The best quote from this movie is “We don’t get to choose our warts they are a part of us and we have to live with them... we can however choose our friends and i am glad i have chosen you”
@@ultimatestickbot6946 actually not true, he spent it on a lifetime supply of chocolate, the entire Noblet collection, and the rest of it I believe he gave to his blind neighbor.
God, that ending hurt.. One thing that's interesting to me is how Max died smiling looking at the letters Mary sent him. Mary, who tried to kill herself, sits beside his body, smiling at the mementos of their friendship. She holds her baby, who survived Mary's suicide attempts, and appears to be fine and healthy. It feels like... I don't know. Someone who died, someone who tried to die, and someone who was full of life.
I’m pretty sure the pom-pom that Mary gives Max being one of the only things in colour represents how she brings some colour to and life to his dark grey life
@@eddierivera5501 I think color represents purpose. The mime has an orange scarf showing that their profession is their purpose (since jobs are categorized into 'collars') so Mary giving him the pom pom gave him his purpose
Best bit of the film for me is that anything that either one sends to the other keeps the colour from where it came from. Mary is literally brightening Max’s world, with bee brown letters and parcels allowing him some relief from his monotonous greyscale life, while Max is presenting Mary with his own unique take on his world, while he fosters her curiosity and her passion for knowledge. I must admit, as many times as I have seen this film, I didn’t even notice the Mime’s scarf being orange, but I love how the pom-pom and the fire from the Statue of Liberty are distinct and noticeable, almost as if they gain that colour from the feelings of people. Mary sends the pom-pom, with the hope of making a friend. People see the Statue of Liberty everyday, each able to project their own feelings and aspirations on it. Oven Marjorie Buttersworth uses her lipstick to convey her not so subtle motives. Final bit, before this becomes an essay. In the entirety of the film, there are no straight lines. Everything is twisted and ever so slightly wonky, which is such a refreshing break from the pristine facade of reality. I really can’t say just how amazing this film is, without writing an essay, but it deserves all the attention and praise that it receives.
The idea of fish getting addicted to smoking is still a hilarious mental image. Just imagine like a puffer fish puffing up when inhaling and as he exhales and shrinks smoke comes out.
16:51 Actually it does have a HUGE impact. When Max wins the lottery, one of the things he buys is the full collection of the Noblit figures. Which he then later sends to Mary to show that he has forgiven her. When Mary was about to hang herself, she gets a knock at her door which turns out to be the neighbor that is delivering the package, and thereby saving her from committing suicide.
Jesus Christ, the ending got me. That genuinely hurt. They didn't get to meet each other in person after all that time. And the letters taped to the ceiling got me a bit choked up.
@@aldiascholarofthefirstsin1051 They didn't say aspergers was unique. They said "such as apserger's to be an ASPECT of one's unique character". So as a part of somebody's personality and character, which IS unique, at least in the individual nuances.
@@aldiascholarofthefirstsin1051 I’m on the spectrum, and I can confidently say that this statement makes you out to be a huge dick. And I’m not talking about the body part.
This movie reminds me of my online pen pal I met when I was 12. Him and I talked daily, played video games together and had a similar friendship like Max and Mary. Unfortunately he passed away 2 weeks ago at the age of 61 from stage 4 liver cancer. Thankfully he got to see pics of my son before he passed unlike Mary as he was born a month before his death. Pen pals truly leave a mark in your life...Mark, you were truly one of a kind.
So many people in my class thought that Mary & Max was problematic in the sense that it’s “stereotyping autistic people badly”. But honestly, stereotypes are never going to be perfect, one. And two, as an autistic person I felt very connected to him and while I am a high functioning autistic person, I used to and still, have very many similar traits that he has. I love this film and I think it represents the higher part of the spectrum beautifully.
Yeah I find the “That’s not my autism so it’s not accurate” gatekeeping argument really strange because they should realize that everyone is different, hence why autism is on a spectrum. I can say there are definitely harmful stereotypes out there, but more often than not people think about their own personal issues relating to a character than trying to understand said character’s perspective.
@@lulub517 yeah, it's very frustrating,,i've heard people say characters having autism in shows is "forced" because they don't act the exact way they expect them to how can having autism be "forced"?? people just exist??
@@jasperjazzie I am just tired of the stereotypes. You either get high functional geniuses with terrible social ability or someone who needs 24/7 care. People like that exist, especially those who need 24/7 care, but it is so pervasive in media to the point this is all people know about autism. That negatively affects us on the milder end of the spectrum as there are rarely any in-between in media where a lot of Autists are. This movie hits that middle ground and is a more honest take on higher functioning autism, a breath of fresh air. Max is a character I am able to relate to, unlike Sheldon from Big Bang Theory or whoever the guy in The Good Doctor is named.
My Dad who has Asperger's showed this to my brother who was also diagnosed, and they both think it's great. It really helped highlight that you don't have to be ashamed of who you are, and that there are many other people just like you. You are not alone or some "freak who needs fixing", but someone with just another wrinkle to their personality.
The "i dont think its a dissability" line just kinda hits hard for me, as someone with aspergers, same with the fact that he doesnt want it removed Do i think that developing a method for aspies to get rid of it would be good? Yes, for people that want that
20:00 actually, i think it fits for max's parts to 'drag' a bit. as a person with autism (what aspergers actually is; its an outdated term), we can ramble on for a while about topics that interest us or that we just know a lot about, even if nobody else really cares. i think it makes it more realistic for his character
i also highly appreciate the fact that max doesn't think less of himself for his autism, and doesn't _want_ a "cure". i find it disgusting how popular the idea of autism being treated as a disease is, and it's a nice refresher seeing autistic characters that accept themselves for who they truly are.
As another person with autism (I did prefer back when Asperger's was still legitimately used in the books as it was a very specific subset and unfortunately most general people hear autism and immediately think of the "incapable of communication possibly screaming" type as popularized by media), I also was going to comment about how Max's sections dragging felt appropriate as I've certainly caught myself rambling on about subjects longer than most would feel comfortable with
Although I think an important lesson here would be to keep an open mind and not immediately red flag it as they could end up being best friends for life.
As an autistic myself, this has to be the best portrayal of autism I've ever seen. This movie finally does what I think most films that try to portray autism don't do. *They actually spoke to a real autistic person about it and for their feedback!* Finally man...
Something major this film does that a lot of other films routinely fail to do is show Max's autistic traits without any sort of judgement. A lot of films try their hardest to romanticize autism in an effort not to offend people, mainly by putting 'comfortable' traits of autism in the spotlight (savant syndrome, quirky use of language, acceptable special interests like trains) and 'uncomfortable' traits out of view (stimming, loneliness.) Other films can go the opposite direction and portray autism as the worst thing that could happen. In this film, I didn't feel like they were trying to force an opinion on me, mainly because it showed both sides of autism. It wasn't afraid to show the particularly difficult bits (stimming, overstimulation, meltdowns, loneliness, and even difficulty holding a job.) But it also wasn't afraid to show the positive sides SUBTLY...and this is important: they didn't rely on old tropes and stereotypes such as savant syndrome. Max likes solving problems, but he isn't smarter than anyone else. Still, Max's autism helped him in numerous ways, largely in logically analyzing his surroundings rather than having a purely emotional response. As mentioned in the film, Max fulfilled his personal goals and bought what made him happy with his lottery money, instead of seeking out luxuries. He also states early in the film that he quickly moved away from religion because he read books that proved it was illogical. Little things like that guide you to seeing the world as Max does, which is one step at a time, and not largely motivated by goals outside of his reach or interests.
As an Autistic person myself, this movie feels so...emotionally connected. Holy crap, this movie. I will add to something with how Max reacted to Mary's book. After all, he clearly stated that he doesn't want to be fixed. So, to him, the book Mary made may have easily been seen as Mary saying that she wanted to fix him, even if he didn't want to be. And, as someone who struggles with their words myself (especially in anger and of frustration), his reaction seems...relatable.
He might have also thought that she was using his friendship with her as a way to get ahead. We know she has good (if misguided) intentions, but if someone I had known for years wrote a clinical study using me as the subject I would be just as outraged and betrayed as he was.
Same thing here! I would’ve felt the same way especially because of me being so emotional and sensitive (probably also due to my Aspergers lol) I would be so frustrated and upset about my self, so I related a whole lot with Max in the movie
That's likely because of the fact that despite everyboy absolutely loving the film (and deservedly so, it's a masterpiece in my opinion), it didn't do very well at all. In fact, I think they made quite a big loss. It's what happens when a movie this labor-intensive is barely advertised.
I really love Max's philosophy of friendship. "We need friends because even if we dont accept ourselves because of our flaws, and true friend will accept you despite your flaws." It's been a while since ive seen the movie, so the quote may be off.
