Review of What Dreams May Come (1998) by Kevin H — 09 Nov 2011

Here's the worksheet for my film class (it'll tell the story).

1. List and describe the main characters (name, role, characteristics, personalities, conflicts, etc). This list of characters will increase as the movie progresses. Be detailed or credit will not be awarded.

Chris Nielsen- He was a doctor who lost both of his children in a tragic-ish (it was hard to take the movie seriously) car wreck and then died in one himself (like father like son. ZING!). Later would save his wife from hell (I just wish he could have focused on saving this movie instead).

Annie Nielsen- Chis' wife and insane companion. She, wracked with grief, kills herself and goes straight to hell. Later gets rescued by Chris and proves that you can truly do ANYTHING in life (including killing yourself) and it will be okay; what a load of crap that lesson is.

Ian Nielsen- Son of Chris and Annie. Died and becomes a black guy (again, this movie is really hard to take seriously).

Albert Lewis- Chris' guide across "heaven" and turns out to be Ian.

Marie Nielsen- Chris and Annie's daughter. Died and becomes an asian flight attendant (I'm starting to think that this entire family is insane).

Leona- Said asian flight attendent.

The Tracker- Old scaly white man that guides Chris through hell. Turns out to be Albert.

For those of you playing at home the white guy becomes a black man; the black man becomes a white man; and the white boy.... err.... girl becomes an Asian flight attendent.

2. Identify any religious allusions (references to specific religions or religious principles).

This movie draws heavily from many religions (to add to the confusion is my guess).

Examples:

Reincarnation.

Heaven.

Hell.

Angels.

Demons.

3. Describe the afterlife as experienced by Chris.

Heaven is how he makes it, and Hell is surprisingly easy to break into (Satan knew he should have upgraded to non-union demons).

4. What level of control does Chris have in this new place?

Chris can do whatever the heck he feels like in heaven; make his dog appear, live in a painting, make poop jokes (which he did).

5. What experiences was Anna having after Chrisâ(TM)s death? Think physical, emotional, and spiritual.

Physical.

-Killing herself.

Emotional.

-As emotional as anyone would act if they lost their husband/wife and said husband/wife was trying to communicate with them via creepy-ass writing: perfectly freaking insane.

Spiritual.

-What spiritual bond? Oh yeah that freaking soul mate bull crap.

6. How is the âcityâ? in the afterworld symbolic of the stereotypical heaven? How does it similar or different from your own perspective?

-Like.

A)Life is good.

B)People seem nice enough.

-Not like.

A)It's what you make it.

B)Reincarnation.

C)Cuba Gooding Jr.

7. What journey does Chris embark upon and why?

He goes on a dangerous, okay not really, journey with his racially confused travel buddies to rescue his wife from hell's cold embrace.

8. Take detailed notes on the way in which Hell is portrayed in this movie. Include sensory details, i.e. how does the scenes appeal to the five senses- sight, sound, touch, smell, taste- and explain what an audience member is meant to feel.

-Sight.

A)This is where the movie shined: it was beautiful. Everything had a surreal, trippy vibe to it.

-Sound.

B)The movie's sound editing, unlike sight, was pretty standard fare. Hell had a creepy vibe because of the people crying in pain, however.

-Touch.

C)In the parts where heaven was a painting, you really felt like you could reach out and ruin your clothes.

-Smell.

D)I personally thought this movie smelled like crap (cheep shot, I know). Not really sure how it's supposed to smell to anyone else though.

-Taste.

E)Like paint and racism, I guess.

Post-Viewing Questions:

1. Why do you think most people believe that life goes on even after death?

-We all want to believe that life continues foreverandeverandeverandever (I believe it does).

2. What did you think of What Dreams May Comeâ(TM)s picture of the afterlife? What did you like? What intrigued you? What bothered you about the vision of the afterlife that What Dreams May Come presented?

-I thought it painted a very "new-age" picture of heaven and hell.

It did intrigue me that, according to the movie, no matter what you did (kill yourself for example) if someone believed hard enough you could go to heaven.

From a Christian perspective about 99% of the after life in WDMC bothered me. To be clear thought, NONE OF IT REALLY OFFENDED ME OR BOTHERED ME.

3. Suicide has always had a certain stigma around it and Catholic doctrine teaches that those who commit suicide go to Hell. Why do you think this is?

-I really have no idea. The Bible NEVER states that if you commet suicide you will go to hell.

4. There are a lot of ideas about what the afterlife really is. One of the quotes from the movie about Hell is fascinating: âThe real Hell is your life gone wrong.â? Did any quotes from the movie or ideas resonate with you?

-My new favorite quote from this terrible movie, "When you do, you will!".

God I hated that movie more than Seventh Day Adventist's hate pigs. Okay maybe not that much, but I still really disliked it (35% out of 100).