The Bucket List [2008] | ![The Bucket List [2008]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51zS8XhP8BL._SL500_.jpg)
| Director: Rob Reiner
Actors: Sean Hayes, Jack Nicholson, Beverly Todd, Morgan Freeman
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: £15.99
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Rating:  23 reviews
Sales Rank: 206
Format: Pal
Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region: 2
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 93 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 7321902294445
ASIN: B0012YG7LO
Theatrical Release Date: 2008
Release Date: July 7, 2008
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Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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Amazon.co.uk Review
"You measure yourself by the people who measure themselves by you," says the quietly wise Carter Chambers, played with gravitas and grace by a Morgan Freeman. In Rob Reiner's moving, often hilarious film The Bucket List, all sorts of people measure themselves against the two heroes, Chambers and his hospital suitemate, Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson). But as Cole finds, having spent his entire life building a Fortune 500 company, none of that much matters when cancer, the great equalizer, pays a visit. The film traces the adventures of the two unlikely friends, who meet in a hospital cancer ward, each given six months to live. The "bucket list" of the title refers to a lifelong list of goals that a teacher of Chambers once advised him to compile--and achieve--"before you kick the bucket." Soon the two are off on what may be the last grand adventure of their life, vowing to tick off as many goals (skydiving, race-car driving, seeing the wonders of the world) as they can in the time they have left. What starts as a medical melodrama becomes a road trip, yet the men's mortality realities are never far from thought. The two leads give impressive performances, and remind the viewer of just how few American films focus on the lives and loves of senior citizens. Nicholson even manages to lose his persona in his character, much as he did in About Schmidt. There's a lovely John Mayer tune, "Say (What You Need to Say)," that's perfectly matched to the film's clear-eyed view of life: What does one person leave behind as his true legacy? --A.T. Hurley
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| Customer Reviews: Read 18 more reviews...
The Bucket List December 24, 2008
Spider Monkey (UK)
'The Bucket List' is a film showing two masters of their art in fine form. Both Nicholson and Freeman manage to pull off the perfect mix of comedy and poignancy in this film without becoming too cheesy or schmaltzy. The premise is actually very simply (2 terminally ill patients working their way through their own Bucket list) but manages to capture their relationships, fears about dying, philosophy about life and more besides in it's short but very sweet 90 minutes. I was kept thoroughly engaged the whole time and enjoyed every minute as they worked their way through a variety of experiences, from sky diving, getting a tattoo, to kissing the most beautiful girl in the world and a whole host of other things. This made for a fun film, with the right elements of humour and sadness and made a serious point about relishing your life without hammering the point home. It left me wondering about what experiences I've yet to try and with an all round good feeling. You can't ask much more from a film really. Great story, great acting and well worth a try.
 Absolutly Genious December 17, 2008
Isabel (UK)
It was just fantastic. When it started I was a little dubiouse because well... I was about a couple of old men. This is a genious mix of comedy and plot. I did cry a little at the end but I only cry to good films. The acting's great and well - I just really recomend it to young and old!
 Bucket List December 5, 2008
Mr. S. Rayner (England)
This was quite a good idea for a film. However, towards the middle it became a bit boring. It would have been good to get to know the characters a bit more. Cole was rich, carter was poor. that was about all. a good watch and morgan freeman acted well.
They pull it off!! November 3, 2008
Mr. M. A. Woods (Nottingham, England.)
This film left me laughing and my missus crying!
A long-time fan of both Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman I went into this film expecting to entertained somehow at least. I also expected it to be bittersweet.
I didn't expect a film about two men with cancer to somehow leave me feeling I'd just watched a "feelgood" film. But that's exactly what this is..
The two lead characters are polarised in their attitudes to life, their success in life thus far and their outlook on their shared news that they have been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
What follows is their decision to enjoy their last few months on the Earth attaining as many of their ambitions on their newly devised "Bucket List" before they pop off to join the Choir Invisible.
It's as simple as that but with two fine actors, a great script and an excellent director (Rob Reiner) we are treated to what is simply a magical cinema experience.