14:47 Honestly when I saw the ending I just started crying for Mary cause imagine writing to someone that you don’t know personally for a long time and when you can finally see them in person they end up passing away before they get to see you is just sad and I wanna bet that if Max didn’t pass away, I bet he would of been very happy to see Mary for the first time with her child.
one of my animation teachers was a claymation artist who molded and rigged the characters. he told us the bubbles in the bath tub scene were created from sex lube
What i love is how as mary starts off cheery and innocent, and max is stressed and anxious, And then max becomes happier and mary becomes stressed and awful. Even after that Mary becomes happy again, and max dies happy. Resulting in a beautiful ending.
Noobslayer73 Backup He had died truly happy, having felt his life had been full, and went to the great beyond with little regret on what he had done with his life and how he had given someone else’s life true purpose as well. His life wasn’t perfect, but he still left it his way all the while with a smile...
19:54 "If there's one thing I don't like about this movie I feel like the scenes about max talking about his life go on for way too long" As a person with Aspergers, that's one of the biggest and most recognisable symptoms. Not being able to actually know when the other person is bored and just talking until you run out of things to talk about. That's an absolutely phenomenal thing they've done. Made his condition which impairs his ability to talk to others a bad aspect of the writing as it gets boring.
I also have Aspergers and often times find myself doing this as well. I’ll start a story that I think is super interesting and it ultimately just doesn’t have an ending. My family and friends really don’t enjoy it when I do it but just put up with it.
@@Skia_Woodling I THINK I have Adhd and sometimes I do this a lot too! Like I hang out with my roblox friends a lot and I'm the one to talk the most and have the longest sentences
as an autistic person myself, i really appreciate the sympathetic and generally positive portrayal this movie gives to max. his outlook on being autistic is very similar to my own, not seeing it as something "bad" or in need of a cure-- it's what makes me who i am, and i just wouldn't be the same person if that changed. only being diagnosed when i was around 20 myself (i'm only 26 now but still) it was vindicating finally knowing WHAT was going on with me and why i do/feel the things i do, knowing how to take care of myself better and understanding why my mind does these things was incredibly refreshing and made me more confident sorry for such a long, rambling comment haha. this is a fantastic film that gets me very emotional, it's dark but it's not hopeless and that's a rare thing to find. not to mention the visual style is so striking and fun to watch!
as someone with autism i love how the movie reflects on how people treat the spectrum like a disease that needs to be cured but its not. we want acceptance not cures
"We don't get to choose our warts. They are a part of us, and we have to live with them. We can however choose our friends, and I am glad I have chosen you."
I remember seeing this movie on Netflix before it was removed. As a 12 year old at the time, I was expecting a nice family friendly movie. I finished it, but with a new perspective on animation forever. Still one of my favorite movies of all time
I cried for ten solid minutes through this review... Jesus, I couldn't keep it together. I wanted to watch this a few years back but now I realize I couldn't endure the film. What a tug upon the ol heart strings.
I would allow my child to have an adult pen pal if i was allowed to read every letter they sent. I think intergenerational friendships and interactions are important but i also recognize the world we live in and if their intentions are pure me reading the letters should be no issue. I liked this movie quite a bit
I agree. If the adult pen pal's intention is pure then there shouldn't be any problem with the parent proofreading the letters. I also think the kid should be taught briefly about what should or shouldn't be written (private info or something like that) and then given some privacy to write the letters. My mom, if she hadn't flipped at the idea already, would have sat down with me and instruct me what to write and would have drained the fun out of the whole penpals thing.
I had a 20 year old pen pal when I was 9. I was given a quick run through on what not to share and how careful i needed to be, but nothing was ever proof read... And nothing went wrong.
To clarify I'm not gonna read my kids letters necessarily since yeah i would give them the safety run down i meant i would read the incoming adult letters. Make sure they aren't veering into inappropriate territory.
Před 3 lety+5
Not really a pen pal but when I was like 12 I used to talk to this 20 something guy on Facebook and we were content creators on a fan page of a show we liked lol
@ when i was a kid i used to go hang out om the porch and talk to my elderly neighbor Delmar. I really enjoyed his company and he enjoyed mine. Kids and adults can definitely have mutually enriching friendships and i am all for intergenerational connecting
leaves me in tears every time "best friend" "only friend" coming from an individual with few to no friends, I understood how max was feeling in his last moments. Absolutely beautiful film i haven't had one play with heart strings in a while... it's the best kind of film. one grounded within the bounds of reality.
I may be a year late, but the most heartbreaking thing to me, or.. bittersweet thing, is that he died staring at the letters. His death wasn't too much but still hit. I still almost cried at how a child could change a middle aged mans life and impact it to have such a happy ending before he passes away in his own home. And something about that is so gut wrenching to me.
I have Asperger’s and ADHD, and I know that deep in my unique mind and soul, that Max in his final moments, was content. He had lived his life as he wanted, found purpose in his friendship with Mary, and I know in my heart that he wouldn’t have changed a single thing.
"I do not feel disabled,defective or a need to be cured,I like being an aspie" as someone with autism, this quote really touched my heart. I feel like this is such an importand message that Aspies rearly ever get to hear. After a life of people trying to cure or heal me, this is such an importand message. People with autism dont need a cure, all we need is an accepting society
Okay...this is a little random, but hear me out. My name’s Kameko and this is literally the first time in my life that I’ve EVER seen someone with the same name as me. Also, I 100% agree with you on society. People with mental imperfections don’t need to constantly be reminded or treated like they’re wrong. Society should be more accepting.
I don't know if I'm autistic or not but I'm an outcast and seen a lots of people said that you have to changed yourself, dress better, bla bla bla. F**k that. If I have to changed from who I am just to fits in with dumb people then I prefer to be alone. I wants people to accept me not accept fake me.
I. LOVE. THIS. MOVIE!!! 😃 When I first discovered it and learned that Max is an Aspie like me, I was hooked. I'm an Aspie myself and there were so many traits that I could relate to with Max. Not only that, it gave a simple yet great explanation about Asperger's Syndrome. Like in a way everyone can understand. The friendship between Mary and Max was so sweet and I welled up at the end. Especially when you see he died smiling as he read every single letter she sent.
I remember watching this as a kid with my brother. We thought it was going to be like Wallace and Gromit, but we were vet surprised when it was much darker. We only made it to the part where piranhas but off someone's legs. I will never forget that image, because I was so scared. I'm glad you were able to do a review of this because it brought back some fond memories!
I watched this movie when i was 14 with my werid, artsy aunt and boy it broke me. I had terrible depression and was super suicidal and this movie just reaffirmed to me that the world was a dark place and that the good things that happen are dark too. Now i'm 25 and i wished i watched it when i was in a better head-space cos i definitely got the wrong impression. It's a really beautiful movie and even though it negativity impacted me when i first saw it, i never forgot it and sometimes randomly remember it and look back at it fondly. My brother is autistic and it was nice to see Max say he liked being an 'aspie' and didn't want a cure - because i love my brother and he would lose his entire self if somebody could take his autism away. god now i wanna watch this movie again in a new light...
I remember the nurses putting this on for us three years ago at the psych ward (suicide attempts, you know how it is lol)! I was 15 at the time and there were a lot of us with Asperger's or autism (I personally have ADHD but you know...they overlap) and interest in psychology. As someone who wants to be a psychologist with a specialisation in psychopathology, Max saying that he liked being an aspie made me very happy too. It was nice to see a character not want a cure since that's how they usually portray these kinds of characters and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I understand that some people do want to be "normal" but I also know a lot of people with various conditions and neurotypes who don't want to be "cured." Portraying nearly every character as loathing their existence and desiring a cure not only erases the people who feel okay in their existence and makes them feel bad about themselves, but also sets this weird expectation for completely "normal" people. They can't grasp that I find my existence normal and okay and that I don't want a "cure." They tell me that I should, that it's expected to want one. Even my colourblind grandfather who has never expressed the wish to be able to see colours was shocked when I said that I don't want a cure and tried to convince me that he can cure me, that I can be "normal" and do what others do (what exactly does that mean anyway???). I just wish the other kids there would have paid attention to the film, I think it's very beautiful even though it made me cry, it was just so sad.
I hope and I wish to support and cherish you to knowing that even upon the darkenss the stars of light can still shine within itself even upon it all..It acn be something that can produce and create determination. Meaning that even in terrible moments it does not mean it neither continues nor shall get worst in one way or the other you need both either an anchor or a shaking from people that do appreciate you so you should not ever harm hurt nor even be feeling guilty of locking away such emotions like that... Im sorry if it was complicated but know that I am glad of having read this and that I appreciate of yourself
Exact same. I'm 27 and watched it when I was 16 and it seriously fucked me up. My dad had just died two years prior and my brother and I were having trouble coping with our new home environment. Went to visit our artsy cousin and we thought this movie would be interesting and tbh... it even freaked artsy cousin out a bit. We ended up watching Totoro afterwards as a pallet cleanser. My brother was only 10 at the time and even though my family doesnt shy away from tough topics, the suicide scene actually traumatized him. He cant listen to Que Sera Sera anymore. The song was actually ruined for me too but not nearly to the degree it was for him. He has some serious negative connotations with that sing now
Well what is the real world like from your perspectives now? What view do you give it from what it has given you? Is it a nice place? Filled with friendly faces and nice hugs? Or is it simply a dark place where people go to die and simply be forgotten? I ask because after returning to my crime riddle home town I am constantly trying to reevaluate my comfortable view of this world. I feel lied to. Betrayed by my own stupidity and naivety. And protected priveledged isolated life style. I feel confused for how I am supposed to act now in the face of bad moral decisions that I have already begun to commit And I do not know how to simply act and exist in this world. I do not simply feel carefree anymore. I no longer have good goals to aspire to. But bad opportunitys to reap rewards from. In short. Life is tough. Boo hoo. I hate that nobody told me it was this way, the way this movie told it's viewers it. Grow up. Stop crying to strangers online. They don't care .
