Customer Reviews

Eden

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Sometimes casting is all. Joanna Going is so believably beautiful that her face and her heart cast a spell over the viewer, and even as the voice of her spirit expresses her desire to be free of the body that slowly decays and then lies still in a long coma, we--and her husband and the young student who loves her--long to see her return to the boys and the grass of the campus she calls home. Okay, it's a corny story, but so's "Romeo and Juliet," and "Eden" affirms the value of life and the glory of love. You'll root for everybody in Eden; they're faulty, stumbling human beings who struggle with life, love and death in the best ways they know how. Everybody grows, and almost all viewers will cheer and tear.

I enjoyed this story about a woman with MS who uses her unique and rather puzzling gift for astral projection to escape her illness and her limited life as a 1950s housewife (or 1960s - I didn't catch the exact setting). Her husband really got on my nerves with his martyr attitude toward his ailing wife; he was so smug about how well he was taking the change in her while pushing her hard not to give in to her symptoms. Meanwhile, she keeps wanting to teach and her husband insists that she has plenty to do in the home. No wonder that with frustrations like that, she literally chooses to escape the world. Finally, at the end of the film, the information gets through to her husband that he can't keep forcing his wishes on her. The ending is truly moving and made me cry.

I find the astral projection angle puzzling, though. Little was actually explained about it - little was shown. There was no mention of how long she'd been doing it or why she could do it when others couldn't. When did she start it? It was like some scenes were missing. I suppose the angle works if you take astral projection as a metaphor for something she needed and used for escape. It's just such a darn unusual activity that the lack of background information puzzled me. Also, a student living at her house kept mocking her behind her back by saying "Psycho-somatic" whenever she acted a little bit odd. Were we supposed to think that maybe she was imagining everything? I feel much could've been made clearer. Still, I recommend the movie. It's okay to be asked to use your brain and interpret for yourself.

Outstanding performances by the three principle players. Very tender coming of age movie set at a private all boys boarding school in the mid '60's. I very much enjoyed this movie though I wish it had had subtitles.

As for being a "spiritual" movie, it was extremly lacking. The entire movie was slightly akward and jumpy. The acting, which was supreme, was the only thing that kept me watching. However, that was excellent, expecially from Going and Flannery. The characters were obviously well developed and very in turn very well potrayed.

Amazing nothing here mentions that the woman was experimenting with astral travelling. It was almost the complete meaning of the movie for me! She got better and better at leaving her body, finally travelling out into the heart of the galaxy. Where else will you see a movie about a person who spontaneously begins astral travel, with such success?? A+ just for that. I have astral travelled myself, flying over great canyons. This is the only movie where I found a character I could relate to on that matter.

"Eden" solidifies the concept of "if you love someone, set them free". It also shows how easily students and teachers can reverse roles. Going, Walsh, and Flanery all give great performances. If you want a movie of discovery and tears, this is a must see.

I was disappointed in this movie. It just didn't have much of a story line. It didn't go in to her disease more which is what I was interested in.

How can you describe a movie that makes you laugh and cry, takes you to a world (the 60s) you never lived in, teaches you many things you never knew before and makes you feel wonderful about yourself and your life to boot? Whoops! I guess I just did. This is a deeply compelling and wonderful movie with extraordinary acting (Joanna Going is magnificent). I saw it on TMC and will be watching the schedule religiously so I don't miss it the next time it plays. P.S. Great 60s soundtrack (folk and some rock).

This is a fine movie for those who are sensitive or can deal with astra-physical images. A somewhat happily married woman with a domineering cold
insenstive husbsnd and lovely kids suffers from MS. Her husband lets 3 academy students live in one br and is demanding that they study. One falls behind. The lady, seeking to find more meaning in her life starts tutoring him on the side. This relieves her depression. But after this is stopped, she suffers an unknown illness. Countless tests show nothing.Her
MD suggests one risky option. The husband coldly refuses but later, after seeing some sensitivity as his wife slips away in a coma, goes along.
She is in between life and death. If you enjoy this review, watch the movie. If not, stop and go to other fare.

best movie for inner reflection and inner inquiry Go See It!!!!!! email me if you want to chat about this movie!!