Highly recommended. 8/10
Reviewed by Mark Woods, 2008.
 A Villager's Perspective November 3, 2008
David M. Hogan (North Devon, UK)
Film Review - The Bucket List - Littleham Village Hall -
Saturday 1st November 2008 at 1930
Given that for several weeks I had been expecting to watch the much
heralded but now cancelled, sing along version of the musical
"Mamma Mia". I was surprised at the spring in my stride as I made
my way with eager anticipation to the village hall last night. Even
more surprising as I knew that it's programmed replacement "The
Bridges of Madison County" had also been "pulled" at the last hour!
Why was it then that I strode on so enthusiastically? Well, it was
because I had been told only a few hours earlier of the problem with
"The Bridges of Madison County" and that it's replacement was to be
"Cinema Paradisio", in my opinion possibly the finest film ever made.
By any measure, "Cinema Paradisio" is in a different league to
anything that we have yet seen at our Village Hall film Club but that is
another review.
Imagine my feelings then, when I arrived at the Village Hall flushed
with expectation only to find that "Cinema Paradisio" had now been
pulled at the last minute. Furthermore, we were not to know the title
of the film we were about to see until it started. Not that it would have
made any difference as, like Macbeth I was "...so far waded into
blood that it would be as tedious to turn back as it would be to go
o'er." So, somewhat disconsolately, I took my seat and waited for the
action.
Frankly, had I known that the subject matter of the film was an
intimate observation of the impact of impending death upon two
disparate individuals, thrown together by fate into the same hospital
cancer ward, I would most certainly not have been there. Mortality!
The last mystery! I didn't want to be reminded of it and the instinct to
run for cover was considerable. Indeed, there was a tangible tautness
in the village hall for the first fifteen minutes or so of this unusual film.
I doubt that this tension was entirely the result of the exceptional
acting performances of Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, which
are unquestioned. No, I suspect it was a natural response to this
graphic reminder of the eventual "end game' for all of us. The
promised "humour" was certainly absent from these first minutes.
Watching at this point invoked in me those times spent visiting loved
ones who, like these actors' characters, were confronting their own
demise in hospital. Not a comfortable experience and I felt agitated at
having to spend the duration of the film in such discomfort. Happily,
my fears were eventually dissolved as the essence of the story
became clear. Jack Nicholson's ebullient and wealthy character railed
against the impending final events with such gusto that I felt carried
along with his enthusiasm for living - albeit, a less than unselfish life.
On the surface this man was a very black and white character leaving
little to the imagination, whereas Morgan Freeman's portrayal was
much more demanding and indeed puzzling. A black American car
mechanic, possessed of a remarkable recall of general knowledge, a
convincing philosopher and all round good egg. He appeared equally
at home in the richest and most indulgent luxury as he did under the
bonnet of a vehicle, a man of contrasts that resulted from
circumstances in his life that I didn't completely comprehend.
The reluctant pairing, against all the odds, developed into a close
friendship. On the strength of Nicholson's apparently unlimited
money, they traveled the world together, inspired as they were by a
list (the bucket list) that they had drawn up of all the things they
wanted or needed to do before they died. Not surprisingly,
Nicholson's character's list included mostly hedonistic needs whereas
Freeman's were rather more cerebral and spiritual. And here was the
fascination in the film, the ingredient which enabled a story,
fundamentally about man's greatest fear, to be entertaining.
Principally, through great acting, and glorious locations, one was
inspired by the character's determination to achieve the maximum
from the days of life left to them. Alongside them we felt their joys and
sorrows as they confronted physical, mental and emotional
challenges as each in their own quite different ways tried to put their
lives straight before the final departure.
Beverly Todd as Morgan Freeman's, apparently, long suffering wife,
was not entirely convincing to my mind. Unlike Sean Hayes who
played Thomas, Nicholson's, also long suffering but completely
convincing assistant, a cameo role of considerable strength.
Sir Lorn Stakes - Littleham - 2nd November 2008
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