Really Surprised!

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

This film had potential, but I, and I suspect those involved in making it, really have no idea who it was actually aimed at.Simplified too much to appeal to more mature kids (of all ages), too much involvement from rather cardboard parents for any escapism, the moralizing getting in the way of the story too much for younger kids and too obvious for older ones, the "puzzles" far too simply solved.Overall, far too much certainty. For a movie with this kind of story to succeed, I think a lot more ambiguity and uncertainty is required - hints at what's going on, who the characters are, and what's going to happen, rather than great big illuminated signposts. It could probably do with taking itself rather more seriously, too.I only find myself wondering how they managed to string it out for so long.

I thought this was an excellent movie even though I was uncertain about watching it from reading the negative comments. It really shows a boy learning about what the real meaning of life is.....not how long you live but what you do with the years you have. He has growing up to do, as evidenced by his bending to peer pressure when it comes to an acquaintance who is being bullied. The bullying was bad, but not severe, and the young man being bullied is a strong character. The presence of the mysterious neighbor was a great factor in the boy's adjusting to learning to be sensitive and to enjoy life, not dwell on the down side of it so much. David Bowie did an excellent job and was probably emphasized because he was Mr Rice and because his is a name that will draw viewers. I know that is one of the reasons I watched it...and enjoyed it. He does have a good talent for acting, at least in my opinion. This is not a heavy movie,although some thought it so. It ends very upbeat and you can leave it with a smile. I remember Bill Switzer mainly from The Christmas List and the lady who played his mother....Teryl Rothery.....as the mother in the mini-series 'Alice'. All the boys were good in their roles and very realistic. Granted, the idea of "Mr. Rice" is a bit far-fetched, but adds the specialness to the movie. I have learned to at least give a movie a chance, even though the reviews may not be upbeat about it. This one is especially good to see......at least once.

I've come to the habit of going to IMDb to check out reviews b4 watching films, especially lesser known ones.After reading the reviews on this one, which seem to be polar opposites, I decided what the heck, lets take a look.The film was totally unappealing, with all the lead kid characters being obnoxious and reprehensible, including Owen.Another child who has cancer tries to befriend Owen, but Owen repeatedly wants nothing to do with him. The absolute turn off came when Owen lures this sick boy into a vicious ambush by his friends, where they punch and kick this kid repeatedly.What the heck is going on here?! And then when Owen is confronted by his father over the role he played in this attack, he turns around and justifies his action and said the kid deserved it...and why? Owen at first whines about his own mortality, and then defiantly blames the other boy, as if that kid purposely got leukemia so he could constantly remind Owen of his own illness (oh brother!).Hey, I know kids at that age can be cruel, but I don't know anyone (thank God) who would beat up the terminally ill.At this point, I switched channels.Apparently Owen learned NOTHING from Mr. Rice. I made the mistake of turning the channel back to the movie when Owen and his friend talk to the goon Percy to enlist his help on I don't know what.Percy picks his nose and wipes it on the face of Owen's friend, leaving a visible mark, and then sticks his finger in the kid's mouth (ugghhh!!!).I really don't know how ANYONE could give this movie high marks. I really don't. Those who did must be out of their minds, or LOST their minds. The reviewers who gave this film a thumbs up are as screwed up as this film. I agree with the reviewer who said this is one SICK and BIZARRE film.IMHO, this is NOT a "must see", or "A deep exploration of a difficult topic", or "sensitive". Maybe the director was trying to make an object lesson about being compassionate to the terminally ill, but what little I saw of it, it focused on the cruel, and NOT on compassion.As for the "acting", if you could call it that, it was horrible. The kids from my neighborhood, or any neighborhood, could've done a better job.David Bowie was the one surprising point of sanity and calm in this film, but alas, his time was only a few minutes, and only thru flashbacks.I'm just sorry I even watched this film for as short a time I did. I admit perhaps, that by not watching the entire thing, I may have missed it's redeeming parts, but the two I mentioned above were enough for me. And from the other negative reviews, I see there wasn't any redeeming value to this trash. I'm not even giving it one star. This one's in negative territory.

I'm giving this film a awful score. It's entertaining to watch just because it is that bad. There is a scene in the movie where the main character is being made fun of at baseball try outs. He rushes as the kid making fun of him. The one kid sidesteps him and than everyone on the baseball team throws baseballs at him. It's honestly funny only because it would never happen in real life. The coaches would have stepped in a long time ago. If you choose to watch this movie that scene is why you should do it. Other than that is a simply bad movie half fantasy and half real life with unrealistic scenes mixed in. Making it totally unbelievable. But totally worth watching for it's suckyness