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

[–] carina-indaia 12 years ago

Well, like you said there is that desire to live a life again.

There's other reasons too.

If a person wronged another in their life, they might want to reincarnate to make things right and be forgiven.
For example, a a woman gets pregnant and aborts. She might want to reincarnate to actually have the child in her next life, etc...

There's also the fact that you want to help others. Maybe you were an amazing person in your life. Who knows, maybe you want to reincarnate to help others realize that there is something else out there.

If you're interested in the subject, watch the movie "Astral City: A Spiritual Journey". It's an AMAZING movie, I've seen it many times! It tells the story of the afterlife of a man who committed suicide.

Cheers :)

[–] s-mascari 12 years ago

in the book, after the hell scene, she was never sent to Heaven but was reincarnated because she wasn't ready for heaven. chris couldn't handle waiting another lifetime to pass by to be reunited with annie again so he too, decided to be reborn.

[–] roxy777 11 years ago

wow with all the comments i read under this thread, the book sounds sooooooooo much better with a more believable ending, I mean in the sense that it makes sense.

[–] Singingtothestardust 11 years ago

I watched the film first and then read the book and I would never really think of the film as anything superior. I would recommend reading it, it's a lot more interesting and they go into more detail about the afterlife and what the general day to day is like there. It also talks more openly about religious views and the perception that one or any of them are totally accurate. Certain things are different; Chris and Annie have different jobs and not much detail is put in besides that and Annie is just called Ann. Both he and Annie are a bit older and live in a more rural country setting than in the film. they have more kids than just two, none of them are children and none of them die. Albert is Chris's cousin and not black and Leona race is never mentioned. Again they talk more freely about religion and supernatural phenomena and the imagery of summerland is based on natural scenery. In fact they describe it as looking just the world of the living, but nicer and brighter.

"Rhianon rings like a bell through the night and wouldn't you love to love her?"

[–] mr_x350 11 years ago

this is hilarious!!

[–] Singingtothestardust 11 years ago

?

"Rhianon rings like a bell through the night and wouldn't you love to love her?"

[–] Talking_of_Michelangelo 11 years ago

I think the answer is that it is all about their faith.

They have faith in each other and in their ability to find each other (Chris's comment to Annie towards the end that if he can find her in Hell, then surely he can find her in Jersey).

They also value the things they could only have by coming back -- the excitement of finding each other, of getting to know each other again, the adventure of life. If you combine their faith with the things they wnat to experience, that they can only experience by coming back, then it is not hard to see why they made the choice they made.

Perhaps their lives were so good, they felt they were worth suffering over. That the suffering and risk is worth it.

"Dave, stop. Stop, will you? Stop, Dave. Will you stop Dave? Stop, Dave."

[–] zenbudda 11 years ago

I would not want to be reincarnated for many lifetimes. I hope there is a place after death that is like this movie. I wouldn't leave it for quite some time.

[–] spencerthetracy 11 years ago

This was always my only criticism of the movie.

[–] mccollum26 10 years ago

Why would you want to be born again? Life isn't for everyone.

[–] speedolitec 10 years ago

I think I'd prefer being born again over the eternal oblivion and nothingness that comes with death!

[–] spencerthetracy 10 years ago

You do know that they were in Heaven right? The movie shows that.

[–] clearthinkernow 10 years ago

Yes hell is for eternity. Decide today where you want to spend eternity.

[–] thebe123-484-488327 10 years ago

It's really not a choice.