Genre: Horror/Thriller
Director: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman
Cast:
RunTime: 1 hr 24 mins
Released By: UIP
Rating: NC-16 (Disturbing Scenes)
Official Website: http://www.paranormalmovie.com/
Opening Day: 20 October 2011
Synopsis: Supernatural geeks will be delighted by a haunting third installment of the well-received thriller series, Paranormal Activity.
A follow-up horror flick directed by Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost, Paranormal Activity 3 brings us back to 1988, 18 years before the actual events of Paranormal Activity and Paranormal Activity 2 where Katie and Kristi were still young girls.
The pair of young sisters encounters an unknown being haunting their home in 1988. While the being appears friendly initially, the girls and their family are soon tormented by it when it turns aggressive.
Movie Review:
By now, you already know what to expect from a ‘Paranormal Activity’ film, so newcomer directors to the franchise Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman don’t have the luxury of novelty that the first’s Oren Peli had. But even though we knew to expect the same tricks- doors opening and slamming shut, thuds on the floorboards, kitchen utensils falling to a crash by themselves, and most of all, bed covers pulled away- this latest instalment proved to be even more terrifying than the first two, and quite possibly one of the scariest things you’ll see this year.
Those who have seen the first two films will recall that both sisters Katie (Katie Featherstone) and Kristi (Sprague Grayden) were spooked at some point in their childhood before their documented hauntings as adults. A preamble sees Katie and Sprague reprising their roles, with the added hint that their childhood experiences were also recorded on tapes. Then returning series writer Christopher Landon takes us back to 1988, when they had just moved into a suburban California home with their mom Julie (Laurie Bittner) and her boyfriend Dennis (Chris Smith).
Little time is wasted watching them settling in, as Joost and Schulman bring on the supernatural encounters almost immediately. Because Dennis happens to run his own home studio shooting wedding videos, he insists on setting up three cameras in the house to investigate the mysterious sounds they’ve been hearing- one of them he places in the girls’ room up in the attic, another in his and Julie’s bedroom, and the last in the living room. Of course this being 1988, the footage is recorded on tapes, and look grainier than the digital recordings in the earlier films.
But as with the last two, what follows is an exercise in anticipation as we are forced to watch and wait for the signs that some other presence is in that very room. The familiarity of ‘Paranormal’s’ approach however does not diminish the suspense one bit, and indeed, it remains a tense, nail-biting experience definitely not for the faint-hearted. Joost and Schulman also come up with ingenious ways of escalating dread- one of their best ideas to jerry-rig a camera on an oscillating fan so that it pans back and forth between the living room and the kitchen, the tactic working brilliantly for a petrifying sequence that has the babysitter spooked.
Another standout sequence has Katie playing ‘Bloody Mary’ with Dennis’ assistant Randy (Dustin Ingram) in the bathroom, provoking some serious shit that will have you grabbing the hand-rests of your seats. Whereas the horror previously was more insidious, it is more tangible and therefore even more startling this time round- the said spirit assuming physical though still invisible form that literally stops Katie in her tracks. It is also certainly more menacing, and isn’t quite as subtle in announcing its presence as before.
Besides Joost and Schulman’s deft hand at engineering the shocks, Langdon also steps up his game with a tighter narrative that cleverly ensures the continuity of the ‘Paranormal Activity’ legacy. Rest assured that we won’t spoil the surprise for anyone- suffice to say that the final half hour that sees the whole family retreating to Julie’s mother’s place goes deeper than ever before into the reason for the hauntings. Clearly more assured than before, Langdon also brings an unexpected touch of levity to the nerve-wracking proceedings through Randy’s wisecracks, and let’s just say you’ll be glad Ingram plays the part with zing to lighten the mood.
Despite this being the third time round, we are glad to say that the ‘Paranormal Activity’ franchise is getting better and better with every instalment. Thanks to new blood in the form of faux-documentary ‘Catfish’ directors Joost and Schulman, ‘PA3’ isn’t just content to revisit the same scares of its predecessors, but ups the ante in suspense and sheer terror. Sure it’s timed to get the maximum mileage of the Halloween season, but this isn’t some blatant cash-grab attempt at horror-starved audiences. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again- this is the best ‘Paranormal Activity’ yet, and one of the most terrifying horror movies you’ll see this year.
Movie Rating:
(A exercise par excellence in dread and terror, this is the best Paranormal Activity yet and easily one of the scariest movies you'll see this year)
Review by Gabriel Chong
Genre: Drama/Family
Director: Cameron Crowe
Cast: Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Peter Riegert, Elle Fanning, Angus McFayden
RunTime: 2 hrs 8 mins
Released By: 20th Century Fox
Rating: PG
Official Website: http://www.weboughtazoo.com/
Opening Day: 22 December 2011
Synopsis: Acclaimed filmmaker Cameron Crowe ("Jerry Maguire") directs a funny and uplifting story about finding joy, the power of family, and the triumph of hope. A widowed father buys a dilapidated zoo in hopes of making a fresh start. While facing enormous odds involved in running a zoo and keeping it open, he must also deal with the trials of everyday life in raising a young family. Based on a true story.
