It was early dawn. A boy put on his sneakers, watched calmly as his father drove off before he embarked on a jog. Along the trees he jogged, the road he past, before finally returning to his house drenched in sweat. He took off his torn sneakers and threw them aside and entered the house for breakfast. At first glance, this boy looks like any other normal boy but a lot can be drawn from the way he ignored his sisters working up a fuss over his sweaty body, from the way he stared intently on the ant crawling across the table, from the way he wore his old and worn sneakers with relish about his life.
That is the start of the movie I watched 3 days ago. The Bridge to Terabithia. Having seen the trailer only once, I actually had no idea what the movie was about and was pretty much inclined to dismiss the movie as boring and a waste of time after having watched the first ten minutes of the show. As the story progresses though, I grew to like how the characters were being developed how lying dormant behind the simple lives of 2 young kids are the wondrous and creative imagination of adolescents. Sitting down in that comfortable seat of the theatre, I watched the show as an 18-year old but with every passing second I grew younger, shrinking in size becoming a 10 or 11 year old kid constantly drawing parallels between what is going on on the screen and my own childish thoughts and adventures talking to imaginary friends and fighting imginary foes or monsters a decade ago.
Yes the theme of the movie is the same as Pan's Labyrinth, about the fantasy of an imagined realm by growing kids but that is about all the similarities that the 2 movies share. The Bridge to Terabithia is certainly not as mature nor realistically cruel as Pan's Labyrinth in the portrayal of the characters and the plot of the former is definitely more cheery and light than the solemn and dark atmosphere that the latter provides. The former is more suited as a movie for children, encouraging them to engage in creativity, creating worlds or creatures of their own in which they can find solace, a safe haven where they are free to express themselves without restraint and indulge in fantasies without being confronted with the pains of learning how to cope with the harsh realities and responsibilities of life. The latter though, seems more like a message to adults, reminding them that in every child lies an innocent soul who must be treated with care lest the fragile nature of it be broken.
The Bridge to Terabithia is a family show, one with a lot of different meanings to those who are watching it. For the children, it may simply be fun, for the parents, this movie allows them to travel through time back into their own childhood, reminiscing the past with joy.
For the kids who are about to watch the show, just relax and enjoy the carefreeness with which the protagonists express themselves when together in their own realm. For the adults who think you are too serious for a kid's show, remember that you were once a kid as well and kept locked somewhere within you is a pure youthful soul who wants to be let out. Keep an open mind, take a deep breath and relax. This is one of those rare movies which soothes your confused minds. Allow yourself to fall into the embrace of The Bridge to Terabithia, and feel its magic for it will help you erect the bridge to your very own innocent childhood memories.
Showing posts with label Movie Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Movie Review. Show all posts
Saturday, 7 July 2007
Wednesday, 13 June 2007
Janji film Indonesia
I've been spending a long time in Indonesia now, in fact its the longest time I've ever stayed here ever since I left 10 years ago. And if there was ever an appropriate time to call me Indonesian, I'll have to say its during this past 6 months.
In the past half a year, I've gotten myself acquainted with the myriad TV serials that are being aired across the seemingly endless list of 9 or 10 TV stations? Anyway, I've been watching quite a number of sinetrons (drama serials) now. It sort of became a habit, something akin to a family activity. Everyday at 9 pm, the 3 of us would tune in to the same channel, sit, watch and laugh together.
Having 6 months worth of experience, I've seen enough to make judgments on Indonesia productions. I would rate them as sloppy without proper plot and storyline. In fact, it seems to me that the director just wants to extend the sinetron to as many episodes as possible gleefully ignoring the storyline, what with a series of ridiculous climaxes that are matched with equally amusing anti-climaxes which leave the audience lost in a jungle-of-a-story without an end in sight (maybe that is the reason its called drama). There is no focus on any characters at all and the best way to describe it is like getting on a rollercoaster ride. The ride gains momentum, plunges at break-neck speed, moves, twists and turns to a series of highs and lows before stopping abruptly. At the end of it all, try as hard as you can but still you couldn't grasp the story because there is nothing to hold on to in the first place.
After making those conclusions, I naturally assumed that the movies would be no better. I was wrong though and 2 Indonesian movies I watched these past 2 days changed my mind.
The first is Janji Joni (Joni's promise). It is a simple story of how a movie-reel delivery boy tries to make good his promise of never being late by delivering the movie reels to the cinemas punctually. On one unfortunate day, the movie reels were stolen and he had to journey all over the city just to recover the reels so that the audience won't be left watching a blank screen in the theater. It is a very simple story, too simple perhaps, but therein lies the magic. The whole movie is shot within the time frame of a single afternoon. I don't recall and in fact can't recall any movies which has such a short time limit. Usually movies have stories that happen over a number of days, weeks, months or even years. This movie is different. With some lame-but-funny jokes and scenes as spice, this is actually a breath of fresh air as compared to other movies that I've watched thus far, the kind of classic-but-entertaining movie that I thought was long gone. Kudos for this show! This was one of the shows featured in some international show festival if I am not wrong and it rightly deserves its place in that festival.