This is one of my top favorite movies of all time. I remember watching this for the first time on Netflix with my dad when I was about 13 or 14 thinking it was a family movie, and being in complete and utter shock and horror but overcome with how beautiful it was. It's real. This is what real lives are like.
As an autistic person I have to say that Max’s Asperger’s syndrome (which I believe is another form of form of autism, and up until 2013 people believed was completely separate from autism) is actually written really well, I can’t say much because every autistic person is different but the most notable things being his anxiety and depression, how he handles stress, struggles with recognising facial expressions, doesn’t do well in relationships, he likes things being organised and the way the narrator is very descriptive with him through numbers, are probably the most accurate things in this film because of how common they are in autistic people. I also like how he doesn’t let his disability get the better of him and claims that he’s chill having Asperger’s syndrome. A lot of neurotypicals stereotype autistic and disabled people to be someone who is rude, who doesn’t talk to people, who won’t do well in society and mopes around all day at home out of depression and anxiety, but this is far from the truth, we’re just as human as everyone else we just happen to see the world from a different angle than neurotypicals. (It does however annoy that Mary tries to find a cure for Asperger’s and autism, because there’s never gone be a cure those things, don’t fight me, there just isn’t, this is something that many autistic people have long accepted and you can see that Max understands this as well, but at least she realised her mistake… even if she tried unalive herself afterwards)
As someone who was diagnosed with Nonverbal Learning Disorder, before everything got new names, Max’s comment about how he feels like there’s nothing wrong with him honestly was refreshing to hear. It’s a nice feeling hearing a fictional character in a movie say they’re like themselves when you can relate to them. It gives me that feeling too. Regardless, another wonderful video and review Steve!
I can speak, always could, when i was diagnosed my symptoms best fit into NVLD but it wasn't recognized by the national medical boards of my country so I instead given an Asperger's Diagnosis
@@spartangoku7610 no, it's called nonverbal learning disability because your verbal skills are average or in most cases above average, but you have trouble with non verbal tasks, like reading body language
As a person with high-functioning autism (formally as Asberger syndrome). This movie really understands me. And yes, I too did not just made me cry. But also change my life.
As someone who is Autistic and is constantly told how unfortunately that is, I cried during this film. I related too hard to Max and it was so refreshing.
For someone who is diagnosed with Aspergers. I can relate with Max. I don’t feel disabled. I’ve done well in school. Steady relationship. And doing side art work. It sad that some people like my father sees it as a disease. But it’s ok. We live in a society anyway.
"Done well in school" "steady relationship" Then you are of the small minority doing WAY more fortunate then most, no offense. As someone diagnosed with BOTH aspergers, ADHD, and taurrets, my life was and has been hell for the longest time.
Though I was too young to watch this, I've remembered this movie ever since I first saw it. I was around 8 years old, and I watched it with my sister who's 2 years older than me. Im not exactly sure why, but I was never really affected emotionally while watching movies until after highschool. I remember at the end of the movie I was sad but not exactly upset, but my older sister was bawling. That really stuck with me, and made me think about the movie more, since I looked up to her. I tried looking it up after a while, but couldn't find it and thought it might've been a fever dream or something, but I'm glad it was real and that other people liked it too!
I have'nt seen the movie, just this review. And I still managed to find the scenes of mary's suicide attempt and the ending scene so beutiful and moving. I practically never get TRULY emotional watching movies, let alone yt reviews of movies, but this really managed to touch my heart. Just incredible.
Don't forget that the neighbor who gave her the box had a phobia of going outside and she earned money by giving him his mail. If he hadn't braved going outside, she probably wouldn't be alive
I remember watching this movie in high school after being highly recommended to me by a film fanatic classmate. He didn't say anything except it was a story about pen pals. I only watched this once but it is a film that I couldn't forget, especially since it is so relatable even today. It made me cried a lot and I admit, this review made me cry again. Mary and Max had an impact to me. This film, is a reminder to me to appreciate life.
I can relate. My sister's friend pretty much pushed the DVD to our hands and told us to watch it. Well, we did and it stuck with me forever. I was diagnosed with autism years later and remembering Mary & Max still makes me feel good about myself. Warts and all!
The soundtrack for this movie was absolutely perfect. The theme started cheerful, then somber, then angst-y. Will always have a deep appreciation for this film.
“I worked for the army, they said they wanted to know my affiliations, so I showed them my science fiction club card, they said they didn’t need that, but disbanded me anyways, sometimes I just don’t understand it. Anyways I was a Communist for a few years” This is one of the first movies where everything sort of worked for me. Generally when I watch a movie there’s a joke that doesn’t land, or a emotional moment that doesn’t hit as strong as it should. It didn’t really happen here. I think this will be up there as one of my favorite movies even though I just saw it for the first time today, mainly because I haven’t seen a movie that made me both laugh, cry, and leave with a strong message like that before.
14:07 It's worth pointing out that Mary's neighbor who comes by just in time to save her is actually very agoraphobic, and whenever he comes up in the narration or Mary's letters, he seems to be suffering quietly because he's unable to go outside. So by finally overcoming his own crippling fear, he also helps Mary overcome her suicidality. And I think that was a really wonderful detail.
My English isn't the best (I'm Italian), but I'll try: When Max died, I felt so sad. I am an Aspie, and the idea of being alone, and dying alone, scares me. Luckily, Max was happy when he died, because he knew that he had a friend, his only friend.... Also, your reviews are wonderful, I think I'll subscribe. P.S: 9:36 is my favorite moment.
I also felt for Max. I'm an aspie as well and just the fact that the world _will_ try to cure me, even if I tell them not to, scares, and even enrages me sometimes.
10:22 Speaking as an autistic person myself, I agree with Max. I don't believe people like us are necessarily disabled, we just view the world in a different way.
im undiagnosed but Im certain I could be placed somewhere on the spectrum based on my experiences, never having friends and not really understanding why people never really invited me to their friendgroups, and just the way I feel about life in general. Personally autistic people could be considered More efficient humans.
I'm close with multiple autistic people, and they're all great. One of them I was buddies with for years before she was diagnosed. The fact that some people see it as bad makes me upset.
I was like, "Steve, please. I watched My Little Pony Friendship is Magic, Mickey Mouse, and other cartoon shows that are for kids, even though I'm an young adult. Don't judge us."
Try to watch some real life "lower classes" British doco in which mothers look surprisingly like Mary's mother and children get KFC for dinner every day..
I just noticed from the two different hue backgrounds used in Max and Mary's environment, they both have one bright red accessory. Mary's hair clip & Max's hat fuzz.
I watched it a few years ago when it was still on Netflix because It was recommend in a list of "movies on Netflix not enough people know about but are actually really good" types of things. Was drawn to it for the claymation format which I'm partial to but ended up really liking the story. I didn't think it was TOO sad personally but I did get a tad emotional here and there. Depends how sensitive you are maybe. Maybe if you liked the summary you'd actually really like it who knows 🤷♀️ Edit: it does have it's dark moments but imo it's definitely not as dark as some of the other movies he's reviewed. It actually has a quit beautiful message about friendship and human connections and the dark themes of it are used to futher underscore that point, it's not without purpose or for shock value. Mary is a stand-in for a lot of us who experience abuse, neglect or trauma in general and the human spirits ability to carry on and heal :)
FYI: The rendition of "Que Sera Sera " playing during the hanging scene is by Pink Martini, an astoundingly beautiful band that doesn't get enough recognition. Their album "Sympathique" is back-to-back bangers. I'd go so far as to put it up there with Fleetwood Mac's "Rumors."
I hate the fact that because Mary got her surgery means she missed out in seeing max alive. But it hammer the point that self acceptance is important no matter who you are
10:05 and now that hits me on a whole other level of personal, as someone with aspergers. Holy shit does that make me feel something watching this video, not something bad, though I don't know what it is, but holy shit
"What kind of grown adult still watches kids cartoons?" No worries. Walter Disney once put it best: "You're dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway." So it's official. The one who made animation big believes animation is for everyone. You're good.
