Charlie Kaufman.  Michel Gondry.  Jim Carrey.  If these three cannot make one of the strangest films of all time, nobody can.  Well, not only do the three craft one of the strangest (and original) films ever made, but they also managed to create what could be the best film of 2004.

Joel (Carrey) has woken up in a "funk" as he like to put it.  He's sleeping on his sofa-bed and his car has a dent on the side of it.  Stranger even is the fact that he has called out of work, soemthing he claims he never does.  After all, he's never sporadic.  Well, during his sporadic day off, he takes a train to a local town on, of all days, Valtentine's Day, a holiday created by greeting card companies.  And as snow falls downwards, he catches the glimpse of a blue-haired girl named Clementine (Winslet), who seems to be stalking him... or is he stalking her?

A love story insues (albeit, very bizarre) and everything seems to be going well.  That is until the two break up, and begin to look for other options to mend their broken hearts.  And not other options as in other people, but other options as in a brand new company, Lacuna.  They specialize in a brand new field of neuro-technology, allowing somebody to comepletly forget about a past loved one whether it be through a bad divorce or a lost child.

The two (sort of) agree to the procedure and things get... well, very, very weird.

That's only the first forty minutes.  To reveal anything else would be a crime.  Just be rest assured that you really, really must see this film to a get a whole new outlook on the world.

For example, there is a scene late in the movie in which Joel and Clementine are "trapped" inside a beach house which is slowly falling apart (not literally, but... well, you just have to see it).  The dialogue between the two former lovers is funny and sad all at the same time and some of the smartest lines ever written for a feature film.

Well directed, brilliantly written, and packed with great acting roles (especially the supporting roles like David Cross as Joel's pot-smoking married friend).  "Eternal Sunshine" is not only solid enertainment, but also (as of now) my number one favorite film of 2004, especially after watching it twice (a second viewing points out many things, much like "The Sixth Sense").

Movie: **** out of ****

DVD Extras: *** out of ****

As far as extras go, this one's not bad.  There's a cool little making-of as well as "conversations" with director Gondry and Jim Carrey.  There's also an interesting (but somewhat boring) commentary by Gondry and writer Kaufman.  We also get some deleted scenes (none of which are very good, but still appreciated), a music video, and a deadpan Lacuna infomercial.  

I saw this yesterday. I thought it was good but it is a tad overrated. It was entertaining and well acted though. So i would recomend it.

Ooop, sorry, took moved my review out of the DVD section, over to movie review area....!

Fantastic movie!!

ETERNAL SUNSHINE is one of the best movies ever made, dispite the fact that it's like an extended episode of THE OUTER LIMITS.  

Kaufman is a great writer and Carey really pulls off the role of Joel.

I absolutely adored this film. It really struck a chord, and actually prompted me to get back in touch with my first love, who I had fallen out with a few years ago for what I realised were kind of petty reasons. We didn't get back together but we are now good friends.

I think Kate Winslet is an amazing actress. Apart from Titanic, but everyone was awful in that so she can't be held to blame. Jim Carrey I never would have expected this from but he really holds his own here.

The only thing that jarred in this film was the scenes with the hobbit and Kirsten Dunst and the other guy, they just didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the film.