The second movie is a 180 degrees opposite of Janji Joni's light tone. The title is Exskul. This show deals with the highly taboo topic of violence in school. Almost like the shootings in America, this show is about a school kid who is depressed because he is bullied by the spoilt kids of powerful figures in the school . Feeling helpless, angry and armed with a gun, he finally decided to have revenge against the group of students who bullied him by taking them hostage in the school. While the movie certainly can be improved in terms of its cinematography, the storyline is there. Its solid, touching and thought-stirring. The message is all too simple to read and clearly brought out to raise awareness among the audience against in-school bullying. This movie won some award despite plagiarism concerns. Well, even if its plagiarised, its one hell of a nice movie.
Now after recommending 2 Indonesian movies, I wonder at the potential of Indonesian film makers and actually hunger for more local movies. However there is one rule of thumb which should never be forgotten - do your research, get your reviews. That is the safest way of ensuring yourself an enjoyable time watching any movie!
In the past half a year, I've gotten myself acquainted with the myriad TV serials that are being aired across the seemingly endless list of 9 or 10 TV stations? Anyway, I've been watching quite a number of sinetrons (drama serials) now. It sort of became a habit, something akin to a family activity. Everyday at 9 pm, the 3 of us would tune in to the same channel, sit, watch and laugh together.
Having 6 months worth of experience, I've seen enough to make judgments on Indonesia productions. I would rate them as sloppy without proper plot and storyline. In fact, it seems to me that the director just wants to extend the sinetron to as many episodes as possible gleefully ignoring the storyline, what with a series of ridiculous climaxes that are matched with equally amusing anti-climaxes which leave the audience lost in a jungle-of-a-story without an end in sight (maybe that is the reason its called drama). There is no focus on any characters at all and the best way to describe it is like getting on a rollercoaster ride. The ride gains momentum, plunges at break-neck speed, moves, twists and turns to a series of highs and lows before stopping abruptly. At the end of it all, try as hard as you can but still you couldn't grasp the story because there is nothing to hold on to in the first place.
After making those conclusions, I naturally assumed that the movies would be no better. I was wrong though and 2 Indonesian movies I watched these past 2 days changed my mind.
The first is Janji Joni (Joni's promise). It is a simple story of how a movie-reel delivery boy tries to make good his promise of never being late by delivering the movie reels to the cinemas punctually. On one unfortunate day, the movie reels were stolen and he had to journey all over the city just to recover the reels so that the audience won't be left watching a blank screen in the theater. It is a very simple story, too simple perhaps, but therein lies the magic. The whole movie is shot within the time frame of a single afternoon. I don't recall and in fact can't recall any movies which has such a short time limit. Usually movies have stories that happen over a number of days, weeks, months or even years. This movie is different. With some lame-but-funny jokes and scenes as spice, this is actually a breath of fresh air as compared to other movies that I've watched thus far, the kind of classic-but-entertaining movie that I thought was long gone. Kudos for this show! This was one of the shows featured in some international show festival if I am not wrong and it rightly deserves its place in that festival.
The second movie is a 180 degrees opposite of Janji Joni's light tone. The title is Exskul. This show deals with the highly taboo topic of violence in school. Almost like the shootings in America, this show is about a school kid who is depressed because he is bullied by the spoilt kids of powerful figures in the school . Feeling helpless, angry and armed with a gun, he finally decided to have revenge against the group of students who bullied him by taking them hostage in the school. While the movie certainly can be improved in terms of its cinematography, the storyline is there. Its solid, touching and thought-stirring. The message is all too simple to read and clearly brought out to raise awareness among the audience against in-school bullying. This movie won some award despite plagiarism concerns. Well, even if its plagiarised, its one hell of a nice movie.
Now after recommending 2 Indonesian movies, I wonder at the potential of Indonesian film makers and actually hunger for more local movies. However there is one rule of thumb which should never be forgotten - do your research, get your reviews. That is the safest way of ensuring yourself an enjoyable time watching any movie!
Wednesday, 30 May 2007
Parley?
Ok, so things this week are rather interesting. I mean, I have things to look forward to, more than the usual gym, swim, guitar mix.
One of the two major events - movie outing, happened 2 days earlier. On monday, my cousin and I watched the long anticipated Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. The timing was just right for us. She had just finished her major exam the previous week and is thus free to accompany for the movie.
