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Based on the bestseller by Mitch Albom (Tuesdays With Morrie), The Five People You Meet in Heaven takes up where It’s A Wonderful Life left off. In the Capra classic, George Bailey gets a vision of life without him. In this Hallmark Hall of Fame production, Eddie (Jon Voight), an amusement park maintenance man and war veteran, ends up in Heaven after an accident takes his life. There he meets five people from his past: the Blue Man (Jeff Richards), the Captain (Michael Imperioli), Marguerite (Dagmara Dominczyk), Ruby (Ellen Burstyn), and Tala (Nicaela and Shelbie Weigel). Each shows him how he impacted their life or they his--and not always for the better. (In these flashbacks, Callahan Brebner and Steven Grayhm play the young Eddie.) The point may seem simplistic--everyone is connected--but The Five People You Meet in Heaven finds a unique and engaging way to make it. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Product Description
Jon Voight, Ellen Burstyn, Jeff Daniels. Eddie is an 83-year-old war vet working as a maintenance man in an amusement park. When he dies while saving a young girl in harm's way from a falling ride, he enters the afterlife and meets five people who will explain the meaning of his life. 2004/color/133 min/NR/fullscreen.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
169 of 182 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
"This is a story of a man named Eddie who was shown the secret of heaven: that each life affects the other, and the other affects the next. The world is full of stories, but the stories are all one." - The Five People You Meet In Heaven DVD
A critical, abusive, alcoholic father. The nightmares--and a physical wound--courtesy of war. Infertility. A beloved wife struck down with a neurological disease. Evaporating dreams of being an engineer, replaced with a life-long job as a theme park maintenance man.
Eddie feels like a loser. He was a nobody-his alcoholic father made sure of that. Working at the theme park Ruby's Pier, like his father before him, is how Eddie died and went to heaven.
Author Mitch Albom wrote the script for the made-for-TV movie The Five People You Meet In Heaven, which is based on his bestselling book. The theme of this story is that no life is a waste, no matter how seemingly insignificant-and that there are no random acts, because all are connected.
The profound but simple truths in this poignant story by Albom reflect the themes that all is one, there are no random acts, and that peace, learning and growth face us on the Other Side.
On a sunny day at Ruby's Pier, a cable system breaks down on an amusement ride, and Eddie, played by veteran actor Jon Voight, tries to save a girl from death. He feels small hands in his as he tries to pull her to safety.
"When Eddie died, he felt no pain. He experienced calm-as if every pain he experienced on Earth was washed away."
In heaven, Eddie is first met by a man who used to be a part of Ruby Pier's freak show-a man tinted blue by a chemical tincture he drank as a child. The man of blue (brilliantly played by Jeff Daniels) tells Eddie that he will meet five people in heaven, and each will share things which will be a lesson for Eddie. The part that the Blue Man played in Eddie's life was unknown until Eddie arrives in heaven: as a small boy, Eddie was playing ball in the street, and the Blue Man, driving down the same street, swerved to miss him. The Blue Man ended up dying of a heart attack, and Eddie was unaware of his part in the story.
When the Blue Man shared what happen, Eddie felt badly-that the accident wasn't fair, and that it should have been him that died. The blue man replies: "There is no fair in life and death. If it were, no good men would die young." Eddie assumes that he will now pay for his "sin" and be judged. The Blue Man dismisses this idea, almost with amusement: "No, no, no.", he says, shaking his head. In heaven, there is no judgment, but rather an opportunity to examine our lives-who we touched, the choices we made, and the consequences of those choices.
Eddie is then visited by four more people, in their own unique heaven. Forgiveness is another theme of the story, and the character of Ruby tells Eddie: "Hatred is a curved blade. The harm we do to others is harm we do to ourselves...no one is born with anger. It builds up over time, with the things we don't say and the things we bury. When we die, the soul is freed of it-free to see the truth."
The process that Eddie goes through when he dies is consistent with the case studies featured in the books Journey of Souls and Destiny of Souls by hypnotherapist Dr. Michael Newton. No angry God awaits us at the gates of death, but instead, we are met with kind, loving guides and souls-eventually being ushered into a personally designed `curriculum' for our soul's growth and edification. When Eddie meets his former military captain in his personal heaven the captain says to him: "Time isn't what you think it is, kid. Neither is dying." Also consistent with between-life regression case histories is the ability for souls to change shape (like Eddie's wife did when he asked her to become "old" again), as well as the ability to "choose" your heaven.