@@q.mercury.q8659 Not really. Animations organized by Walt Disney had adult references and humor in them as well. In fact, Dumbo and Snow White were HUGELY successful among ADULT audiences just as much as kids (adult humor not always necessarily meaning bad or inappropriate for kids, but rather things adults would find funny that kids might not if you explained it to them because... well, they're not adults). Later Disney movies kept this up, including Aladdin where the Genie transforms into characters children wouldn't recognize and makes references to things like Shakespeare ("et tu Brute?") that kids wouldn't get--but that were funny for adults. In addition to animation, Walt Disney (toward the end of his life) started moving toward live action films like Treasure Island and such, leaving the animation to others and only overseeing them for content quality. He created Disneyland with the hopes that people could be just kids (even if grown up ones) and became upset when Disneyland became too commercial with hotels and advertisements in the park. So, he tried to make Disney World where he would own all the land around the park so people could totally immerse themselves in the theme park without alcohol advertisements and things like commercial hotels in sight. But, he passed away before the park was complete. He really was a kid inside and out (and even had a large toy train around his house that he would ride, because--why not?). He lived and meant it. We really are just kids grown up.
@@iamSketchH Actually, Disney World was originally called EPCOT. It was more of a social experiment akin to something like Rapture or a Vault Tec experiment. It was supposedly going to give you a job, and you would have enough money to pay for rent, food, and water. In exchange you were given an Apartment and the top of the line technology. Public Transportation would be used with a people mover, a giant train that would house the city's residents and it would be free. Honestly am curious to see how a city like that would turn out.
Right when Max said “She shot herself with her Uncle’s gun when I was six” right after the gunshot, I got and ad and it said “LOL, Surprise!” It got me laughing for a minute straight
The constant quantifying, taking of things too literally, enjoyment of childish things, inability to recognize emotions or put put emotions into words, and the getting frustrated at the world for thinking Asperger's is something that needs to be cured hits waaaaaaaay to close to home
If I may change the subject for a little bit, I’ve been trying to find whatever series it is that that logo of yours came from for a long time now. Would you please tell me where it came from?
L *Thank you my man!* I used to have almost all the sets. Now I think they’re in storage. But the name slipped from me so it was a hard time looking it up!
I love this movie so much, as well as the awareness it brings to autism. but I do feel the need to point out that even though Max doesn't feel he is disabled, a lot of "higher functioning"(which pretty much just means verbal when neurotypicals use it) autistic people like myself do. I'm glad to see how many people relate to Max's feelings, but I can't help but to wish for a portrayal of someone with high functioning autism where it affects their life a lot in a negative way (especially with academics since there's a stereotype that all autistic people are good at math..)
“Because fish smoke them and become nicotine dependent” I died
Well with the existence of Spongebob Squarepants anything is possible! :D
‘I am of course joking, as fish do not have pockets to carry lighters.’
@@iantophernicus6042
Not yet.
This is big brain comedy.
Your pfp is cursed
The best quote from this movie is “We don’t get to choose our warts they are a part of us and we have to live with them... we can however choose our friends and i am glad i have chosen you”
My heart.
Still a really good quote uwu
Tear-jerking, so simple and honest words.
@DumFukkJuice agreed
He was saying that the moment I read this comment wtf
Do you know how expensive it is to send a package that size overseas? Max really cares about their friendship.
He did win the lottery. Lol
@@TheOriginalDuckley but he spent it all on chocolate hotdogs
@@ultimatestickbot6946 it's never a bad idea to save
@@bottheskitarii8881 check mate
@@ultimatestickbot6946 actually not true, he spent it on a lifetime supply of chocolate, the entire Noblet collection, and the rest of it I believe he gave to his blind neighbor.
God, that ending hurt..
One thing that's interesting to me is how Max died smiling looking at the letters Mary sent him. Mary, who tried to kill herself, sits beside his body, smiling at the mementos of their friendship. She holds her baby, who survived Mary's suicide attempts, and appears to be fine and healthy. It feels like... I don't know. Someone who died, someone who tried to die, and someone who was full of life.
When I saw him looking up smiling.. that broke me. 😭
This scene brought me to tears.... so sad.... and beautyfull...
me too 😭😭😭😭😭@@cucadefrijoles735
Nobody cares
@@ahmedtta3914who pissed in your cornflakes man
I’m pretty sure the pom-pom that Mary gives Max being one of the only things in colour represents how she brings some colour to and life to his dark grey life
But the lady's lipstick was red
@@eddierivera5501
I think color represents purpose. The mime has an orange scarf showing that their profession is their purpose (since jobs are categorized into 'collars')
so Mary giving him the pom pom gave him his purpose
@@eddierivera5501
so the lipstick being red represents how her purpose has died out
Best bit of the film for me is that anything that either one sends to the other keeps the colour from where it came from. Mary is literally brightening Max’s world, with bee brown letters and parcels allowing him some relief from his monotonous greyscale life, while Max is presenting Mary with his own unique take on his world, while he fosters her curiosity and her passion for knowledge. I must admit, as many times as I have seen this film, I didn’t even notice the Mime’s scarf being orange, but I love how the pom-pom and the fire from the Statue of Liberty are distinct and noticeable, almost as if they gain that colour from the feelings of people. Mary sends the pom-pom, with the hope of making a friend. People see the Statue of Liberty everyday, each able to project their own feelings and aspirations on it. Oven Marjorie Buttersworth uses her lipstick to convey her not so subtle motives. Final bit, before this becomes an essay. In the entirety of the film, there are no straight lines. Everything is twisted and ever so slightly wonky, which is such a refreshing break from the pristine facade of reality. I really can’t say just how amazing this film is, without writing an essay, but it deserves all the attention and praise that it receives.
ah yes cokmusnism
He a little confused about cigarette butts but he got the right idea.
The idea of fish getting addicted to smoking is still a hilarious mental image. Just imagine like a puffer fish puffing up when inhaling and as he exhales and shrinks smoke comes out.
The Spirit is there
I mean, his heart was in the right place atleast.
@@crimsondynamo615 Im going to hell for laughing at that.
hey I mean monkeys actually do smoke cigarette butts if they're still lit so yeah he was almost right
16:51 Actually it does have a HUGE impact. When Max wins the lottery, one of the things he buys is the full collection of the Noblit figures. Which he then later sends to Mary to show that he has forgiven her. When Mary was about to hang herself, she gets a knock at her door which turns out to be the neighbor that is delivering the package, and thereby saving her from committing suicide.
So, are you a wholesome family comedy or a horrific existential tragedy?
Mary & Max: Yes
yo real talk tho Mary's kid survived her heavily drinking and an attempted overdose?
*wha.*
Movie logic
There’s no way that kids gonna live a normal life after all that shit
Hes just built different
@@JavierEscuella1911 BRAIN DRAIN
miracles happen
Jesus Christ, the ending got me. That genuinely hurt. They didn't get to meet each other in person after all that time. And the letters taped to the ceiling got me a bit choked up.
The ending still makes me shed buckets of tears.
Bruv I actually cried that last line hit way to close to home
fona mcjimmyjimmy it’s a bittersweet ending
Nevermind I just cried
Yup same :(
“She shot herself in the head with my uncles gun when I was six”
Ad: SWEET TARTS. BE BOTH!
I GOT IT TO LOL
*H A A G E N - D O S S I C E C R E A M*
*No one out pizza's the hut*
JESUS CHRIST IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON WHO EVER LIVED
I'm not religious that's the ad I got lmao
I love how this film makes out neurodiversity such as asperger’s to be an aspect of one’s unique character and personality rather than a disability
It's not unique if other people have it
@@aldiascholarofthefirstsin1051 not everyone that has aspergers is gonna have the same personality lmao
@@CartoDarko and not all traits of aspergers are the same from asperger to asperger
some vary in intensity and amounts
@@aldiascholarofthefirstsin1051 They didn't say aspergers was unique. They said "such as apserger's to be an ASPECT of one's unique character". So as a part of somebody's personality and character, which IS unique, at least in the individual nuances.
@@aldiascholarofthefirstsin1051 I’m on the spectrum, and I can confidently say that this statement makes you out to be a huge dick. And I’m not talking about the body part.
Max: “She shot herself with her uncle’s gun when I was six.”
YT: “Commercial. Now.”
me: hey youtube, vibe check
*i slam youtube through a couple buildings*
Use adblocker
Laughs in Adblocker
That happened to me too!
Laughs in YT app that doesn’t play mid rolls
The video: “She shot herself with my uncles gun when I was six”
CZcams: *Immediately cuts to an ad about call of duty*
@Flandre Scarlet mine was the infamous raid shadow legends
@@rageinternet9391 and mine was a Globe Telecoms Ad
Huh guess I've got something in common my Dad shot himself when I was 8
@Jacob Greene who are you wooshing
Mine said “ you know how you don’t miss something until it’s GONE , well it’s time for this drink”☺️
This movie reminds me of my online pen pal I met when I was 12. Him and I talked daily, played video games together and had a similar friendship like Max and Mary. Unfortunately he passed away 2 weeks ago at the age of 61 from stage 4 liver cancer. Thankfully he got to see pics of my son before he passed unlike Mary as he was born a month before his death. Pen pals truly leave a mark in your life...Mark, you were truly one of a kind.
I hope that you have recovered and that you and your family have a plentiful life
oh GOD, I CANT STOP CRYING
So many people in my class thought that Mary & Max was problematic in the sense that it’s “stereotyping autistic people badly”.
