The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

I absolutely LOVE this movie, and I love the short story, as well. Some people don't connect the two at all, but I see this as a modernization of the story, and rather than Thurber's intent to let Walter continue to escape into daydreams, the movie takes it a step further, and takes Walter on a path that leads to fulfillment, rather than self-perpetuating misery. Thurber's humor always has a dark side, so the story is funny and sad at the same time. Instead of allowing the story to simply be a series of daydreams, which would leave the viewers feeling as empty as the story, Stiller and his crew gave it a deeper meaning, which is a satisfying ending. The cinematography is outstanding--gorgeous, on location filming paired flawlessly with a soundtrack that resonates in your bones. Stiller's performance is one of his best--he's still got a bit of his goofy humor, but he makes Walter real, relatable, and sympathetic. You root for him when he's facing failure, and his subtle fortitude and strength is the true heart of the character. No, this is not the same exact Walter Mitty from the story. This is a modernization, and modern audiences want a story that has a resolution. As a teacher, I've used this movie and the story in the classroom, comparing both and analyzing themes and motifs in each version. Walter daydreams because he is trapped in a life that leaves him, essentially, emasculated. His wife henpecks him, he feels inadequate to other men, and has no control over his life. In his daydreams, he becomes an expert, a professional, the linchpin that holds crises together, the ideal man. In the movie, Walter is under everyone else's control--he quietly works and follows the rules in order to take care of his family. Pretty similar to the story... this time, he's single, but the women in his life (mom, sister) are the ones who have the influence over him, which is parallelled at work. There, he works in the basement, quietly supporting everyone who contributes to Life magazine, and mostly unrecognized as anything other than a mouse. Again, emasculated by females, and intimidated or overshadowed by more assertive, more masculine men. The photographer Sean O'Connell is the ultimate example of masculinity, unafraid, adventurous, somewhat inscrutable, but kind and thoughtful. Walter admires him even as he feels inadequate when compared to him. The addition of a love interest (oh, how I love Kristen Wiig!) is the catalyst for change in the film. Without her, Walter would have just continued in his humdrum life, doing his duty to his family and being unnoticed everywhere. Patton Oswalt serves as the voice of normalcy (a bit like a Greek Chorus), voicing the perspectives of all extroverts in society. And in the end, this becomes an important relationship--another guy in the world, making a difference for someone. And that's what Walter really wants--to be appreciated a little and not lonely. And in the story, that's what Mitty wants, too. A little appreciation. This movie takes a contemporary perspective on this concept and makes it epic. Instead of limping on in multiple daydreams, Walter takes a chance, and as Robert Frost wrote, "that has made all the difference." Ultimately, you have a basic plot (man vs. himself) fleshed out in a delicately, carefully-wrought tale (and yes, there are some cool, subtle things that make this an awesome movie) that takes the viewer on a journey that ends with a smile and inspiration. Need some examples? The original story was published in the New Yorker in 1942. Walter is 42, and the story begins on his birthday, in New York, where he works for a prestigious magazine. No coincidence! :) Shirley MacLaine is perfect as Walter's mom, a loving if slightly scattered mother with a practical point of view. Adam Scott is delightfully detestable as the new, arrogant, egotistic, and goal-oriented boss, a perfect foil for Walter. The rest of the supporting cast is believeable and well-chosen. Even the camera angles used subtly emphasize Walter's lack of control over his life, especially the ones in the beginning where the camera is high above him, showing him to be ant-like in the crowds of people bustling about. This perspective emphasizes his anonymity in society. I even like the opening credits of this movie--subtly blended into the picture as if they were merely normal signs on the street. Even that emphasizes Walter's invisibility in the simplest, ordinary things. So, I love this movie for both the story, the deeper elements, and the craft of filmmaking. This movie completely changed the way I see David Bowie's "Major Tom", as well. :)

