The Five People You Meet in Heaven

I thought this was an entertaining movie. It was a Hallmark movie, so it may not have you depply contemplating each scene, but it was essentially something you can feel comfortable watching with the family, being about worth a PG rating.

I felt it was worth my time to watch it and I enjoyed it and I highly recommend it to those who want to take a step away from movies revolving around excessive violence and poorly created stories. The acting was done well enough, it succeeds in being a tear-jerker at times (at least for my girlfriend). I actually picked up the book after watching the movie, I'm hoping it's as good or better.

On my summer reading book list one of the choices was Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet In Heaven. The story sounded interesting and there was a lot of fuss about it, so out of curiosity I decided to read the book and see for myself. The book was a stunning and fascinating piece of drama I have ever read and will always remain one of my favorite books. After finishing the book and hearing there was a movie version of it on DVD I just had to rent it. In all my life, I had never seen a movie more loyal to the book. The dialog was straight from the book, no ab libbing that was close to the story. The description was better than I pictured the images in the book. But the best part was the actors in the movie. I would have never imagined Jon Voight as Eddie Maintenance, that was a smart move. Another part that I would suggest to the people reading this review is the lesson learned in this film. Maybe your life means nothing to you, but you'd be surprised what your life means to others.

Eddie (Jon Voight) is an old man who has spent his whole life doing maintenance at the Ruby Pier amusement park. Today, one of the rides malfunctions and threatens a child's life. As he rushes to save her, he is whisked to Heaven where he meets five people from his past - people he loved and hated, and even one he didn't know at all.

I expected this movie to be sappy and maudlin and in a way it was, but it was so well done I was quite moved by it. Eddie's trip to Heaven is much like Scrooge's in "A Christmas Carol," but instead of three ghostly guides, Eddie is met by five people who touched his life or who were affected by his and who ease his transition to the great beyond. It's a fantasy world with frightening war scenes and innocent love scenes, and while I watched I couldn't help but think of my own life, quite ordinary like Eddie's, but who knows how many I have affected for better or worse?

I tear up easily at sad movies, but this time I went far beyond sobbing; I wailed the whole time. The movie really got to me. We're all going to find out what death is like someday and I'm more than curious. Also, as I've aged and lost dear ones, I long to see them again. This is a thought-provoking, tender tale that really touched my heart.

I have never read the book, always meant to just never have the time. Couldn't wait for the movie. I thought it was done so well and the acting of all everyone involved was so believable. Jon Voight was the movie. It does make you stop and think about how many people in your life time that you have touched and who by knowing you in someway their life has been better. Eddie thought his life was a failure when it wasn't at all. I only wish all movie could make you feel that way, that you that in the end you realize your life hasn't been a waste. As someone who recently lost someone that I loved very much, but never told them because you don't think that they will died I only hope that they are one of my five's Thank you for the book, the movie and Jon Voight.

Eddie (John Voight) is the responsible for the maintenance of the Ruby Pier amusement park and a veteran of World War II. While trying to save a five year old girl from an accident with ride that is falling after rupturing the wire, Eddie dies. He awakes in Heaven, and the Blue Man (Jeff Daniels) explains him that he will have a journey meeting five people in their heavens that will show the importance of his life before he goes to the next level.

"The Five People You Meet in Heaven" was a great surprise for me, with a beautiful and heartwarming message of the importance of an individual's life, following the idea of Frank Capra's masterpiece "It's a Wonderful Life", when George Bailey finds the importance of his life for the dwellers of Bedford Falls. The only problem with this contemporary movie is the too long running time, developing the story in an excessive low-pace; it could be shorter and developed in a more adequate pace. But anyway I encourage my family and friends to watch this touching movie. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "As Cinco Pessoas Que Você Encontra no Céu" ("The Five People You Meet in Heaven")