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Danny Baldwin · Posted: 06.30.2003 10:36 pm Post subject: Whale Rider

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

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.

Danny Baldwin · Posted: 07.02.2003 11:31 pm Post subject:

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 · Posted: 08.08.2003 11:11 pm Post subject:

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

likeadeadduck · Grip Joined: 03 Jul 2003 Posts: 15 Location: Encinitas, CA

I'd give it about 3/4
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Danny Baldwin · Posted: 09.29.2003 12:20 am Post subject:

Ratings are arbitrary. Bleh.
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Danny Baldwin · Posted: 09.29.2003 12:20 am Post subject:

Care to elaborate?
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beltmann · Posted: 09.29.2003 12:52 am Post subject:

Danny Baldwin · Posted: 09.29.2003 12:56 am Post subject:

Danny Baldwin · Posted: 09.29.2003 12:57 am Post subject:

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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