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Whale Rider

 
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Danny Baldwin
Studio Exec


Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 1354
Location: San Diego, CA

PostPosted: 06.30.2003 10:36 pm    Post subject: Whale Rider Reply with quote

Whale Rider is my favorite movie of the year so far, which took me by surprise--and since we're trying to renovate the forum I think it's worthy of discussion. The noticiable emotion that is put into it makes it even more worthy of such. Any of you seen it?
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filmsRpriceless
Camera Operator


Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 65

PostPosted: 07.02.2003 5:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well-made and well meaning, but flawed and forgettable. First of all, the film is too simplistic and it fails to create rich or provocative drama -- the feeling of a great drama is certainly here, but Caro cannot maintain a tone and instead goes for laughs and fails to recognize depth. I liked the visuals and Keisha Castle-Hughes was memorable, but I prefer <i>The Circle, The Fast Runner</I>, and <I>Bend it Like Beckham</I> (just to name a few) by far. I was kinda disappointed.
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Danny Baldwin
Studio Exec


Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 1354
Location: San Diego, CA

PostPosted: 07.02.2003 11:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think that the simplicity really benefits the film. It brings out a stronger message and meaning in the few things that it would like to teach.
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beltmann
Studio Exec


Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 2341
Location: West Bend, WI

PostPosted: 08.08.2003 11:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I tend to agree with Danny. I felt the simplicity kept things sharp, and also helped sustain the tone--the movie is pitched just this side of magic realism. It's like a cross between an Alice Hoffman novel and Once Were Warriors (a great movie about domestic discord in a Maori family).

Although I liked Bend It Like Beckham, I much prefer the melancholy and stoicism of Rider, and I feel it does a better job of cloaking its familiar conventions--Rider never dips into sitcom the way Beckham does. And Keisha Castle-Hughes is an astonishment, fascinating and absolutely commanding as the young adventurer. Three times I leaned over to my wife (who also adored the movie) to comment on Keisha's surprising acting choices. (Of course, we never know how much of a child's performance ought to be credited to the child or to the director. But isn't that true of adults as well?)

Eric
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likeadeadduck
Grip


Joined: 03 Jul 2003
Posts: 15
Location: Encinitas, CA

PostPosted: 09.28.2003 9:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'd give it about 3/4
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Danny Baldwin
Studio Exec


Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 1354
Location: San Diego, CA

PostPosted: 09.29.2003 12:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ratings are arbitrary. Bleh.
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Danny Baldwin
Studio Exec


Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 1354
Location: San Diego, CA

PostPosted: 09.29.2003 12:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Care to elaborate?
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beltmann
Studio Exec


Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 2341
Location: West Bend, WI

PostPosted: 09.29.2003 12:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Danny Baldwin wrote:
Ratings are arbitrary. Bleh.


I see that you have come to join us, Danny. Danny, you are welcome here. Danny, you are our friend. Danny, welcome to the path of righteousness. Danny, you belong here, you belong with us.

Eric
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Danny Baldwin
Studio Exec


Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 1354
Location: San Diego, CA

PostPosted: 09.29.2003 12:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

beltmann wrote:


I see that you have come to join us, Danny. Danny, you are welcome here. Danny, you are our friend. Danny, welcome to the path of righteousness. Danny, you belong here, you belong with us.


What can I say? It's the curse of the Flipside Wisconsinite.
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Danny Baldwin

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Danny Baldwin
Studio Exec


Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 1354
Location: San Diego, CA

PostPosted: 09.29.2003 12:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Really, the only reason why I leave ratings on my site is because they're the only thing some people look at, sadly.

I love the red light/yellow light/green light system, though. It's growing on me a ton.
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Danny Baldwin

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