey was excellent in it, I don't see why so many people rate this as one of the best films ever.

Some interesting kinks to the plot, but (pardon the pun) a relatively forgettable film.

I thought Malkovich was one of the most painful filmgoing expereinces I've ever had.

Post by **sgt.null** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 6:44 pm

because it is about love finding a way no matter how much we people muck it up. it's about regret, the most powerful emotion of all. it was about how our memories work and why we need to keep them and endure whatever pain they may bring. it's sad and bittersweet, yet hopeful. just like love. it's about losing your soulmate because of hubris. it's about us at our most vulnerable our most weak, our most naked and afraid. all the way back to childhood. it is about need and loss. and how love is
singular, how no one else knows how we feel, but we need them more than anything. it's about poetry and music. how a coffee mug can make you weep. about how your friends can never understand what you go through, but how you keep them in hopes that they will understand.

that's what it's about.

Post by **[Syl]** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 7:33 pm

Well said, Dennis. Damn. Now I gotta go rent it again.

Post by **sgt.null** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 8:51 pm

Syl: thanks. when you're there try to find my all time favorite...13 Moons. thank me later.

Post by **Cail** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 2:32 pm

Yeah, I got all that Dennis. Just didn't care for it

Post by **sgt.null** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 4:48 am

well that's what it is. i like blues, i like blues guitar, i don't like Stevie Ray Vaughn. can't explain it. makes my wife shrug her shoulders in defeat.

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

Eternal Sunshine of a spotless mind

Eternal Sunshine of a spotless mind