Movie Review:
You can’t get more obvious what your film is about with a title like ‘We Bought a Zoo’, but fortunately director Cameron Crowe’s adaptation of British journalist Benjamin Mee’s autobiography possesses much more subtlety and nuance than what its title would suggest. The story of a grieving widower who makes the unusual decision to buy a rural property whose 18 acres includes the Rosemoor Animal Park, it is also Crowe’s first feature since his 2005 flop ‘Elizabethtown’ and the feel-good family movie represents a welcome return to form for the talented filmmaker behind such classics like ‘Say Anything’ and ‘Jerry Maguire’.
Working off a script by ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ and ‘Morning Glory’s’ Aline Brosh McKenna, Crowe grounds the high-concept tale in a heart-warming story about a lonely widower trying to overcome his grief for his bereaved wife while attempting to reconnect with his teenage son Dylan (Colin Ford) and young daughter Rosie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones). Crowe is better than to take the easy route of mawkish sentimentality; instead, there is genuine humanity and optimism in his storytelling, complemented by some outstanding performances that he coaxes from an ensemble cast- in particular his lead actor Matt Damon.
Though the ‘Bourne’ trilogy has cemented his reputation as a thinking man’s action star, Damon has been and still is a strong dramatic actor. The astute actor confidently matches the emotional beats that Crowe chooses for his character every step of the way, from sanguineness at a change of scenery early on to dismay later on when one thing after another goes awry. His is a heartfelt performance that packs a powerful emotional wallop in his understated delivery of a father struggling to do it right by his children- and nowhere is this more evident than in a powerful scene where Benjamin and Dylan address their fractured relationship head-on which is guaranteed to bring tears to your eyes.
The conviction that Damon brings to his role is a huge reason why the film achieves its intended poignancy. A scene where his character finally overcomes his fear of looking at past photographs of his wife and their happy days together as a family is simple yet moving- and appropriately filmed in close-ups; while the film’s last scene where he reminisces his first encounter with his deceased wife to his children also works brilliantly thanks to Damon at his earnest best. He also shares great chemistry with each of his co-stars- whether Scarlett Johannson’s perceptive zookeeper Kelly, or Thomas Haden Church’s wry older brother Duncan.
Both Johannson and Church are also individually outstanding in their supporting roles, alongside other equally incomparable veterans like Angus MacFadyen as the groundskeeper with a longstanding grudge for park inspector Walter Ferris (John Michael Higgins) and Patrick Fugit (who played Crowe’s alter ego in ‘Almost Famous’) as one of the zoo staffers with a capuchin monkey perpetually perched on his shoulders. Crowe has also assembled an impressive teenage cast- Ford brings a raw edge to his character’s anger, counterbalanced perfectly by the ebullient Elle Fanning as Kelly’s cousin- as well as an impossibly adorable Maggie Elizabeth Jones sure to melt your heart.
Aided by an outstanding cast, Crowe drives the narrative along with a sure confident hand. Alongside the running themes of grief and parenthood are well-inserted vignettes of Benjamin and his crew’s obstacles at getting the zoo up to inspection standards in time for a grand reopening on the seventh seventh (or the seventh of July)- among them the escape of the zoo’s 650-pound grizzly bear Buster, the fate of the zoo’s 17-year-old ailing tiger Spar and of course Benjamin’s impending bankruptcy (that we admit is over all too soon by a dues ex machina). Still, there is genuine feeling in every scene, and Crowe’s choice of music (a mix of oldies with more contemporary tunes) as well as Jónsi’s (of Icelandic cult band Sigur Rós) eclectic score works perfectly in complementing the mood of the film.
And even though it’s tinged with sadness, the tone of the film is never depressing- Crowe making it sure that the film steers clear of both overdramatic as well as melodramatic moments. There’s hope and affirmation abound in this inspirational tale, and just because its message of acceptance and reconciliation may sound familiar doesn’t mean it is less authentic or touching for that matter. It wears its heart on its sleeve, but thanks to Crowe’s deft hand as well as Damon’s heartfelt performance, even the cynical will find themselves moved.
