Amazon.co.uk Review
If, as they say, you're in a certain mood, Message in a Bottle can be just the ticket. Based on Nicholas Sparks' bestselling novel, this handsome but overly calculated romantic tale stars Robin Wright Penn as Theresa, a Chicago Tribune researcher who finds a note encased in a green bottle that has floated onto a Cape Cod shore. The message within is a heartfelt, yearning declaration of love to a woman named Catherine but the author is unknown until Theresa (rather improbably) tracks him down in North Carolina. He's Garret Blake (Kevin Costner), a taciturn builder of sailboats and a grieving widower whose late wife, poetically speaking, was the intended recipient of the seafaring note Theresa found. Theresa, a divorcée with a son, decides to meet Garret, only to find him as bottled-up as his message. Nevertheless, a romance blooms on the strength of quality time in a sailboat and lots of cuddling, though the script tosses in bits of conflict to keep their relationship spicy. Directed by Luis Mandoki (When a Man Loves a Woman), this love story is entirely by the numbers, with Costner inhabiting (rather than performing) a stock fantasy of a man perfect in every way save his broken heart. Penn brings more vibrancy to her equally predictable part but fortunately for all, Paul Newman, John Savage, Robbie Coltrane and Illeana Douglas are on hand in nicely textured character parts. Sometimes predictability is exactly what one wants when settling in for an evening of home video, and this movie fits the bill nicely. The appealing cinematography is by ace cameraman Caleb Deschanel. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews:
Total Rubbish.......2008-01-30
Well for those not reading novels and watching Sci-fi, action, thriller movies this might be a change and they might like it but for me it was total nonsense. I am about 23 and been reading and watching novels (from 'Great Expectations' to 'Dr Zhirago', From 'Love Story' to 'A Walk to Remember' and 'Legend of the Fall' all are some of the best novels and some filmed too) for about 15 years and this movie and its content was the most rubbish i can imagine. Total waste of time and money. Even the climax of the movie had no attraction what so ever. I've seen many movies and read many novels where the main character/characters dies/die but here the way he died for no reason and in an unrealistic man-made satuation, I can not believe i bought this movie and look at its name, from its name seem a deep and good novel but inside its total crape. Believe me or dont say I didnt warn you.
Reminiscent of 'A Walk to Remember.......2007-06-14
I thought that 'Message in a Bottle' was a great movie, definitely one of Kevin Costner's better films in recent years. Unlike the last reviewer, I did not feel that the movie was too long, although I saw it on television and it may have been cut considerably. Robin Wright Penn and Paul Newman also put in excellent performances and follow a great plot by Nicholas Sparks. It is quite an emotional film about losing and finding love; a real tearjerker. The beauty of the North Carolina location adds to the background of the movie and heightens the depth of emotion expressed by the actors. The film is reminiscent of 'A Walk to Remember (also a Nicholas Sparks novel turned film) and will probably be enjoyed by the same audience.
Almost.......2007-06-13
This is almost a good movie. It has all the ingredients, but there are one or two serious flaws that make it less than "swept away". The first is that Kevin Costner is really quite dreary, as if he was phoning in his part. It is also implausible that he would not wear his lifejacket at the end (picky, picky). The second flaw is that the love story loses some of its energy towards the end, for reasons that are not clear. The first wife should have had a bit more of a role, given that she drags her lover down into the ocean for the temerity to pick up with another woman (cf. Rebecca).
The best thing in the film is Robin Wright Penn, who is as beautiful as a shower of gold. It is completely implausible that her first husband, or any man in his right mind, would have left her.
Wish I hadn't watched it.......2006-01-10
Tedious, long-winded and predictable, except the ending which was truly awful and a cop-out. I would not recommend this B movie to anyone, except for the glorious seashore views.
Touching.......2003-11-02
A really touching love story. I havent cried over a film since 'Love Story' to be honest, but this one had the tears rolling! It was so moving.
It is an extremely tender story. Kevin Costner plays the grieving husband. He cannot get over or let go of the memory of his late wife - whom he loved so deeply. His life is full of memories of her and her possessions - which never allow him to move on. Love enters his life - through his touching 'message in a bottle', but he is unable/unwilling to accept it into his life. There is a scene in the film where Kevin Costner turns to his new love - obviously in great mental anguish and says 'I don't want to loose you' - and his new love looks at him hurt and frustrated and says - well then don't - it is so heart-wrenching. You can literally feel both of their pain and frustrations. She loves him, but cannot get close to him, and he loves her but cannot allow her in.
Kevin Costner gave an outstanding performance in this film. He made his pain and inner torment seem so real. As the story unfolds, he slowly begins to let his guard down to possibly accept love into his life. So we have a happy ending? - Maybe not! I cannot believe the ending to this day. I am still numb with shock. I will not spoil it for you - but I found the ending a total shock.
This is a tear-jerker film. But one that is so touching I would still recommend it to be watched. The soundtrack is gorgeous also.