But honestly, stereotypes are never going to be perfect, one. And two, as an autistic person I felt very connected to him and while I am a high functioning autistic person, I used to and still, have very many similar traits that he has. I love this film and I think it represents the higher part of the spectrum beautifully.
Yeah I find the “That’s not my autism so it’s not accurate” gatekeeping argument really strange because they should realize that everyone is different, hence why autism is on a spectrum. I can say there are definitely harmful stereotypes out there, but more often than not people think about their own personal issues relating to a character than trying to understand said character’s perspective.
@@lulub517 yeah, it's very frustrating,,i've heard people say characters having autism in shows is "forced" because they don't act the exact way they expect them to
how can having autism be "forced"?? people just exist??
@@jasperjazzie I am just tired of the stereotypes. You either get high functional geniuses with terrible social ability or someone who needs 24/7 care. People like that exist, especially those who need 24/7 care, but it is so pervasive in media to the point this is all people know about autism. That negatively affects us on the milder end of the spectrum as there are rarely any in-between in media where a lot of Autists are. This movie hits that middle ground and is a more honest take on higher functioning autism, a breath of fresh air. Max is a character I am able to relate to, unlike Sheldon from Big Bang Theory or whoever the guy in The Good Doctor is named.
My Dad who has Asperger's showed this to my brother who was also diagnosed, and they both think it's great. It really helped highlight that you don't have to be ashamed of who you are, and that there are many other people just like you. You are not alone or some "freak who needs fixing", but someone with just another wrinkle to their personality.
The "i dont think its a dissability" line just kinda hits hard for me, as someone with aspergers, same with the fact that he doesnt want it removed
Do i think that developing a method for aspies to get rid of it would be good? Yes, for people that want that
“Her father spends most of her time stuffing dead birds.”
*NORMAN?!*
Taxidermy is more of a lifestyle than a hobby.
A hobby is supposed to pass the time, not fill it.
@Abrilla 2 M blood mother, blood!
* watches helplessly as Marion ruins her chance with (arguably) the perfect man *
chuck testa has entered the chat.
Her dad had a look on his face when he was working in the tea factory of won't somebody please put me out of my misery. I'll pay you.
You just see him on the side of the road holding a “Shoot me $12” sign
He'll pay in tea
Doomer
Oof
why are we still here? just to suffer??
"Butts are bad, because they wash out to sea and fish smoke them, and they become nicotine dependant." Best line ever
20:00 actually, i think it fits for max's parts to 'drag' a bit. as a person with autism (what aspergers actually is; its an outdated term), we can ramble on for a while about topics that interest us or that we just know a lot about, even if nobody else really cares. i think it makes it more realistic for his character
i also highly appreciate the fact that max doesn't think less of himself for his autism, and doesn't _want_ a "cure". i find it disgusting how popular the idea of autism being treated as a disease is, and it's a nice refresher seeing autistic characters that accept themselves for who they truly are.
I do this sometimes to
actual w profile picture
@@pichuna5630 mae W
As another person with autism (I did prefer back when Asperger's was still legitimately used in the books as it was a very specific subset and unfortunately most general people hear autism and immediately think of the "incapable of communication possibly screaming" type as popularized by media), I also was going to comment about how Max's sections dragging felt appropriate as I've certainly caught myself rambling on about subjects longer than most would feel comfortable with
That "Smiles in British" joke has to be the best thing I've seen all month.
Me too
Same
Glad it wasn't just me! Haha
That's the kind of humor the world seems to be lacking now.
Same
*If I had a 8 year old daughter writing to a 44 year old man and back, I would also freak out*
Ivan Baymar true
Me too!
Although I think an important lesson here would be to keep an open mind and not immediately red flag it as they could end up being best friends for life.
@@scratch2086 ....
@@donovanfox7752 Yes?
I loved Max's letter telling Mary about his lotto win, because he treats it as as much an afterthought as the movie does.
As an autistic myself, this has to be the best portrayal of autism I've ever seen. This movie finally does what I think most films that try to portray autism don't do. *They actually spoke to a real autistic person about it and for their feedback!* Finally man...
Something major this film does that a lot of other films routinely fail to do is show Max's autistic traits without any sort of judgement. A lot of films try their hardest to romanticize autism in an effort not to offend people, mainly by putting 'comfortable' traits of autism in the spotlight (savant syndrome, quirky use of language, acceptable special interests like trains) and 'uncomfortable' traits out of view (stimming, loneliness.) Other films can go the opposite direction and portray autism as the worst thing that could happen.
In this film, I didn't feel like they were trying to force an opinion on me, mainly because it showed both sides of autism. It wasn't afraid to show the particularly difficult bits (stimming, overstimulation, meltdowns, loneliness, and even difficulty holding a job.) But it also wasn't afraid to show the positive sides SUBTLY...and this is important: they didn't rely on old tropes and stereotypes such as savant syndrome. Max likes solving problems, but he isn't smarter than anyone else. Still, Max's autism helped him in numerous ways, largely in logically analyzing his surroundings rather than having a purely emotional response. As mentioned in the film, Max fulfilled his personal goals and bought what made him happy with his lottery money, instead of seeking out luxuries. He also states early in the film that he quickly moved away from religion because he read books that proved it was illogical. Little things like that guide you to seeing the world as Max does, which is one step at a time, and not largely motivated by goals outside of his reach or interests.
My parents didn’t realise this wasn’t for kids, I’m now depressed
Wow go to a psychiatrist! Now!
You need to be CURED
Get better ❤
I Hope you get the help you need
I hope you get help
evey time people request a movie it's tragic or creepy or gruesome
Perhaps all three, sometimes.
@@Dithrick yeah also that
Well , it's the premise of this channel
@@POTATOEH81 potatoes unite!
I like it
As an Autistic person myself, this movie feels so...emotionally connected.
Holy crap, this movie.
I will add to something with how Max reacted to Mary's book. After all, he clearly stated that he doesn't want to be fixed. So, to him, the book Mary made may have easily been seen as Mary saying that she wanted to fix him, even if he didn't want to be. And, as someone who struggles with their words myself (especially in anger and of frustration), his reaction seems...relatable.
He might have also thought that she was using his friendship with her as a way to get ahead. We know she has good (if misguided) intentions, but if someone I had known for years wrote a clinical study using me as the subject I would be just as outraged and betrayed as he was.
Same thing here! I would’ve felt the same way especially because of me being so emotional and sensitive (probably also due to my Aspergers lol) I would be so frustrated and upset about my self, so I related a whole lot with Max in the movie
The whole story might be dark but it’s so sweet. This story isn’t so bad just didn’t know it was critically acclaimed.
That's likely because of the fact that despite everyboy absolutely loving the film (and deservedly so, it's a masterpiece in my opinion), it didn't do very well at all. In fact, I think they made quite a big loss. It's what happens when a movie this labor-intensive is barely advertised.
I really love Max's philosophy of friendship.
"We need friends because even if we dont accept ourselves because of our flaws, and true friend will accept you despite your flaws."
It's been a while since ive seen the movie, so the quote may be off.
Such an inspiring line, everyone has their quirks and flaws but true friends can look past it and accept you for your flaws and strengths as well ☺️
Movie: He gets as many tea bags as he wants.
Steve: ThAtS a GrEaT jOb
SIGN ME UP
im british and i agree with steve
Steve might enjoy Tea, like myself a fellow brit. But nobody's love for tea, exceeds the Spiffing Brit's for Yorkshire Tea.
The Spiffing Brit will be proud, all hail yorkshire tea gold
I want Earl Grey!!!
14:47
Honestly when I saw the ending I just started crying for Mary cause imagine writing to someone that you don’t know personally for a long time and when you can finally see them in person they end up passing away before they get to see you is just sad and I wanna bet that if Max didn’t pass away, I bet he would of been very happy to see Mary for the first time with her child.
"You are my best friend. You are my only friend" always obliterates me and leaves me weeping God I love this heartbreaking amazing movie
*"I do not feel disabled,defective or a need to be cured,I like being an aspie"*
God damn! That quote is amazing!
i have asperger sindrome myself, and watchng that movie some years ago helped me accept that aspect of my mind
I’d so wear a shirt that has that on it, wearing it with pride
I wasn't sure what aspie meant until now! I just looked it up
I love that quote!
I really relate
one of my animation teachers was a claymation artist who molded and rigged the characters.
he told us the bubbles in the bath tub scene were created from sex lube
...intresting
I like how THAT'S the thing he thought to share with you guys-
God that is so great. Considering the sense of humor of the director, it doesn't surprise me
i thought it was expanded polystyrene.
@@Gustyrd1 I thought that as well
What i love is how as mary starts off cheery and innocent, and max is stressed and anxious,
And then max becomes happier and mary becomes stressed and awful.
Even after that Mary becomes happy again, and max dies happy.
Resulting in a beautiful ending.
Rest in peace, Max. You were a wonderful friend, and a legendary roast lord.
The ending is one of the most painful but most beautiful ending to a movie I’ve seen yet
I agree.
