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List Price: $34.98 | | Label: Criterion
Salesrank: 7767
Released: May 5, 2009 |
| Our Price: $14.00 |
| Used Price: $10.33 |
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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG13
Release Date: 5-MAY-2009
Media Type: DVD
Description of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Two-Disc Special Edition):
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
Also on the disc
Criterion offers a two-disc presentation of the 2008 Oscar-winner, stamped as "Director Approved." Hard to miss that, since David Fincher is all over the extras on this one: he provides a talkative commentary track for the 165-minute film, which leaves little doubt about his fabled involvement in every aspect of the results you see on screen, and he figures in the documentary sections contained on the second disc. Fincher is such an assured, skillful talker that he easily justifies the otherwise standard-issue collection of behind-the-scenes material. The documentary sections can be played as one epic (three hour) making-of feature, which actually lasts longer than the film itself; they are also carved up and can be played in handy parts: the origins of the project (tons of people considered making it, including Frank Oz, Ron Howard, and Spike Jonze), the flabbergasting technical trickery involved, shooting in post-Katrina New Orleans, and anything else you can think of. Especially illuminating is the step-by-step stuff about how Brad Pitt's face was motion-captured for the purposes of morphing it onto the work of body doubles--in case you're still puzzled about how all that really worked. The usual production stills and an essay by Kent Jones fill out the package. --Robert Horton
Stills from The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Click for larger image)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Two-Disc Special Edition) Reviews:
Great Film 
2009-12-26 - The Curios Case of Benjamin Button is a fantastic film that anyone will enjoy. It is about a man named Benjamin, who ages backwards. He is born as an eighty year old man, and gradually grows younger until he is an eighty year old person who looks and acts like a baby. Along the way he meets his true love, works as a sailor, and has many wonderful adventures in a world that can not keep up with his aging. The plot is fantastic, and so is the acting. The special effects and music are wonderful as well. The film is rather long, clocking in at over two hours, but it does not seem to drag on as other films of similar length do. The rating of PG-13 is just right. I would not let small kids or preteens watch this movie, because there is some language, war violence, and several mild sex scenes. However, any teen or up can certainly watch the great film with no problem. If you want to watch something great, pick up The Curios Case of Benjamin Button, you will not regret it.
Poignant, well written and EXTREMELY LONG! 
2009-12-26 - This movie is hard to get into- primarily because you are constantly wondering how they achieved some of the visual effects, the retrograde aging for instance.
The audio is also somewhat disappointing, and it's difficult to understand some of the actors without cranking the sound up to uncomfortable levels.
This movie is very uneven. Talky and boring in some places, and engaging and interesting in others. It is also VERY LONG- one of the longest movies I have seen in years- over two and one half hours. I believe that more aggressive editing could have tightened it up somewhat and brought it together better.
3,5 * 
2009-12-24 - At 2.5 hours, it's about an hour and half too long. Nice story .. nice sad ending. It's a story about death, as told between a daughter and her mother on her death bed.
born at the point of death living backward
2009-12-22 - The human element of time is explored her in emotional
relationships. The old man / baby is brought up by a nursing home
nurse who is all heart. Benjamin experiences life and love
in a way very different than the rest of us.
I liked the movie and it reminded me of an F. Scott Fitzgerald
short story about reversed time that I read in high school.
The plot may not be entirely new, but the make up and acting
is very well done.
We see history in a unique prospective.
Amazing Movie!
2009-12-17 - This is my favorite movie! I love it! I love the story, the way New Orleans is featured, and just the acting overall! The product I received was in perfect condition and this movie is a def. keeper or go getter!