This shares the same title as a film from the 1940s (starring Boris Karloff) and the protagonist in both movies is a daydreamer. But that's where the similarities end. This film was originally touted as a remake of the older one, but really it's not a remake but is a completely different story, yet for some reason they decided to give it the same name as the older one. It's a cute romance story, without the usual nonsense that goes into a romance movie (i.e. the woman is always neurotic and nervous about everything, the guy is always super clumsy and awkward). Two coworkers come together during the making of the final issue of LIFE magazine. But it's more than just a romance. It's a story about a journey that is as much inward as it is globe-trotting. The story is intriguing and yet also easy to follow. The characters are realistic and also very sweet and endearing. It's a message of hope and perseverance as transformative forces. Stop reading HERE if you don't like spoilers because I'm about to give you a synopsis of the story. Seriously, just watch the movie already. It's FUN and CUTE and FANTASTICAL yet set in the real world. SPOILER WARNING... The man responsible for processing all of LIFE's photo negative submissions from photographers in the field ("negative" = old-style film that has to be processed in a dark room, for you young folks who don't know what a photo negative is) is given the negative for the photo that LIFE's greatest photographer has submitted for the cover of their FINAL printed magazine (they're transitioning to digital content). BUT it isn't included in the package. Nobody knows where it is, and the photographer is traveling the world taking pictures in remote locations. Walter's love interest works upstairs in assets management, though in the beginning his interest is only in his own fantasies and she barely knows his name... but together they try using the other photos in the package to unravel clues to the location of the photographer so that Walter can ask him what he did with the final photograph of the set. Eventually Walter has to get out of his daydreams and jump out of a helicopter... fistfight with a great white shark... skateboard down an erupting volcano... and climb the Himalayas to reach his goal. Along the way, he discovers more about himself and the man that he truly wants to be. And yes, he gets the girl in the end, too.

How do you review one of the best movies. Laughter, sadness, hope and endless adventure. This is a classic you pull out and watch again. If you haven’t seen it, you should.

I've been inundated with rave reviews of "Saving Mr. Banks." I was predisposed to loving it. Tom Hanks. Emma Thompson. Mary Poppins. The perfect storm. On the other hand, I had heard very little about "The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty." The poster caught my fancy. I don't dislike Ben Stiller, but I've never put him in my A list either. And Kristin Wiig? Kind of weak in my opinion. Still, James Thurber. And that poster. Intriguing. I had no idea I was walking into a theatre to watch what turned out to be, in my opinion, the perfect movie. From the opening titles to the very last frame, there was not a single misstep. Yes, it was a fairy tale. I''m a sucker for fairy tales. But it walked a line between magical realism and a deeply truthful vulnerability laced together with laughs -- the kind of laughs that come from recognizing yourself in the mirror the story provides. And Kristin Wiig was funny and strong and vulnerable and beautiful all at once. Ben Stiller's performance was without flaw. Completely understated. No self-pity. No grandiosity. A man who slips into larger than life daydreams to find some meaning in his dreary life and ultimately by taking the enormous risk of acting out his dreams, he's able to give up the fantasy and live in the much more rewarding real world. In a season where: 1. Walt Disney is glorified over a neurotic, loathsome woman who finally makes peace with her childhood trauma of an alcoholic father -- and if the depictions of the affable, compassionate Walt and the odious P.L. Travers are true -- it nonetheless seems ungallant of the Disney organization to congratulate their founder on his fine character at her expense; and 2. A man finds true love with an artificial intelligence because once again real women just aren't adequate to the job whereas computers, robots and software programs are true soul mates; and 3. We celebrate the dysfunctional and distasteful relationship between a man with an exceptionally bad combover and his glamourous and equally morally bankrupt wife -- how can it possibly be that "Mitty," this visually stunning film with characters you can weep for and cheer on, with a musical score that transports you and a happy ending to boot -- how is it that this movie is eviscerated by the critics while the others receive accolades? Ben Stiller -- you hit it out of the galaxy. This movie will be around long after people have forgotten the Wolf of Wall Street. You have drawn us into a dream where we can face our own fears of inadequacy and with you triumph in the end, get both the girl and the cover of Life Magazine. And see a snow leopard to boot. Delightful performances by Shirley MacLaine and Kathryn Hahn were unexpected gifts. It's a metaphor, it's a love story, it's a fairy tale, it's a visually spectacular story. If it doesn't take the Oscar away from Mr. Disney, there is no justice in the world.