Was that the can of condensed milk next to max?
Noobslayer73 Backup He had died truly happy, having felt his life had been full, and went to the great beyond with little regret on what he had done with his life and how he had given someone else’s life true purpose as well. His life wasn’t perfect, but he still left it his way all the while with a smile...
I never even realised he died while looking at her letters.
My eyes definitely watered.
19:54 "If there's one thing I don't like about this movie I feel like the scenes about max talking about his life go on for way too long"
As a person with Aspergers, that's one of the biggest and most recognisable symptoms. Not being able to actually know when the other person is bored and just talking until you run out of things to talk about. That's an absolutely phenomenal thing they've done. Made his condition which impairs his ability to talk to others a bad aspect of the writing as it gets boring.
I have ADHD and that's something I tend to do sometimes. I'm not sure if that's a symptom of ADHD or if I just do that.
I also have Aspergers and often times find myself doing this as well. I’ll start a story that I think is super interesting and it ultimately just doesn’t have an ending. My family and friends really don’t enjoy it when I do it but just put up with it.
@@Skia_Woodling I THINK I have Adhd and sometimes I do this a lot too! Like I hang out with my roblox friends a lot and I'm the one to talk the most and have the longest sentences
@@Skia_Woodling l have adhd too and l do that too, but maybe lm just annoying. Idk.
I am guilty of infodumping and it made max more relateable
as an autistic person myself, i really appreciate the sympathetic and generally positive portrayal this movie gives to max. his outlook on being autistic is very similar to my own, not seeing it as something "bad" or in need of a cure-- it's what makes me who i am, and i just wouldn't be the same person if that changed. only being diagnosed when i was around 20 myself (i'm only 26 now but still) it was vindicating finally knowing WHAT was going on with me and why i do/feel the things i do, knowing how to take care of myself better and understanding why my mind does these things was incredibly refreshing and made me more confident
sorry for such a long, rambling comment haha. this is a fantastic film that gets me very emotional, it's dark but it's not hopeless and that's a rare thing to find. not to mention the visual style is so striking and fun to watch!
as someone with autism i love how the movie reflects on how people treat the spectrum like a disease that needs to be cured but its not. we want acceptance not cures
"We don't get to choose our warts. They are a part of us, and we have to live with them. We can however choose our friends, and I am glad I have chosen you."
;-;
That quote legit made me tear up.
I remember seeing this movie on Netflix before it was removed. As a 12 year old at the time, I was expecting a nice family friendly movie. I finished it, but with a new perspective on animation forever.
Still one of my favorite movies of all time
I have seen the name of the movie on Netflix before but it looked boring so I never watched
@@therunningranger4297 understandable lol
IT WAS ON NETFLIX?? Dang it this would have been great to show my friend.
Its Mitty I used to watch this film on repeat as a kid, this video brought back a lot of emotions gahhh
I watched it and it was happy in my opinion but in a deeper way
Just in case if you were wondering, this version of “Que Sera Sera” is by Pink Martini! Their other music is just as amazing! 😊😊
I cried for ten solid minutes through this review... Jesus, I couldn't keep it together. I wanted to watch this a few years back but now I realize I couldn't endure the film. What a tug upon the ol heart strings.
I would allow my child to have an adult pen pal if i was allowed to read every letter they sent. I think intergenerational friendships and interactions are important but i also recognize the world we live in and if their intentions are pure me reading the letters should be no issue.
I liked this movie quite a bit
I agree. If the adult pen pal's intention is pure then there shouldn't be any problem with the parent proofreading the letters. I also think the kid should be taught briefly about what should or shouldn't be written (private info or something like that) and then given some privacy to write the letters. My mom, if she hadn't flipped at the idea already, would have sat down with me and instruct me what to write and would have drained the fun out of the whole penpals thing.
I had a 20 year old pen pal when I was 9. I was given a quick run through on what not to share and how careful i needed to be, but nothing was ever proof read... And nothing went wrong.
To clarify I'm not gonna read my kids letters necessarily since yeah i would give them the safety run down i meant i would read the incoming adult letters. Make sure they aren't veering into inappropriate territory.
Not really a pen pal but when I was like 12 I used to talk to this 20 something guy on Facebook and we were content creators on a fan page of a show we liked lol
@ when i was a kid i used to go hang out om the porch and talk to my elderly neighbor Delmar. I really enjoyed his company and he enjoyed mine. Kids and adults can definitely have mutually enriching friendships and i am all for intergenerational connecting
Steve: “What kind of grown adult still watches children’s cartoons?”
Me: *Regret*
Me: (Innocent whistle)
why would you regret something that makes you happy? :)
[literally reviews children's cartoons]
Ok Buddy,
EVERYONE, THATS NOT ILLEGAL, PEOPLE SEES THE SIMPSON
Me: (Actually can't go a day without watching a kids cartoon)
Omg I teared up in this video without even watching the full film. That ending of Max looking up the ceiling and understanding why he looked up.
leaves me in tears every time
"best friend" "only friend"
coming from an individual with few to no friends, I understood how max was feeling in his last moments. Absolutely beautiful film i haven't had one play with heart strings in a while... it's the best kind of film. one grounded within the bounds of reality.
Everyone: talks about sad moments
Me: he blended his gold fish...
Should’ve put the uncensored cut and original script
He did it by accident mind you he didn't intentionally do it
*blendy blendy*
@@williampulfer-melville8536 *blendy blendy*
@@silent_stalker3687 *blendy blendy*
The visuals are amazing.
The red.
"Not everything red is important"
But some things are.
Bro why did this man just give a trip report in the comments
Bruh
@@mikmik.__ what? if you don't have an actual response then shut up
@@shocked8026 Damn bro, you should take that stick out of your ass. 😳
@@JustAnOrdinaryPolarBear lmao
6:10 Toni Collette only voices adult Mary, not child Mary
That's right Australian child actress Bethany Whitmore played Mary as a child
I may be a year late, but the most heartbreaking thing to me, or.. bittersweet thing, is that he died staring at the letters. His death wasn't too much but still hit. I still almost cried at how a child could change a middle aged mans life and impact it to have such a happy ending before he passes away in his own home. And something about that is so gut wrenching to me.
I have Asperger’s and ADHD, and I know that deep in my unique mind and soul, that Max in his final moments, was content. He had lived his life as he wanted, found purpose in his friendship with Mary, and I know in my heart that he wouldn’t have changed a single thing.
Let's just clap for the video's beginning, that dude actually roasted Mary's mother-
Yep, fucking respect that guy so much
Dayyyyyum u right
that wasn't a roast that was taking a high powered flamethrower with rocket fuel on burnt trash
0:00 I cannot stop laughing at that scene
Sure Mrs. Dinkle Hop in!
"I do not feel disabled,defective or a need to be cured,I like being an aspie" as someone with autism, this quote really touched my heart. I feel like this is such an importand message that Aspies rearly ever get to hear. After a life of people trying to cure or heal me, this is such an importand message. People with autism dont need a cure, all we need is an accepting society
Well said my friend well said
One of my friends is autistic and hes super cool ngl
I don’t know what to say in response. But I wanted to comment so hopefully your comment gets a boost and more people see it.
Okay...this is a little random, but hear me out. My name’s Kameko and this is literally the first time in my life that I’ve EVER seen someone with the same name as me. Also, I 100% agree with you on society. People with mental imperfections don’t need to constantly be reminded or treated like they’re wrong. Society should be more accepting.
I don't know if I'm autistic or not but I'm an outcast and seen a lots of people said that you have to changed yourself, dress better, bla bla bla. F**k that. If I have to changed from who I am just to fits in with dumb people then I prefer to be alone. I wants people to accept me not accept fake me.
I. LOVE. THIS. MOVIE!!! 😃 When I first discovered it and learned that Max is an Aspie like me, I was hooked. I'm an Aspie myself and there were so many traits that I could relate to with Max. Not only that, it gave a simple yet great explanation about Asperger's Syndrome. Like in a way everyone can understand. The friendship between Mary and Max was so sweet and I welled up at the end. Especially when you see he died smiling as he read every single letter she sent.
I remember watching this as a kid with my brother. We thought it was going to be like Wallace and Gromit, but we were vet surprised when it was much darker. We only made it to the part where piranhas but off someone's legs. I will never forget that image, because I was so scared. I'm glad you were able to do a review of this because it brought back some fond memories!
I got a Pizza Hut ad immediately after Max’s mom died
*gunshot*
_NO ONE OUT-PIZZAS THE HUT_
@@90139 nobody, and i repeat, absolutely fucking nobody, can out-pizza the hut, any whom attempt to will pay the price.
@@carlwheezerofsouls3273 but I know someone who can and that is Pizza Hut themselves
*W O R K O U T*
Damn Pizza Hut have some respect
I'm going to hell for laughing
I watched this movie when i was 14 with my werid, artsy aunt and boy it broke me. I had terrible depression and was super suicidal and this movie just reaffirmed to me that the world was a dark place and that the good things that happen are dark too. Now i'm 25 and i wished i watched it when i was in a better head-space cos i definitely got the wrong impression. It's a really beautiful movie and even though it negativity impacted me when i first saw it, i never forgot it and sometimes randomly remember it and look back at it fondly.