The Five People You Meet In Heaven is a story of redemption and personal meaning, as Eddie finally realizes that everything- even difficulties, disappointments, and deaths-happen for a reason. We're also reminded that "all endings are beginnings. We just don't know it at the time..."
Throughout the story, Eddie calls himself a loser, feeling that he did not accomplish anything with his life (like going to engineering school as he planned). He felt alone, and without anything to show for his life. However, at the end of meeting the five people from his life on the Other Side, Eddie is shown the results of his everyday, "mundane" work as an amusement park maintenance man: a sea of people of every age, race, and walk of life that were kept safe over the years by his diligence:
"All the accidents he prevented, all the people he kept safe-their children, and their children's children-are because of the things he did day after day."
The human search for a sense of meaning and purpose to life is a deep one. Perhaps the first thoughts of the first human were "Who am I? Why am I here?" We're still asking these questions--and desperately looking for the answer.
Living in an increasingly complex and stressful era, it's tempting to think that the mundane is meaningless and that life is a random crapshoot. I was deeply moved by this story, reminded that no interpersonal interaction is by chance, and that every cruel, painful, or disappointing situation serves a higher purpose that will someday be explained. The Five People You Meet In Heaven shows that, truly, no life is a "waste", and no life is insignificant. My story is a part of your story, because all of us are connected in the web of life.
A critical, abusive, alcoholic father. The nightmares--and a physical wound--courtesy of war. Infertility. A beloved wife struck down with a neurological disease. Evaporating dreams of being an engineer, replaced with a life-long job as a theme park maintenance man.
Eddie feels like a loser. He was a nobody-his alcoholic father made sure of that. Working at the theme park Ruby's Pier, like his father before him, is how Eddie died and went to heaven.
Author Mitch Albom wrote the script for the made-for-TV movie The Five People You Meet In Heaven, which is based on his bestselling book. The theme of this story is that no life is a waste, no matter how seemingly insignificant-and that there are no random acts, because all are connected.
The profound but simple truths in this poignant story by Albom reflect the themes that all is one, there are no random acts, and that peace, learning and growth face us on the Other Side.
On a sunny day at Ruby's Pier, a cable system breaks down on an amusement ride, and Eddie, played by veteran actor Jon Voight, tries to save a girl from death. He feels small hands in his as he tries to pull her to safety.
"When Eddie died, he felt no pain. He experienced calm-as if every pain he experienced on Earth was washed away."
In heaven, Eddie is first met by a man who used to be a part of Ruby Pier's freak show-a man tinted blue by a chemical tincture he drank as a child. The man of blue (brilliantly played by Jeff Daniels) tells Eddie that he will meet five people in heaven, and each will share things which will be a lesson for Eddie. The part that the Blue Man played in Eddie's life was unknown until Eddie arrives in heaven: as a small boy, Eddie was playing ball in the street, and the Blue Man, driving down the same street, swerved to miss him. The Blue Man ended up dying of a heart attack, and Eddie was unaware of his part in the story.
When the Blue Man shared what happen, Eddie felt badly-that the accident wasn't fair, and that it should have been him that died. The blue man replies: "There is no fair in life and death. If it were, no good men would die young." Eddie assumes that he will now pay for his "sin" and be judged. The Blue Man dismisses this idea, almost with amusement: "No, no, no.", he says, shaking his head. In heaven, there is no judgment, but rather an opportunity to examine our lives-who we touched, the choices we made, and the consequences of those choices.
Eddie is then visited by four more people, in their own unique heaven. Forgiveness is another theme of the story, and the character of Ruby tells Eddie: "Hatred is a curved blade. The harm we do to others is harm we do to ourselves...no one is born with anger. It builds up over time, with the things we don't say and the things we bury. When we die, the soul is freed of it-free to see the truth."
The process that Eddie goes through when he dies is consistent with the case studies featured in the books Journey of Souls and Destiny of Souls by hypnotherapist Dr. Michael Newton. No angry God awaits us at the gates of death, but instead, we are met with kind, loving guides and souls-eventually being ushered into a personally designed `curriculum' for our soul's growth and edification. When Eddie meets his former military captain in his personal heaven the captain says to him: "Time isn't what you think it is, kid. Neither is dying." Also consistent with between-life regression case histories is the ability for souls to change shape (like Eddie's wife did when he asked her to become "old" again), as well as the ability to "choose" your heaven.
