Julia Roberts Movie:

		List Price: $39.99		Label: Paramount Salesrank: 2206 Released: May 5, 2009
		Our Price: $19.95
		Used Price: $11.69
		MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Media: Blu-ray

Editorial Review:
“I was born under unusual circumstances.” And so begins The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, adapted from the 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards: a man, like any of us, who is unable to stop time. We follow his story, set in New Orleans, from the end of World War I in 1918 into the 21st century, following his journey that is as unusual as any man’s life can be. Directed by David Fincher and starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett with Taraji P. Henson, Tilda Swinton, Jason Flemyng, Elias Koteas and Julia Ormond, “Benjamin Button,” is a grand tale of a not-so-ordinary man and the people and places he discovers along the way, the loves he finds, the joys of life and the sadness of death, and what lasts beyond time.

Description of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [Blu-ray]:
The technical dazzle of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a truly astonishing thing to behold: this story of a man who ages backwards requires Brad Pitt to begin life as a tiny elderly man, then blossom into middle age, and finally, wisely, become young. How director David Fincher--with makeup artists, special-effects wizards, and body doubles--achieves this is one of the main sources of fascination in the early reels of the movie. The premise is loosely borrowed from an F. Scott Fitzgerald story (and bears an even stronger resemblance to Andrew Sean Greer's novel The Confessions of Max Tivoli), with young/old Benjamin growing up in New Orleans, meeting the girl of his dreams (Cate Blanchett), and sharing a few blissful years with her until their different aging agendas send them in opposite directions. The love story takes over the second half of the picture, as Eric Roth's script begins to resemble his work on Forrest Gump. This is too bad, because Benjamin's early life is a wonderfully picaresque journey, especially a set of midnight liaisons with a Russian lady (Tilda Swinton) in an atmospheric hotel. Fincher observes all this with an entomologist's eye, cool and exacting, which keeps the material from getting all gooey. Still, the Hurricane Katrina framing story feels put-on, and the movie lets Benjamin slide offscreen during its later stages--curious indeed.--Robert Horton




Stills from The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Click for larger image)

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [Blu-ray] Reviews:
Will Be Remembered for Years to Come
2009-11-29 - Wow! "Benjamin Button" is such an extraordinary movie that long after it is ended, it lingers in your thoughts. A baby born with all the characteristics of an aged man, and abandoned by his widowed father, is not expected to live. But live he does. In a twist on the normal aging process, he ages chronologically, but physically he ages backwards, becoming younger, healthier and fabulously good-looking until he reaches old age and the transformation is complete.

Most people comment about the amazing technological effects of accomplishing this physical transformation, but what gripped me was the outstanding acting. Pitt is mesmerizing in this role and it is too bad he did not win an Oscar for this performance. How he lives his life, old, disabled or in the prime of youth is inspiring. It speaks to one's will and the power to overcome any obstacles. His character's curiosity to learn as much about the world is also moving: no matter where he is or what he does, he seems to fit.

Kudos to all involved and a recommendation not to miss this exceptional work.



Great!!
2009-11-29 - This movie was a little bit long but still very good and entertaining the cast was stellar!! Rent it buy it but do see it!

A modernized version of the book
2009-11-29 - In most cases, I prefer the book over the movie but in this case I preferred the movie version of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. It is a modernized version of the book and I liked that it took the story to a deeper level that the book in short story form did not. The premise of the movie is loosely based on the book but has taken more creative liberties to expand on themes and events that didn't occur in the book. In the movie, Benjamin is born as an old white man and ages backwards but is not raised by his family and instead is abandoned at a home for the elderly and is essentially raised by a loving and nurturing black woman who lives and works there. Benjamin fits into this environment and new family well and develops relationships and an understanding of what happens as one ages normally. Benjamin is played by Brad Pitt who does a fabulous job and is easy on the eyes to watch as he gets younger. A love story and beautiful relationship develops with Cate Blanchett's character that shows their relationship and the short years that they were able to be a family and have a normal relationship. I didn't like how they ended the movie and how Benjamin chooses to live his life as he ages into infancy. This movie isn't a love story but more of a story about death and aging.

I believe that the book and the movie are about life, death and aging. Both are about finding our place in the world however we come into the world and managing to make the best of that experience. We all age in different ways and in Benjamin's case is an extreme example as he ages backwards. The premise is that he is different and has to learn how to live life to the fullest being different.


My name is Forrest, Forrest Gump.
2009-11-29 - Okay, so it's obvious that this was written by the same guy that brought us a best-picture winner back in the mid 1990's. There are multiple similarities here, but I'll leave it to you to draw those parallels. At worst, this is a very good movie that's both entertaining, intriguing and depressing. At best, it's a best-picture nominee. I've always appreciated the roles Brad has picked, and while I recognize that he's not Hollywood's best, he's just good enough to bring us the story of Benjamin Button, the story of a tortured soul that ages backwards. On the surface, it sounds awesome, but on the back end, I cannot imagine a more terrible curse. We're taken on a roller-coaster ride of emotions through this 3-hour epic, and we experience every emotion from A to Z. You'll be at a low at the end, but tomorrow you'll smile because you'll know why today is somehow brighter. Trust me. It's that good.

A little long!
2009-11-07 - Loved this movie, especially Brad Pitt's part. ran a little long with some slow scenes, i think they could have shortened it a bit. although i do not regret purchasing.