My brother is autistic and it was nice to see Max say he liked being an 'aspie' and didn't want a cure - because i love my brother and he would lose his entire self if somebody could take his autism away. god now i wanna watch this movie again in a new light...
Same for me......not the whole deppresion and suicidal thing but watching this movie when i was younger left a bad taste in my mouth.
I remember the nurses putting this on for us three years ago at the psych ward (suicide attempts, you know how it is lol)! I was 15 at the time and there were a lot of us with Asperger's or autism (I personally have ADHD but you know...they overlap) and interest in psychology. As someone who wants to be a psychologist with a specialisation in psychopathology, Max saying that he liked being an aspie made me very happy too. It was nice to see a character not want a cure since that's how they usually portray these kinds of characters and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I understand that some people do want to be "normal" but I also know a lot of people with various conditions and neurotypes who don't want to be "cured." Portraying nearly every character as loathing their existence and desiring a cure not only erases the people who feel okay in their existence and makes them feel bad about themselves, but also sets this weird expectation for completely "normal" people. They can't grasp that I find my existence normal and okay and that I don't want a "cure." They tell me that I should, that it's expected to want one. Even my colourblind grandfather who has never expressed the wish to be able to see colours was shocked when I said that I don't want a cure and tried to convince me that he can cure me, that I can be "normal" and do what others do (what exactly does that mean anyway???).
I just wish the other kids there would have paid attention to the film, I think it's very beautiful even though it made me cry, it was just so sad.
I hope and I wish to support and cherish you to knowing that even upon the darkenss the stars of light can still shine within itself even upon it all..It acn be something that can produce and create determination.
Meaning that even in terrible moments it does not mean it neither continues nor shall get worst
in one way or the other you need both either an anchor or a shaking from people that do appreciate you
so you should not ever harm hurt nor even be feeling guilty of locking away such emotions like that...
Im sorry if it was complicated but know that I am glad of having read this and that I appreciate of yourself
Exact same. I'm 27 and watched it when I was 16 and it seriously fucked me up. My dad had just died two years prior and my brother and I were having trouble coping with our new home environment. Went to visit our artsy cousin and we thought this movie would be interesting and tbh... it even freaked artsy cousin out a bit. We ended up watching Totoro afterwards as a pallet cleanser. My brother was only 10 at the time and even though my family doesnt shy away from tough topics, the suicide scene actually traumatized him. He cant listen to Que Sera Sera anymore. The song was actually ruined for me too but not nearly to the degree it was for him. He has some serious negative connotations with that sing now
Well what is the real world like from your perspectives now?
What view do you give it from what it has given you?
Is it a nice place? Filled with friendly faces and nice hugs?
Or is it simply a dark place where people go to die and simply be forgotten?
I ask because after returning to my crime riddle home town I am constantly trying to reevaluate my comfortable view of this world.
I feel lied to. Betrayed by my own stupidity and naivety. And protected priveledged isolated life style.
I feel confused for how I am supposed to act now in the face of bad moral decisions that I have already begun to commit
And I do not know how to simply act and exist in this world. I do not simply feel carefree anymore. I no longer have good goals to aspire to. But bad opportunitys to reap rewards from.
In short. Life is tough. Boo hoo. I hate that nobody told me it was this way, the way this movie told it's viewers it.
Grow up. Stop crying to strangers online. They don't care .
This is one of my top favorite movies of all time. I remember watching this for the first time on Netflix with my dad when I was about 13 or 14 thinking it was a family movie, and being in complete and utter shock and horror but overcome with how beautiful it was. It's real. This is what real lives are like.
As an autistic person I have to say that Max’s Asperger’s syndrome (which I believe is another form of form of autism, and up until 2013 people believed was completely separate from autism) is actually written really well, I can’t say much because every autistic person is different but the most notable things being his anxiety and depression, how he handles stress, struggles with recognising facial expressions, doesn’t do well in relationships, he likes things being organised and the way the narrator is very descriptive with him through numbers, are probably the most accurate things in this film because of how common they are in autistic people.
I also like how he doesn’t let his disability get the better of him and claims that he’s chill having Asperger’s syndrome. A lot of neurotypicals stereotype autistic and disabled people to be someone who is rude, who doesn’t talk to people, who won’t do well in society and mopes around all day at home out of depression and anxiety, but this is far from the truth, we’re just as human as everyone else we just happen to see the world from a different angle than neurotypicals.
(It does however annoy that Mary tries to find a cure for Asperger’s and autism, because there’s never gone be a cure those things, don’t fight me, there just isn’t, this is something that many autistic people have long accepted and you can see that Max understands this as well, but at least she realised her mistake… even if she tried unalive herself afterwards)
As someone who was diagnosed with Nonverbal Learning Disorder, before everything got new names, Max’s comment about how he feels like there’s nothing wrong with him honestly was refreshing to hear. It’s a nice feeling hearing a fictional character in a movie say they’re like themselves when you can relate to them. It gives me that feeling too. Regardless, another wonderful video and review Steve!
As an Aspie myself, I 100% agree.
Nonverbal?
So, you can’t speak?
Or were you diagnosed and are now able to speak?
I can speak, always could, when i was diagnosed my symptoms best fit into NVLD but it wasn't recognized by the national medical boards of my country so I instead given an Asperger's Diagnosis
I am an aspie and I get harassed by others for my autism.
@@spartangoku7610 no, it's called nonverbal learning disability because your verbal skills are average or in most cases above average, but you have trouble with non verbal tasks, like reading body language
I can't stop thinking how mary just looks like a female Carl
I CAN'T UNSEE THAT NOW XD
Whos carl
@@SinclairGarcia Carl Wheezer is a character from a Nickelodeon show called "The Adventure of Jimmy Neutron"
Same that was all I could think about until I got used to her design.
@@ValenArtsAnimation thanks for the information
It’s a dark film, but it hits the tones in all the right places if your suffering from learning difficulties.
...like I grew up with. True story.
As a person with high-functioning autism (formally as Asberger syndrome). This movie really understands me. And yes, I too did not just made me cry. But also change my life.
As someone who is Autistic and is constantly told how unfortunately that is, I cried during this film. I related too hard to Max and it was so refreshing.
Oh well. At least the people who say it’s unfortunate are still good. Compliments or sympathy can work the same way as insults
For someone who is diagnosed with Aspergers. I can relate with Max. I don’t feel disabled. I’ve done well in school. Steady relationship. And doing side art work. It sad that some people like my father sees it as a disease. But it’s ok. We live in a society anyway.
"Done well in school" "steady relationship"
Then you are of the small minority doing WAY more fortunate then most, no offense.
As someone diagnosed with BOTH aspergers, ADHD, and taurrets, my life was and has been hell for the longest time.
@@zionthedragon8866 just two sides of the same coin, its perspective.
@@zionthedragon8866 damn, all three at once
@@pokaay3163 yep.
You're really lucky. I have aspergers and dyscalculia, failed 4th grade.
Though I was too young to watch this, I've remembered this movie ever since I first saw it. I was around 8 years old, and I watched it with my sister who's 2 years older than me. Im not exactly sure why, but I was never really affected emotionally while watching movies until after highschool. I remember at the end of the movie I was sad but not exactly upset, but my older sister was bawling. That really stuck with me, and made me think about the movie more, since I looked up to her. I tried looking it up after a while, but couldn't find it and thought it might've been a fever dream or something, but I'm glad it was real and that other people liked it too!
I have'nt seen the movie, just this review. And I still managed to find the scenes of mary's suicide attempt and the ending scene so beutiful and moving. I practically never get TRULY emotional watching movies, let alone yt reviews of movies, but this really managed to touch my heart. Just incredible.
Don't forget that the neighbor who gave her the box had a phobia of going outside and she earned money by giving him his mail. If he hadn't braved going outside, she probably wouldn't be alive
He had homophobia
@@barabongosindare1275 all the great ones have
I remember watching this movie in high school after being highly recommended to me by a film fanatic classmate. He didn't say anything except it was a story about pen pals. I only watched this once but it is a film that I couldn't forget, especially since it is so relatable even today. It made me cried a lot and I admit, this review made me cry again. Mary and Max had an impact to me. This film, is a reminder to me to appreciate life.
I realy like this movie. Bitter and sweet just my style
I can relate. My sister's friend pretty much pushed the DVD to our hands and told us to watch it. Well, we did and it stuck with me forever. I was diagnosed with autism years later and remembering Mary & Max still makes me feel good about myself. Warts and all!
The soundtrack for this movie was absolutely perfect. The theme started cheerful, then somber, then angst-y. Will always have a deep appreciation for this film.
