This movie is especially, quite comforting, to watch if you have lost a loved one. Either recently, or years ago. It will remind you, they are around you, if you take a moment to be quiet, and cherish a special memory about them. In this movie, Nina took to her piano, and hummed Jamie's part to feel a part of him, if I may say..his presence... as only she could experience. with his return, which I may add Alan Rickman plays a most touching, truly well suited for this part of this specific film. The music is beautiful...Bach, of course, however the dialog they share and the companion he brings with are all musicians....makes you wonder if the artist you lost in your life is now painting with Monet, Degas, Vermeer, and perhaps Henri, from the 20th Century. The poetry puts your feelings in perspective as he recites "The Dead Woman, by Pablo Neruda.. a perfect ending for healing & reflecting on the loss of someone in your life. Excellent movie! Fantastic characters with great writers!!

So, this movie. It was excellent. I stumbled across it in my local video rental store and, after being denied the pleasure of buying the movie by the owner, I simply settled for renting it. I've always been a bit of a Rickman fan and, though it was not my intention to rent this movie (I was actually looking for "An Awfully Big Adventure"), I leaped at the chance to see it. I am now glad that I did.The first time I watched the movie, I cried during a good twenty minutes of it. As soon as the movie was over, I watched it again. And again. In fact, as I began watching it for the third time, I began scouring the internet for ways to download clips and audio files.I must say that this movie is definitely not a chick flick, as some have accused it of being. It is a movie for those who (like myself) have experienced someone very close to you dying and know what sort of pain that leaves. The sort of pain that leaves you wishing they would return to life, and then realizing that both of you would be happier if the deceased were in fact deceased.This movie contains wonderful comedy, beautiful romance, a fabulous duet, political statements, and flawless acting/casting. This is a movie to either watch with your significant other, or to watch on your own (or with a pet) when you simply need a nice, long reality check.**SEMI-SPOILERS FOLLOW**On a more personal note, my favorite part of this movie was when Jamie first reappears to Nina, and as she realizes that he is, indeed, in the room, she simply falls apart into his arms crying. I must admit that if someone close to me were to come back to life, that I would react in the same fashion.My favorite quote: "It's like standing behind a glass wall and watching everyone else get on with missing you."

I have seen this movie several times over the years by way of rental, and finally decided to buy a copy to loan to my daughter who had not seen it. Of course I had to watch it again before I let go of it. I knew the parts that would make me cry, and so I had no qualms about applying my morning makeup to go out in public. I was prepared. But then, damn it, Rickman, there I was again, welling up and mascara running down my face. I am not a person who cries easily.Suffice it to say that the ninety nine percent positive reviews that are contained on this site give a wonderful synopsis of the film, except that I have not read the one emotion that I felt, hence my confusion. Insert SPOILER HERE: What woman in her right mind would let Alan Rickman go, dead or alive, for the nerdy magician??? I think that I would gladly stand the over heated apartment and opt to live out my life in shorts and a tank top with a cold margarita in my hand. And his movie watching friends? Come on in...just be sure to observe the Do Not Disturb sign on the bedroom door! I think I'd dedicate my life to keeping poor Mr. Rickman warm for eternity. Heh Heh.

Before anyone else's girlfriend gets fooled by the romantic storyline and positive comments on IMDb, read this review and pay heed!After suggesting to my girlfriend that we watch 'weepie' films 'Always' and 'Forever Young' (both great films BTW) she quickly became addicted and wanted more more more. So she has done the film-choosing of late.Unfortunately she got fooled by this Ghost-ish storyline and we were subjected to this celluloid horror for about 23 minutes before neither of us could stand any more.While I myself prefer indie films, I am not against the odd romantic weepie such as the ones mentioned above. However, when it comes to sitting down at the weekend watching these kind of films, you kind of really need a big budget glamorous Hollywood movie to do the job. You tend to feel a bit ripped off if it's just a kitchen sink drama.This BBC offering is truly awful to watch. It looks just like an 80's BBC drama. It feels like a TV programme. British/kitchen sink dramas can be OK (Saturday night & Sunday morning, KES) but this is far from OK.The script was uneventful and was going nowhere. At the point of turning the film off we still had no idea what the motivation for any of the characters was, or if anything was ever going to happen. We had no involvement in the story – nothing to look forward to. The protagonist goes to a psychiatrist, talks about her dead husband, complains to her landlord about rats and not a lot else.As mentioned it was around the 23 minute mark, when her builder, boss, friend and landlord were all in her kitchen talking about washing up (of all things) that we decided this was not a film for us!Reading some of the other reviews I almost feel like giving it a chance again. But then I remember how dire it was and the feeling soon goes