Amazon.co.uk Review
If, as they say, you're in a certain mood, Message in a Bottle can be just the ticket. Based on Nicholas Sparks' bestselling novel, this handsome but overly calculated romantic tale stars Robin Wright Penn as Theresa, a Chicago Tribune researcher who finds a note encased in a green bottle that has floated onto a Cape Cod shore. The message within is a heartfelt, yearning declaration of love to a woman named Catherine but the author is unknown until Theresa (rather improbably) tracks him down in North Carolina. He's Garret Blake (Kevin Costner), a taciturn builder of sailboats and a grieving widower whose late wife, poetically speaking, was the intended recipient of the seafaring note Theresa found. Theresa, a divorcée with a son, decides to meet Garret, only to find him as bottled-up as his message. Nevertheless, a romance blooms on the strength of quality time in a sailboat and lots of cuddling, though the script tosses in bits of conflict to keep their relationship spicy. Directed by Luis Mandoki (When a Man Loves a Woman), this love story is entirely by the numbers, with Costner inhabiting (rather than performing) a stock fantasy of a man perfect in every way save his broken heart. Penn brings more vibrancy to her equally predictable part but fortunately for all, Paul Newman, John Savage, Robbie Coltrane and Illeana Douglas are on hand in nicely textured character parts. Sometimes predictability is exactly what one wants when settling in for an evening of home video, and this movie fits the bill nicely. The appealing cinematography is by ace cameraman Caleb Deschanel. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews:
Total Rubbish.......2008-01-30
Well for those not reading novels and watching Sci-fi, action, thriller movies this might be a change and they might like it but for me it was total nonsense. I am about 23 and been reading and watching novels (from 'Great Expectations' to 'Dr Zhirago', From 'Love Story' to 'A Walk to Remember' and 'Legend of the Fall' all are some of the best novels and some filmed too) for about 15 years and this movie and its content was the most rubbish i can imagine. Total waste of time and money. Even the climax of the movie had no attraction what so ever. I've seen many movies and read many novels where the main character/characters dies/die but here the way he died for no reason and in an unrealistic man-made satuation, I can not believe i bought this movie and look at its name, from its name seem a deep and good novel but inside its total crape. Believe me or dont say I didnt warn you.
Reminiscent of 'A Walk to Remember.......2007-06-14
I thought that 'Message in a Bottle' was a great movie, definitely one of Kevin Costner's better films in recent years. Unlike the last reviewer, I did not feel that the movie was too long, although I saw it on television and it may have been cut considerably. Robin Wright Penn and Paul Newman also put in excellent performances and follow a great plot by Nicholas Sparks. It is quite an emotional film about losing and finding love; a real tearjerker. The beauty of the North Carolina location adds to the background of the movie and heightens the depth of emotion expressed by the actors. The film is reminiscent of 'A Walk to Remember (also a Nicholas Sparks novel turned film) and will probably be enjoyed by the same audience.
Almost.......2007-06-13
This is almost a good movie. It has all the ingredients, but there are one or two serious flaws that make it less than "swept away". The first is that Kevin Costner is really quite dreary, as if he was phoning in his part. It is also implausible that he would not wear his lifejacket at the end (picky, picky). The second flaw is that the love story loses some of its energy towards the end, for reasons that are not clear. The first wife should have had a bit more of a role, given that she drags her lover down into the ocean for the temerity to pick up with another woman (cf. Rebecca).
The best thing in the film is Robin Wright Penn, who is as beautiful as a shower of gold. It is completely implausible that her first husband, or any man in his right mind, would have left her.
Wish I hadn't watched it.......2006-01-10
Tedious, long-winded and predictable, except the ending which was truly awful and a cop-out. I would not recommend this B movie to anyone, except for the glorious seashore views.
Touching.......2003-11-02
A really touching love story. I havent cried over a film since 'Love Story' to be honest, but this one had the tears rolling! It was so moving.
It is an extremely tender story. Kevin Costner plays the grieving husband. He cannot get over or let go of the memory of his late wife - whom he loved so deeply. His life is full of memories of her and her possessions - which never allow him to move on. Love enters his life - through his touching 'message in a bottle', but he is unable/unwilling to accept it into his life. There is a scene in the film where Kevin Costner turns to his new love - obviously in great mental anguish and says 'I don't want to loose you' - and his new love looks at him hurt and frustrated and says - well then don't - it is so heart-wrenching. You can literally feel both of their pain and frustrations. She loves him, but cannot get close to him, and he loves her but cannot allow her in.
Kevin Costner gave an outstanding performance in this film. He made his pain and inner torment seem so real. As the story unfolds, he slowly begins to let his guard down to possibly accept love into his life. So we have a happy ending? - Maybe not! I cannot believe the ending to this day. I am still numb with shock. I will not spoil it for you - but I found the ending a total shock.
This is a tear-jerker film. But one that is so touching I would still recommend it to be watched. The soundtrack is gorgeous also.
DVD:
- Metallica: Cliff 'Em All [1990] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Mockingbird Don't Sing [2002] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Mozart: Don Giovanni -- Vienna/Furtwangler [1955]
- Muffin The Mule [1946]
- Our Town [2003] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Peter Sellers - Hoffman / The Smallest Show On Earth / Carlton-Browne Of The F.O./ Two Way Stretch [1957]
- Pinky [1949] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Pinocchio : Special Edition [1940]
- Pippin [1982] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Platoon [1987]
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