I really tried to like this movie because I really like some of the actors in it. But - it had so many flaws that any thinking person should have found it unwatchable.This film is so full of confusing and implausible scenes and especially reactions that it's hard to accept almost any following scene without wondering what the heck had just happened. Or why it happened. And the cinematography was uneven. Some of the shots were nice, where others were shot so badly that I wondered if they had handed the camera to Forrest Gump himself.Okay, to start, the Elijah Wood character is supposed to be stricken with amnesia, which would be profoundly disturbing and worrisome for any real person. Elijah does stress over this, randomly, now and again, in brief and obvious shots. But it's amazingly understated. That's just one example of how all the players under-react (or badly act) to every situation in Bumblebee.As much as it tried to be different and, I guess, 'artsy', this film is as chock full of obtuse emotional manipulation as any mainstream, big budget, Hollywood piece of crap: feel sorry for the dying kids, understand the detached but not-really-detached doctor, ache for the long-shot romance, laugh with and love the funny kid, but worry about his health. Please.The worst things about this terrible piece of work were the dialogue and the acting. I honestly don't think the actors are to be entirely blamed for their bad performances. There's only so much one can do with a botched script and bad directing. There are many moments when you feel like you're watching a teeny-bop romp (albeit, a depressing one) or a watch-by-numbers after school special.It's all very confusing how the movie slaps scenes together which don't fit, and barely explains things which clearly need more definition.The idea wasn't bad. It could have been an okay film, at least. But they screwed it up all the way through.Thumbs (and other ligaments) down.

I read the book for this film awhile ago, and the book was amazing, so when I discovered that it had been made into a film (starring Elijah Wood, one of my favorite actors since I was a little girl seeing him in Huckleberry Finn etc.) I was really excited to see the film, and it took me ages to get a hold of it, because it was more or less impossible to buy in Europe. But now I have finally seen it, and I'm sad to say it was a huge disappointment. It was such a messy film, which didn't seem to have any certain point at all, characters had been radically changed in the film and the storyline had a had a completely different end to it. I think if I hadn't read the book it would have been hard to completely understand the storyline, but I might change that point of view if I hear anyone else's opinion. However, I must say, what did keep the film going when all is said and done, was the amazingly fine acting skills of Elijah Wood and Rachael Leigh Cook. They merely saved the highly insignificant lovestory which had been stuffed into the story, from being a disgrace to the story. So thank god we have great actors like that!

This is a film that needs watching more than once to get all the subtle symbolisms and meanings. Heck, I've BOUGHT this film, and keep noticing something new each time I view it. As an English teacher, I suggest that those who don't get it, try again. Maybe it's just over your head?As far as the acting goes, I was initially disappointed at the lack of clear emotions being expressed. But as time goes on, I've decided I appreciate the low-key displays of emotion - certainly closer to real life than the usual soap-opera acting present in such an emotionally-charged movie, As for the plausibility of the story line, anyone who has a relative or friend being treated for cancer knows the importance of mind-over-body techniques; and certainly patients who tire easily will sometimes feel the need to use a wheelchair, and sometimes not - that is not the big issue here. The screenplay does a fairly accurate job of showing life in a long-term care facility, while restricting itself to a relatively small number of characters. What you want to consider is... what would your decision be, considering all the consequences?Did anyone else watch all the way to the end of the credits and notice that at the end of the "Special Thanks to..." list they included a priest, and Elijah Wood's mother and sister? I HAVE seen all his previous movies, and this is the only time they have been listed. I'd love to know the true story behind that. Verrry interesting, hmm?

Not Bad, Not Bad! Sad and emotional. Good drama. Rachael Leigh Cook's best performance so far, of what I saw of her in movies. And Elijah Wood has been one of my favorites ever since `The War'. Very good if you like sad dramas that have a lot of heart and feeling!