Ah, now for the review, I don't know why there are bad reviews about it but the 2 of us were certainly full of praise for the show and enjoyed the show immensely. I mean, who could resist the cranky and nonsensical behaviour of our dearly beloved captain Jack Sparrow?
Maybe it has got to do with what the audience is looking for in a movie. For me, I set out watching Spiderman 3 wanting to see effects and action. The storyline is a distant second in the list of what I expect from the movie. Thus, despite the kind-of-boring storyline, I would say that the movie is worth my 25,000 rupiah (which by the way, converts to S$4.00). Same goes for this movie. I stepped into the theatre expecting a comedy and I walk out 3 hours later thinking, 'I got more than what I bargained for! The 20,000 rupiah is definitely worth it!'
Now, before I continue, I should just put up a little disclaimer: be warned! Whatever follows is more than a 'little bit' of a spoiler. While the story definitely has some strange add-on which adds neither weight nor depth to the movie, the main storyline is good. Personally I think the director cuold have given Chow Yun-Fatt a longer screen time considering that he is quite a pivotal character in the show. Sadly, the portrayal of the pirate-lord-of-Singapore is stiff at best and kind of twisted (I know this sounds strange considering that all the pirates are twisted in their minds). Another add-on is the love affair of Mr. Tentacles and the goddess Calypso. It could do with more depth and elaboration. I don't even know what happens to the 2 of them in the end after simply disappearing at the end of the movie. Their role in the story is weak and it might be better if Davy Jones' lover is not identified at all. Enough criticisms though, lets move on to my favourite scenes. After a series of betrayals and endless squabblings on the side of the pirates, the final half hour of the show is definitely the most exciting. First scene will be when the lovebirds are finally united amid the mayhem going on around them and the second favourite scene is the battle between the 2 legendary ships in the heart of a maelstorm. Third, will be when everybody's favourite captain does the noble thing as is his tradition in the previous shows as well. There! I've written all the spoilers I wanted to share. I hope that its vague.=)
As for the ending, I thought it was a very fitting end that wraps the story in a conclusive manner. Everybody gets what they wanted and Jack Sparrow is off again on his endless journey as everybody's hero.
This is one movie that is really worth your every cent (well, every rupiah for me) and I definitely am going to recommend it to everyone. Watch, laugh and enjoy! You won't even feel that 3 hours have passed!
One of the two major events - movie outing, happened 2 days earlier. On monday, my cousin and I watched the long anticipated Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. The timing was just right for us. She had just finished her major exam the previous week and is thus free to accompany for the movie.
Ah, now for the review, I don't know why there are bad reviews about it but the 2 of us were certainly full of praise for the show and enjoyed the show immensely. I mean, who could resist the cranky and nonsensical behaviour of our dearly beloved captain Jack Sparrow?
Maybe it has got to do with what the audience is looking for in a movie. For me, I set out watching Spiderman 3 wanting to see effects and action. The storyline is a distant second in the list of what I expect from the movie. Thus, despite the kind-of-boring storyline, I would say that the movie is worth my 25,000 rupiah (which by the way, converts to S$4.00). Same goes for this movie. I stepped into the theatre expecting a comedy and I walk out 3 hours later thinking, 'I got more than what I bargained for! The 20,000 rupiah is definitely worth it!'
Now, before I continue, I should just put up a little disclaimer: be warned! Whatever follows is more than a 'little bit' of a spoiler. While the story definitely has some strange add-on which adds neither weight nor depth to the movie, the main storyline is good. Personally I think the director cuold have given Chow Yun-Fatt a longer screen time considering that he is quite a pivotal character in the show. Sadly, the portrayal of the pirate-lord-of-Singapore is stiff at best and kind of twisted (I know this sounds strange considering that all the pirates are twisted in their minds). Another add-on is the love affair of Mr. Tentacles and the goddess Calypso. It could do with more depth and elaboration. I don't even know what happens to the 2 of them in the end after simply disappearing at the end of the movie. Their role in the story is weak and it might be better if Davy Jones' lover is not identified at all. Enough criticisms though, lets move on to my favourite scenes. After a series of betrayals and endless squabblings on the side of the pirates, the final half hour of the show is definitely the most exciting. First scene will be when the lovebirds are finally united amid the mayhem going on around them and the second favourite scene is the battle between the 2 legendary ships in the heart of a maelstorm. Third, will be when everybody's favourite captain does the noble thing as is his tradition in the previous shows as well. There! I've written all the spoilers I wanted to share. I hope that its vague.=)
As for the ending, I thought it was a very fitting end that wraps the story in a conclusive manner. Everybody gets what they wanted and Jack Sparrow is off again on his endless journey as everybody's hero.
This is one movie that is really worth your every cent (well, every rupiah for me) and I definitely am going to recommend it to everyone. Watch, laugh and enjoy! You won't even feel that 3 hours have passed!
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