The Five People You Meet In Heaven is a story of redemption and personal meaning, as Eddie finally realizes that everything- even difficulties, disappointments, and deaths-happen for a reason. We're also reminded that "all endings are beginnings. We just don't know it at the time..."
Throughout the story, Eddie calls himself a loser, feeling that he did not accomplish anything with his life (like going to engineering school as he planned). He felt alone, and without anything to show for his life. However, at the end of meeting the five people from his life on the Other Side, Eddie is shown the results of his everyday, "mundane" work as an amusement park maintenance man: a sea of people of every age, race, and walk of life that were kept safe over the years by his diligence:
"All the accidents he prevented, all the people he kept safe-their children, and their children's children-are because of the things he did day after day."
The human search for a sense of meaning and purpose to life is a deep one. Perhaps the first thoughts of the first human were "Who am I? Why am I here?" We're still asking these questions--and desperately looking for the answer.
Living in an increasingly complex and stressful era, it's tempting to think that the mundane is meaningless and that life is a random crapshoot. I was deeply moved by this story, reminded that no interpersonal interaction is by chance, and that every cruel, painful, or disappointing situation serves a higher purpose that will someday be explained. The Five People You Meet In Heaven shows that, truly, no life is a "waste", and no life is insignificant. My story is a part of your story, because all of us are connected in the web of life.
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
It isn't often that the movie version of a good book is as good as the book itself, but this is one time it actually happened. I thought the book was profound on a level that Tuesdays with Morrie never reached. Jon Voigt is a superb actor, and he is outstanding in 5 People. The rest of the cast is excellent as well. While some people may regard the "message" as trite or schlocky, this powerful dramatization of the fact that our lives are all interlocked is something we need to be reminded of often.
It also demonstrates the futility of excessive guilt, and the fact that one never knows the complete story in any given situation. And does so without resorting to preaching or mawkishness. Read the book or watch the DVD- the impact is the same.
It also demonstrates the futility of excessive guilt, and the fact that one never knows the complete story in any given situation. And does so without resorting to preaching or mawkishness. Read the book or watch the DVD- the impact is the same.
79 of 95 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Once in awhile, a movie goes beyond entertainment to make us better for having witnessed it. This is one of those.
Eddie's life has been one of misery, regret, and failure. Then he dies, and is forced to face his demons. A touching work of such love and beauty that it may well leave you sobbing.
Eddie's life has been one of misery, regret, and failure. Then he dies, and is forced to face his demons. A touching work of such love and beauty that it may well leave you sobbing.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
God is in control.
God loves us and we are in life where he wants us to be. So many books have been written to give us this fact. Read more
Published 8 days ago by Dean Liming
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing...
Tuesdays with Morrie and now the Five People You Meet in Heaven. Hard to believe this was written by a sports journalist... Great stuff...
Published 17 days ago by Jay
5.0 out of 5 stars
Flawlessly Adapted
Perhaps because the book was so short, they could really squeeze all the details in and let events unfold gradually. I think this is Jon Voight's best performance. Read more
Published 22 days ago by mr. critic
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love this movie
Although the case was not in the best condition I still love the movie. I purchased this movie right after my father died and I constantly believe that when I die It will be just... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Chelsea
4.0 out of 5 stars
Bought this as part of my Aphasia Book Club
My Aphasia Book Club read the book over several weeks. Aphasia is a language disorder resulting from a "brain thing"... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Cheryl A. Paul
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Movie
It's basically how I imagined the book, pretty good. I only ordered this because it was required for an assaignment, but very good :)
Published 1 month ago by Lia
5.0 out of 5 stars
Favorite movie of all TIME!
This is my favorite movie of all time because it shows you life from a different perspective. It was emotional, moving, and beautiful in every way. Read more
Published 1 month ago by K. Yun
5.0 out of 5 stars
sensitive and touching
This is a story for everyone,one that for me shows why we are here. The casting was perfect,Jon Voight has given one of his finest works. Read more
Published 2 months ago by movielover
5.0 out of 5 stars
THOUGHT PROVOKING
REALLY LOVE THIS MOVIE. IT MAKES YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW OTHERS ARE IMPACTED BY YOUR LIFE AND THE DIFFERENT CHOICES YOU'VE MADE. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Elizabeth L Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars
MUST SEE!!!!
This is definitely one of my favorite movies. It contains the dynamics supporting the belief that we either do our emotional/spiritual work now (or later). Hint: Now is better. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jason
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