Movie Rating:
(A lot of heart and humanity makes this a delightful, inspiring and poignant autobiographical tale notable too for a peerless lead act by Matt Damon)
Review by Gabriel Chong
Genre: Sci-Fi/Thriller
Director: Chris Gorak
Cast: Emile Hirsch, Olivia Thirlby, Max Minghella, Rachael Taylor, Joel Kinnaman, Gosha Kutsenko, Dato Bakhtadz
RunTime: 1 hr 30 mins
Rating: PG
Released By: 20th Century Fox
Official Website: http://www.thedarkesthourisnear.com/
Opening Day: 29 December 2011
Synopsis: THE DARKEST HOUR is the story of four young people who find themselves stranded in Moscow, fighting to survive in the wake of a devastating alien attack. It combines mind-blowing special effects from filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (“Wanted”) with the grounded vision of director Chris Gorak (“Right At Your Door”).
Movie Review:
This is a B-grade movie and you should go in expecting one. Certainly, it won't win over many critics. Still, there are some thrills in this apocalyptic sci-fi thriller. Even though, it leaves a middling aftertaste. Thankfully, it runs at a lean 89 minutes and doesn't waste too much time in exposition, which are sometimes cringe-worthy. For me, it does throw in a few interesting ideas, which prevent it from being just another cookie-cutter entry in the increasingly stale genre.
First, the aliens. Instead of taking on the snarly form we've seen in countless films, they are invisible to the human eye and exist in the form of microwave energy. The only way they can be detected is when they pass through an object powered by electricity. And they kill humans by turning them into ashes. Because the aliens can't be seen, the killings are unpredictable.
Second, I like the idea of transposing the American protagonists and the apocalypse to a foreign city, Moscow, instead of the trite New York City or Los Angeles. The stereotypes of Russian culture are played for laughs, though most of the jokes come across flat. However, you get to relish the many famous sights and landmarks such as The Red Square, in ruins.
In terms of characters, most of them are disposable. Even the leads, Emile Hirsch, Olivia Thirlby and Max Minghella come across as likeable at best, but not memorable. It doesn't help that they are given lame one-liners. I wish they had given the eccentric Russian electrician and his cacophony of gadgets more screen time.
The Darkest Hour has a great setup. Pity the makers didn't have the balls to strive beyond formula. Even if the ending sets it up for a sequel, I reckon its box office performance will convince the studio they need one.
Movie Rating:
(Fun but formulaic sci-fi thriller that should have been more)
Review by Adrian Sim
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THE FORTUNE BUDDIESPosted on 09 Aug 2011 |
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SMURFS CELEBRATE NATIONAL DAY WITH THE STARSPosted on 10 Aug 2011 |
Genre: Drama/Romance
Director: Lone Scherfig
Cast: Anne Hathaway, Jim Sturgess, Patricia Clarkson, Jodie Whittaker, Joséphine de La Baume, Tom Mison, Tim Key, Rafe Spall
RunTime: 1 hr 47 mins
Released By: Shaw
Rating: NC-16 (Some Nudity)
Official Website: http://www.experienceoneday.com/
Opening Day: 20 October 2011
Synopsis: Twenty years. Two people...
Directed by Lone Scherfig (director of An Education, Academy Award-nominated for Best Picture), the motion picture One Day is adapted for the screen by David Nicholls from his beloved bestselling novel One Day. After one day together - July 15th, 1988, their university graduation - Emma Morley (Academy Award nominee Anne Hathaway) and Dexter Mayhew (Jim Sturgess of Across the Universe) begin a friendship that will last a lifetime. She is a working-class girl of principle and ambition who dreams of making the world a better place. He is a wealthy charmer who dreams that the world will be his playground. For the next two decades, key moments of their relationship are experienced over several July 15ths in their lives. Together and apart, we see Dex and Em through their friendship and fights, hopes and missed opportunities, laughter and tears. Somewhere along their journey, these two people realize that what they are searching and hoping for has been there for them all along. As the true meaning of that one day back in 1988 is revealed, they come to terms with the nature of love and life itself.
Movie Review:
There are love stories, and then there are love stories that rely on gimmick over emotion since romantic diehards would have seen them all, from the most heart-wrenching to the most bizarre, that it's hard to find oneself not repeating material already covered by others. One Day, based on the novel by David Nicholls who was also responsible for the screenplay to ensure canonical, approved deviation from the book where necessary, is centered around two firm friends who spend a chaste night together straight after graduation, and drop into and out of each other's lives over the course of 20 years. Which means what you're about to experience is little more than a snapshot of St Swithin's Day on July 15 starting from 1988.
Directed by Lone Scherfig, who was also responsible for the sleeper hit An Education that put Carey Mulligan on the star map, One Day features Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess in the aforementioned roles of Emma and Dexter respectively whom we follow over two decades and witness just about the ups and downs in their professional and love lives, like good friends in the know about another's highs and lows in a dead end job while aspiring to be something else, and being privy to a number of private moments about relationship woes. Both Dexter and Emma exude an attraction for the other, but in a series of cruel missteps never really took their firm friendship to another level, and that serves as material to keep the narrative going.