This is Ben Stiller's greatest masterpiece. I could watch it over and over again.

This package includes both a Blu-Ray disc and a DVD disc. It ships in a standard Blu-Ray case. See note. Note: My package arrived with the Blu-Ray disc dislodged from the support tabs and loose inside the case. This is common with any shipped optical media in the respective standard case (CD, DVD, and Blu-Ray). But, this makes them more highly susceptible to damage. Fortunately mine was not damaged and played okay. But, be warned and check out any optical media thoroughly as soon as it arrives. Many Amazon sellers provide only 14 days (I have seen only 7 days) to return items for any acceptable reason. I knew this movie would be long. But, based on the previews, I expected it to be worth the extended duration. It was enjoyable, but a bit draggy. It would have been more enjoyable had it been edited down more closely to a standard 90-minute movie length. If you do decide to watch it, just know it does pick up some pace in the second half. The story and acting were good (not great). The direction and production was good overall, but lacked in the otherwise spectacular and exotic cinematography. A better job of direction/production would have made more creative and interactive (and just plain "more") use of the great locations. One particularly memorable scene where this was excepted showed Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) skateboarding at 50+ miles per hour down a long, winding road in Iceland into the blast zone of an erupting volcano. (Was that really Ben Stiller on the skateboard? It looked very convincing.) This fast moving scene is captivating and is a strong pivotal point for the main character. The strongest pivotal point for the main character was supposed to have been when Walter Mitty jumped onto a flying helicopter just after take-off. But, the distracting poor choices in camera coverage and cheesy illustrative content (Walter imagining his would-be girlfriend singing to him from the ground) caused this scene to fail in connecting with me. Is it an awesome movie? No. But, it is definitely worth a watch to evaluate for yourself - even if you have to wait nearly 2 hours for it.

Great movie and book

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is hands down one of my top favorite movies of all time, especially as a photographer. It perfectly blends adventure, stunning visuals, and the pursuit of the perfect photo with a heartwarming and deeply inspiring story. The film captures the essence of exploring the world, both through the lens of a camera and the lens of personal growth. Beyond the beautiful landscapes and chase for the “epic” shot, the movie offers a heartwarming narrative filled with moments of humor that keep you engaged and uplifted. It’s not just about photography, it’s about the journey of self-discovery and finding courage in the most unexpected places. With its perfect mix of humor, adventure, and touching moments, it’s a must-watch for anyone who appreciates the art of photography and the beauty of life’s little moments.

Grande film, bella interpretazione bella fotografa. Un film che riconcilia con la normalità dell'umanità.

I like this movie. I'm not a big heart-warming movie guy but this one is excellent. The cinematography, characters, story and acting are all top notch.

I've never found Ben Stiller funny, and the concept of Walter Mitty having daydreams wasn't a premise which interested me in the least, so I avoided watching this film when it was released. But a friend wanted to watch it on DVD, and I went along with her - I'm glad I did, because it was super! Here's what I liked about it: - It's beautiful to look at. The photography has a lot of visually striking scenes in New York (including wide angle shots with straight lines), and beautiful views of landscapes in Iceland. The soundtrack also fits nicely. - Ben Stiller was really good. I've never enjoyed his previous films, but in this film I felt empathy for his character, and found some of his looks of bewilderment funny. The rest of the cast was also very good. - It's unusually creative - starting with the opening credits which are painted on to buildings. - It's a kind, upbeat film, and has a rather moving ending. Nothing negative to say.

Bien realizada la película y entretenida

Me encantó la película cuando la vi de estreno en el cine y los paisajes de Islandia ne llegaron al corazón. Así que primero me compré la película en Blue-Ray y algún tiempo después me fui de turismo esa maravillosa isla.