MovieChat Forums > What Dreams May Come (1998) Discussion > Why would you get reincarnated

Why would you get reincarnated

posted 14 years ago by stliebl
31 replies | jump to latest

Ok, so within the universe of this movie, hell is not only real, but it is also for eternity. It's not some punishment and then ablution, whereupon the 'former' sinner gets to then go to heaven. At least, for suicides this is the case, as the movie doesn't specifically address those in hell for other reasons.

My question is: why would anyone choose reincarnation? I understand the desire to live a life again, to start the cycle over again, but what I don't understand is why someone would risk hell for that. The way I see it is that the only way you can be sure that you're not going to hell (excepting Chris's voluntary descent) is by being in heaven.

What if the couple was reborn in a totally different situation and this time one of them went to hell permanently. There just seem to be many risks involved, and the worst case scenario is literally eternal damnation.

I know that this is all a movie; I just wanted to have some of your thoughts on why people would want to be born again if there were a danger of this magnitude.

Thanks,

S

[–] TopFlight 14 years ago

That is exactly the reason why this movie disappointed me. It seems to me once you've gone through all of the misery he and his wife had gone through, both on earth and in purgatory or Hell, that you would be so grateful to be together with your lost children in a place of no more pain, that the idea of going back to the cr@pshoot that is human existence on earth would be totally unthinkable. I know I wouldn't take that chance.

[–] JrnlofEddieDeezenStudies 12 years ago

But the whole point of it is that they're soulmates. They have no doubt that they'll find each other again, and they'll experience a complete life together again, and STILL be able to spend time together in heaven with their kids again afterwards.

[–] Zuider_Zee 10 years ago

That is the part that doesn't make sense. Why go to the trouble of finding each other again and to experience a life together again only to end up where they currently are?

[–] HeartOfSky 9 years ago

Why get on the roller coaster when you know that you'll ultimately just end up back home in bed? For that matter... why get out of bed? It's not just about them finding each other again. They're doing it under amnesia of who and what they really are. From our current perspective... it seems daunting and exhausting. From their perspective, it's the blink of an eye and totally worth the ride.

[–] Blake4014 9 years ago

Exactly, and those whom are in hell, do they also get to make that choice?

[–] TopFlight 14 years ago

While I know the same basic ending was in the book, I think the movie-makers thought "aw, that's so romantic to go back to earth and bet on finding each other again." It's the ending they thought the audience would want to see. I hated this ending, because it was absurd.

[–] Singingtothestardust 14 years ago

They only did that for the film. In the book "hell" was more of a temporary self imposed punishment that would happen due to guilt over actions taken in life or an over abundance of negative emotions such as sadness or anger. Once the person learned to get pass those things they would go to summer land. In the case of Annie she also had to stay for the rest of the time she would have spent on earth had she not committed suicide. They changed it for the movie because they were afraid they would offend the more vocal Christian groups and get boycotted.

When you view it the way the book did it makes way more sense because even if one or both of them did go to hell again it would only be temporary and they could start all over again.

Dorothy zbornak: Blanche she's not a slut... She is THE SLUT. The slut is dead, long live the slut.

[–] abs_is_back 13 years ago

Because some think the experience of living a human life is just as beautiful as heaven.

[–] Neoblackdragon 13 years ago

...well I don't think they thought their kids would get killed again and they would go through the whole suicide deal again.

They simply wanted to have a go at a full life. Heaven is safe but they will never get the life experience of growing old or seeing their kids grow up.

[–] GhostFaceKiller 13 years ago

I was honestly thinking that too. At the end, he said they could go live out their lives, find each other, fall in love all over again, then live out their normal lives and eventually die and come to heaven and be together forever.

I couldn't help but think "...Okay, so why not just live together forever now?" I mean, you already have that! Why throw it away just because eventually you assume you will have it back?

Heck, life is pretty unpredictable. What if they both went back and then they never found each other this time around. I mean, that sure is very romantic to try it all again just "knowing" that you will find each other again because you are soulmates. Still, to me, knowing I had that, I would never risk it just assuming that I would get it all again. You can assume all you want that you are so connected that you'd find each other again, but what if it didn't happen? If they truly were so deeply in love, you'd think they wouldn't want to risk that chance.

Not mention, whose to say they wouldn't go back and their lives would be even worse? Or whose to say they may not just have similar tragedies in their lives and die early? So, really, what was the point?

Founder of the IMDb Ghostbusters

That's right, boys...IT'S DOCTOR VENKMAN!!!

[–] CoraJack 13 years ago

While I respect everyone's opinion here, we have to remember that both children and the "seeker" did confirm that they would be back in their "original" forms to see their children again in a "heartbeat". I don't know if these three had some sort of psychic abilities or what was going on; but they all "knew" they'd both be back to them. So with that confirmation from the three knowledgeable spirits, they decided to try it again. I don't think if it was not confirmed by the three who loved them most that they would try it again because they wouldn't trust it.

I know for myself if I went to heaven and was guaranteed that I would be back if I tried life again I'd do it. I know what I'd want to change and it's something that has basically made my life a living Hell. It was a second chance for the two of them and they took it.

If you know anything about the Spritualist religion they believe that we all go to different planes in the spirit world after death. This all depends on what we did in life...how much we learned...how much more we need to learn. There is no mention of true (what most of us think of "Hell") but different places we belong at that time. Any person can decide to go back to try life again and learn more and they have spirit guides to help them decide. This movie is sort of based on the Spiritualist idea of the afterlife since there are different planes and different places people can choose to be or where they go.

Another theme of the movie that is based on the Spritual religion is that we are living in Heaven and Hell right now. We have good times...we are in heaven...then we go through terrible times...we are in Hell. This Earth life is both Heaven and Hell right now...so that is why we go to the planes afterwards no matter what we did because we have already been to both places in life.

Someone mentioned this being boycotted by Christians and truly I'm surprised it was not. This does not follow what the Bible says happens after we die in any way, shape, or form.

On the other hand, if I was in heaven or in the planes or whatever you want to call it and I was NOT guaranteed to go back to a pleasant place, heaven or where ever, then I would not try again.

I'm with Frieda Kahlo (as she wrote at her death).... "I hope the exit is joyful, and I hope never to return".

[–] scott-bergstrom 13 years ago

The depiction of heaven in this movie is a nice paradise like place, but I would think it would get boring after a while. I mean when nothing really changes, everything is perfect, and you have everything you want. I would think that the challenges, the unexpectedness, and imperfections of life would be like a vacation.

[–] Great_Gothamite 12 years ago

The depiction of heaven in this movie is a nice paradise like place, but I would think it would get boring after a while. I mean when nothing really changes, everything is perfect, and you have everything you want. I would think that the challenges, the unexpectedness, and imperfections of life would be like a vacation.

I think heaven is a place of contentment. Not necessarily perfect, but perfect enough. Just enough for you to be always content but never bored or restless. Because if you become bored or restless, then that's not heaven at all.

[–] jcgizzle 13 years ago

First of all, since time only exists on earth, I dont think you can have a "permanent" anything in the afterlife?

Secondly, the reason you give why you WOULD NOT reincarnate is based on FEAR...fear of not getting back to heaven, fear of going to hell, fear of a worse life, fear of whatever. A decision you make is only a risk if you are afraid of losing something...as spirit, you already have everything so there is no such thing as fear and the feeling of losing something you cant lose.

The way you answer this question is how you live your life...do you run away from bad situations or move toward good situations?

[–] zenbudda 13 years ago

IF reincarnation is real and a choice, i'm not coming back for a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo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time.

[–] 13 years ago

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