Jacobs Ladder

[Nick]

Hi Shadowatcher,

I saw the movie a long time ago right after it was released in 1990. The film had Tim Robbins in the lead role. Below is a review from Apollo movies website



"Jacob's Ladder begins in Vietnam, where a ghastly battle wipes out many of Jacob's buddies, and leaves him with his midsection bayoneted. From that moment on, we are tossed into a whirling blend of dreams and reality, and we're not sure which is which.

We rejoin Jacob back home in New York City, struggling to retain his sanity and to sort out what actually happened in Vietnam. We follow along as he tries to piece things together.

Robbins does a good job as the bewildered Jacob. He is the ultimate victim, with something bad happening to him at every turn. Danny Aiello plays Louis, Jacob's chiropractor and only dependable friend. He is eccentric and loyal, giving new credibility to the back-cracking profession. Matt Craven is good as a chemist with an explanation for the mysterious events in Vietnam. Also look for Macauley Culkin in an uncredited role that immediately preceded his burst into prominence in Home Alone.

The problem with Jacob's Ladder is that it gives us so much disturbing fantasy and confusing dreams that the misery is unrelenting. There are too few moments of calm to remind us of the life Jacob aspires to.

However, this remains an interesting film to stick with and repeatedly reassess what's real and what's just a dream. Ultimately, the craziness ends, the mystery is cleared up and we're left with a surprisingly honest and touching conclusion." (Brian Webster)




(p.s. I thought this topic would go better in Astral Chat rather than OBE Discussions - if that's a problem please PM me and we'll work something out [])

Very best,

[shadowatcher]

Thanks for the alternative review, and thanks also for moving my topic to an appropriate forum. But Im still curious, what did YOU think of the movie?

[Nick]

My recollection of how I liked the film was overall I liked it. Again, its been a few years since I saw it. I remember really getting into the characters, and storyline, as well as feeling what the main charcter was going through. What I sort of remember not caring for however, was the way it ended. I guess I wanted a different ending, something more upbeat.

Overall though, I'd recommend it. It certainly takes the viewer down new roads. Not the old Hollywood cliche-driven stuff. Lots of good scenes and Tim Robbins and Danny Aiello are great. [^]

Take care,

[clandestino]

me too....i would've preferred another ending...but its a great film all the same !

I've had a couple of dreams where I've found myself running around in the hospital/ mental asylum featured in that film...bloody scary.

[shadowatcher]

Yeah, you get a big clue into the plot of the entire movie at the very beggining. He is sitting in the subway, right after his trance, and he sees a sign that says "Life can beHELL, if you do drugs". That gives  you a clue about the "Hell on Earth" analogy in the hospital.

By the way guys... I just got the Spec. Ed. DVD version. It has a number of EXTREMELY interesting deleted scenes in it that never made the movie, but are great anyway. The best one (I thought) was "The Antidote". Basically, It assumes that the chemist DID make an antidote to the drug. The chemist takes Jacob back to his small, shabby apartement. He asks Jacob to lie down on a bed. Jacob lies down, and he looks a little nervous. The chemist walks over to an old, dirty medicine cabinant. He slowly opens it. There is a small, amber bottle in it. He slowly withdraws it, pausing to gaze at his reflection in the mirror. There is a crack in the mirror, which distorts his reflection. This is in analogy *Everything Is Not What It Seems...*. This is the point where I wondered if the antidote would work. The chemist shakily turns round, to where Jacob is lying on the bed. He walks over, and bends down to administer the antidote to Jacob. He puts a single drop on his tounge. Jacob swallows. The scene that follows is a series of horrible twisted imagery, with the chemist muttering "Relax...Jacob...Relax" in the background. Is Jacob Cured? Get the DVD to find out.

[goingslow]

Its one of favorite movies.

[shadowatcher]

it IS my favorite movie. lol

[DarkestChyld]

hello all,
I saw this thread today, and ran out and rented the movie. It is definetly one of the best movie's i've ever seen. Here is my take on it:
His chiropractor says that as soon as he's made his peace, and is ready to go, the demons become angels and help take him to heaven. If you watch the movie, there are multiple scenarios in which jacob says "i'm going to die" "you're trying to kill me" or is told that he is dead. He usually puts up a momentary struggle, which is very hell-on-earth for him, them seems to almost accept his fate, lays back, closes his eyes, and prepares for the end. The moments where he is with his real wife and children always follow immeadiatly. He is on the verge of making peace with everything, thus the his own personal demons have become his own personal angels, his family. Up until the very end, this peaceful scenario is always ruined when he flases back to vietnam. In my opinion, vietnam was the real physical reality, he had died there, but his soul was still clinging to life until he found out for himself what had really happened there, and what he truely cared about. Once he had finaly figured all of this out, his soul was able to move on, and his body finally died. That's just my take on it, this is the kind of movie that could mean a different thing to each person whom watches, definetly a must see!

[shadowatcher]

Im glad I could convert you! If you have a DVD player, the special edition DVD comes highly reccomended. Some of the features are:

1. Tons of deleted scenes, such as "The Antidote", which add a whole new dimension to the movie

2. Optional director commentary

3. Great documentary, featuring all the actors takes on their roles

4. Production notes and more!

Its a great buy!

[shadowatcher]

Last night around midnight, I watched the movie Jacobs Ladder. Despite being scared out of my mind, I recognized alot of the movies deeper meanings. If you havent seen it, this is how the plot goes:


Jacob Singer is dead. But in his dying, tortured mind, he lives. He lives in realities that could have been, that should have bean, and some, that shouldnt be. At every turn in the movie, you wonder, Is this it? Is this the real reality? Every reality presents itself as real, untill a small but fatal flaw cracks it. And this small flaw breaks open the reality, and lets Jacob create a new one. Demons, or "Negs" from his real life are constantly prowling through his alternate realities. Up until the end, you wonder what will happen to Jacob. Finally, the real reallity is revealed to be Jacob lying in a hospital bed in Vietnam. Hes dead. His mind stops working, finally, and the realities die with Jacob. This slightly infuriating but brilliantly though out ending is the perfect close to Jacobs Ladder.

If youve seen this movie, you can probably write a much better review of it then I can. People interpreted this film different ways. Some suggest that Jacob is actually in Hell on earth. There is in fact, a scene where Jacob passes through a hospital in the "real" world, into hell. He is pushed on a gurney, past the endless masses of the dead. Past the body of his dead son. Untill he reaches the devil. Its one of the scariest moments in all cinematic history. Other theories about the movie range from the always popular "It was all a dream" theory, which I think is too boring. I loved this film, and I really want to discuss it with somebody! Buy, cheat, lie or steal, get your hands on a copy of the movie Jacobs Ladder, and watch it. You will not be dissapointed.