I fear no man, but that thing
4:52 [Steve moving his eyes]
Scares me
“I worked for the army, they said they wanted to know my affiliations, so I showed them my science fiction club card, they said they didn’t need that, but disbanded me anyways, sometimes I just don’t understand it. Anyways I was a Communist for a few years”
This is one of the first movies where everything sort of worked for me. Generally when I watch a movie there’s a joke that doesn’t land, or a emotional moment that doesn’t hit as strong as it should. It didn’t really happen here. I think this will be up there as one of my favorite movies even though I just saw it for the first time today, mainly because I haven’t seen a movie that made me both laugh, cry, and leave with a strong message like that before.
9 and 5 from the movie "9" is also a tragic tale of friendship.
I think their friendship was shown a bit better in the 2005 short film that the movie is based on
YES I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE AHHHHHHH
I love that one
The new version was really....really not that good
@@RubleInnawoods you mean the 2009 film?
14:07 It's worth pointing out that Mary's neighbor who comes by just in time to save her is actually very agoraphobic, and whenever he comes up in the narration or Mary's letters, he seems to be suffering quietly because he's unable to go outside. So by finally overcoming his own crippling fear, he also helps Mary overcome her suicidality. And I think that was a really wonderful detail.
I was fourteen when I saw the movie on tv. The end was so sad but heartwarming at the same time. Just a beautiful little film
My English isn't the best (I'm Italian), but I'll try:
When Max died, I felt so sad. I am an Aspie, and the idea of being alone, and dying alone, scares me. Luckily, Max was happy when he died, because he knew that he had a friend, his only friend....
Also, your reviews are wonderful, I think I'll subscribe.
P.S: 9:36 is my favorite moment.
Your English is just fine my friend, don't worry :)
I also felt for Max. I'm an aspie as well and just the fact that the world _will_ try to cure me, even if I tell them not to, scares, and even enrages me sometimes.
@@merp9610 i'd rather die than live with this curse
Lmao. I think you need to talk with a psychologist. I’m just worried about your safety
@@lmao.3661 wtf
10:22 Speaking as an autistic person myself, I agree with Max. I don't believe people like us are necessarily disabled, we just view the world in a different way.
im undiagnosed but Im certain I could be placed somewhere on the spectrum based on my experiences, never having friends and not really understanding why people never really invited me to their friendgroups, and just the way I feel about life in general. Personally autistic people could be considered More efficient humans.
Here here aspies 4 life!
yes
Me 2
I'm close with multiple autistic people, and they're all great. One of them I was buddies with for years before she was diagnosed. The fact that some people see it as bad makes me upset.
6:59 that's a "Typewriter orchestra", that's a real song!
More props for Toni Colette, Mary’s actress; voice acting AND live acting!
“What kind of adult watched children cartoons?”
300k people: BOI IF U DONT
I was like, "Steve, please. I watched My Little Pony Friendship is Magic, Mickey Mouse, and other cartoon shows that are for kids, even though I'm an young adult. Don't judge us."
Mickey mouse clubhouse is the shit dude
@@oaksynia7353 yeah, it made me learn all the colors of the rainbow with their little song
Man lived off chocolate hotdogs and condensed milk for 50 years....this is what happened to his heart.
Try to watch some real life "lower classes" British doco in which mothers look surprisingly like Mary's mother and children get KFC for dinner every day..
He only started the condensed milk after Mary suggested it
Funny. In South Park when Stan shit in the urinal, Mr. Mackey referred to it as a "chocolate hotdog"!
He had cacaoemia, cacao being chocolate and emia being presence in blood.
I just noticed from the two different hue backgrounds used in Max and Mary's environment, they both have one bright red accessory. Mary's hair clip & Max's hat fuzz.
Even in our darkest moments, the beauty of life shines through. Max is a wonderful character.
Steve:"As a British person that job sounds amazing."
Bengal: *glares at Steve*
They should be glad we saved them from the Japanese.
Obviously Bengal just loves tea even more.
@@nedsteven4622 tea is from china that was then imported to india.
I just had a breakdown from a summary of this movie, I can't even imagine what I would be like if I actually watched the movie.
You would bawl your eyes out
Same here
Movies don't tend to get to me but this is one of the most depressing yet beautiful movies I've ever watched
I watched it a few years ago when it was still on Netflix because It was recommend in a list of "movies on Netflix not enough people know about but are actually really good" types of things. Was drawn to it for the claymation format which I'm partial to but ended up really liking the story. I didn't think it was TOO sad personally but I did get a tad emotional here and there. Depends how sensitive you are maybe. Maybe if you liked the summary you'd actually really like it who knows 🤷♀️ Edit: it does have it's dark moments but imo it's definitely not as dark as some of the other movies he's reviewed. It actually has a quit beautiful message about friendship and human connections and the dark themes of it are used to futher underscore that point, it's not without purpose or for shock value. Mary is a stand-in for a lot of us who experience abuse, neglect or trauma in general and the human spirits ability to carry on and heal :)
I watched it on Netflix when it was on there and damn I felt sad for days
I remember watching this when I was maybe 9-10. I still think about it from time to time. Good film.
FYI: The rendition of "Que Sera Sera " playing during the hanging scene is by Pink Martini, an astoundingly beautiful band that doesn't get enough recognition. Their album "Sympathique" is back-to-back bangers. I'd go so far as to put it up there with Fleetwood Mac's "Rumors."
I hate the fact that because Mary got her surgery means she missed out in seeing max alive. But it hammer the point that self acceptance is important no matter who you are
"Butts wash out the sea and the fish smoke them" he's a little confused, but he has the right idea
10:05
and now that hits me on a whole other level of personal, as someone with aspergers. Holy shit does that make me feel something watching this video, not something bad, though I don't know what it is, but holy shit
11:16 as a person with Asperger's this caught me extremely off guard.
"What kind of grown adult still watches kids cartoons?"
No worries. Walter Disney once put it best: "You're dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway." So it's official. The one who made animation big believes animation is for everyone. You're good.
This is bittersweet because Disney took a path opposing this quote.
@@q.mercury.q8659 Not really. Animations organized by Walt Disney had adult references and humor in them as well. In fact, Dumbo and Snow White were HUGELY successful among ADULT audiences just as much as kids (adult humor not always necessarily meaning bad or inappropriate for kids, but rather things adults would find funny that kids might not if you explained it to them because... well, they're not adults). Later Disney movies kept this up, including Aladdin where the Genie transforms into characters children wouldn't recognize and makes references to things like Shakespeare ("et tu Brute?") that kids wouldn't get--but that were funny for adults. In addition to animation, Walt Disney (toward the end of his life) started moving toward live action films like Treasure Island and such, leaving the animation to others and only overseeing them for content quality. He created Disneyland with the hopes that people could be just kids (even if grown up ones) and became upset when Disneyland became too commercial with hotels and advertisements in the park. So, he tried to make Disney World where he would own all the land around the park so people could totally immerse themselves in the theme park without alcohol advertisements and things like commercial hotels in sight. But, he passed away before the park was complete. He really was a kid inside and out (and even had a large toy train around his house that he would ride, because--why not?). He lived and meant it. We really are just kids grown up.
@@iamSketchH Actually, Disney World was originally called EPCOT. It was more of a social experiment akin to something like Rapture or a Vault Tec experiment. It was supposedly going to give you a job, and you would have enough money to pay for rent, food, and water. In exchange you were given an Apartment and the top of the line technology. Public Transportation would be used with a people mover, a giant train that would house the city's residents and it would be free. Honestly am curious to see how a city like that would turn out.
*Walt Disney
Back then his best buddies were also producing adult cartoons. Damn right he was enjoying it lol
Right when Max said “She shot herself with her Uncle’s gun when I was six” right after the gunshot, I got and ad and it said “LOL, Surprise!” It got me laughing for a minute straight
Holy crap
Sometimes the algorithm can be a genius at comedic timing.
0:08 best part
Hearing that the real life Max is still alive makes me feel more better with the ending
💪🏾 I enjoy your reviews
"The dad likes to taxidermy birds as a hobby"
'sees mary's bird friend'
*oh no*
*Hyperventilates in Australian*
Uhhhh he stuffs DEAD birds?
The constant quantifying, taking of things too literally, enjoyment of childish things, inability to recognize emotions or put put emotions into words, and the getting frustrated at the world for thinking Asperger's is something that needs to be cured hits waaaaaaaay to close to home
Yep, me too
If I may change the subject for a little bit, I’ve been trying to find whatever series it is that that logo of yours came from for a long time now.
Would you please tell me where it came from?
It’s from an old LEGO theme called Blacktron
L
*Thank you my man!*
I used to have almost all the sets.
Now I think they’re in storage.
But the name slipped from me so it was a hard time looking it up!
I used to have these as a kid, but I seem to have grown out of them. Is that even possible?
I love this movie so much, as well as the awareness it brings to autism. but I do feel the need to point out that even though Max doesn't feel he is disabled, a lot of "higher functioning"(which pretty much just means verbal when neurotypicals use it) autistic people like myself do. I'm glad to see how many people relate to Max's feelings, but I can't help but to wish for a portrayal of someone with high functioning autism where it affects their life a lot in a negative way (especially with academics since there's a stereotype that all autistic people are good at math..)
0:40 that's just straight up the stanley parable narrator again. this dude is literally everywhere.