I am not ashamed to admit that I left the theater after watching this the first time so confused. There were so many story lines to follow and I spent a lot of time trying to figure out who all the characters were played by and therefore lost myself in that instead of the movie itself. I am also not ashamed to admit that those things kept me from watching it again for a long time. When I did finally rewatch it, not too long ago, this time I got it and understood why Larry loved it so much.
This movie is not everyone's cup of tea, and I get that. It's definitely a movie that requires multiple watches for pretty much everyone. It's hard not to get caught up in Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent (Cavendish is my favorite character), Hugo Weaving, Susan Sarandon and so many other great actors playing so many different characters in the movie across so many various timelines. If you focus on trying to figure them out you will definitely miss the point of the movie.
PLOT The story jumps between eras, spanning hundreds of years, until each storyline eventually resolves. Writings from characters in prior storylines are found in future storylines. Characters appear to recur in each era, but change relationships to each other, suggesting reincarnation or other connection between souls through the ages.
The movie was released on Friday, October 26th, 2012 and such was our habit to reserve our seats and see a movie pretty much every Sunday at the AMC in Easton. So essentially on release weekend, Shannon and I treated her Aunt Charlene (who really enjoys sci-fi movies) to this movie.
I'll pause and say us treating her to this movie is a drop of water compared to the ocean of love and support she has provided us, and in general her whole family, over the years. She is one of the kindest, most giving souls I have had the honor of knowing in my life. I could never express my love and appreciation enough to all the things she has done for us over the years.
I'll just say that I was overwhelmed with emotion watching this movie - that day and every time I watch it now or hear the soundtrack.
Relative to the movie itself, it could not personify how I feel about meeting Shannon any better than I could myself. I believe that our strings of fate throughout time were destined to be together. It's as simply and beautiful as that. All the things that had to happen to make us happen were meant to happen - however wonderful or heartbreaking they might have been.
Here's where I referenced our string of fate previously:
Relative to the soundtrack, which is a huge part of the plot (another reason I love the movie), I think they did a fantastic job composing something that is so special and unique for that purpose. That is no small feat.
P.S. As Cavendish says in my favorite line of the whole movie: "Soylent Green ARE People!"
Ghost of a Chance 