Sure, some of us would rather stay platonic with the opposite sex for fear of complicating what we treasure most, and risk losing someone trusted and valued should things not work out in the end. And in the story of Dexter and Emma, practically every scene, told in episodic fashion like the chapters in the book which cover year on year, reminded us of how well they would have suited each other, although they could be at each other's throats should they have met more than once in every year, or at least that's what we're allowed to see. This puts you in the driver's seat in crafting the nitty gritty details and filling in the blanks in between the other 364 days of someone else's life, imagining how they would be like since the filmmakers and novelist provided a very stingy less than one day kiss and tell detail.
But that only applied to the relationship between the lovers. There were a lot more other relations in the film that unfortunately took too much of a back seat and never really got featured prominently, especially the parental one between Dexter and his parents (played by Patricia Clarkson and Ken Stott), which got really fast forwarded and didn't allow the proper gestation of a subplot about loss to deepen. Significant time also got spent in dealing with Dexter and Emma's romances with other significant others, where once again it's left to chance to come and mess things up big time, although for the story, this serves as a benchmark to be measured against since true emotions got bottled up, and substitutes were hardly up to mark on the emotional front. And trust me with Sturgess and Hathaway in form we know just about what their true intents are even if the characters they play are in denial.
It's a film about coming together, carpe diem, of bonds forged between best of friends that allows you to know who are those that can be counted to lend a shoulder to cry on. You can be a strapping young jock or a senior citizen enjoying the twilight of one's years, and there will be an incredible amount of satisfaction gained, especially when the moments in the film are so easily identifiable with. The attention to details is what made this film stand out against mediocre romantic film peers, and the span of the story allowed for just that to happen, against very subtle background changes. Check out the extremely meticulous art direction to capture the milestones in the different years, from fashion sense to household appliances. Then there are the songs from the film's soundtrack, that provides a trip down memory lane for anyone growing up in the 80s and 90s.
One Day captures everything magical about finding that special someone to connect deeply with, and despite its one trick pony plot device, managed to serve up something quite expected as far as plot development in a romance goes, with the usual boy-meets-loses-reconciles-with-girl cyclic development. The two leads of course share remarkable chemistry to lift this above average since it conjures no surprises as far as stamping its ambition to be amongst the greatest of love stories.
Movie Rating:
(Glimpses that leave you wanting more)
Review by Stefan Shih
SYNOPSIS: Simon Pegg and Nick Frost reunite as sci-fi geeks taking a pilgrimage to America’s UFO heartland. There they meet a smart-ass alien Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen) who takes them on an insane road trip. As they struggle to return Paul home the little green man might just take the outcasts from misfits to intergalactic heroes. From the director of Superbad Greg Mottola and with a stellar supporting cast including Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Joe Lo Truglio, Jane Lynch, and Sigourney Weaver. Paul is a must-own comedy adventure not to be missed!
MOVIE REVIEW:
Their last two collaborations, “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz” didn’t exactly received a wide release or attention for that matter in the States thus this is a change of strategy from Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, probably two of the best comedians coming from Britain.
Two sci-fi geeks from London, Graeme Willy (Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Frost) took a trip to attend Comic-Con in San Diego. After renting a RV, the best buddies went on to visit Area 51 hoping for some alien gazing. But to their shock, they did encountered a real Alien named Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen) who are pursued by three FBI agents including Agent Zoil (Jason Bateman), bumbling Haggard (Bill Hader) and O’Reilly (Joe Lo Truglio) after a daring escape from the authorities.
“Paul” is a road movie, not as spiritual as “The Darjeeling Limited”, not as madcap as “The Hangover” and definitely not as child-friendly liked “Mr Bean’s Holiday”. Directed by Greg Mottola (Superbad) and written by Pegg and Frost, it’s a road trip, buddy movie with a greenish, smoking alien thrown in. The comedic elements took a leisurely turn this time around and Pegg/Frost seems to be taking it easy with their banter, leaving most of the tasty bits to the foul-mouth Paul and some crazy antics by SNL alumni Hader and Kristen Wigg (Bridesmaids) who turns up halfway as Willy’s love interest.
As far as crude comedies go, “Paul” is pretty inconsistent and works more on a random goofball mode. The recent crop of R-rated comedies has ventured into much offensive territory while “Paul” is populated by simply a few jibes at gays, anal-probe jokes, F-words and touchy references to religion. Obviously, I’m not trying to say we need lots of gross-out humour to make things work, it’s just that Pegg and Frost can do better if you have seen their earlier works with Edgar Wright.
Seth Rogen works best when he is not seen (he is the praying-mantis in Kung Fu Panda) but the man who openly criticised our drug system on a talkshow remains his weed-loving, crude self even in the form of a CG alien. The rest of the comedic cast including Bateman and Hader tends to do better when given a stronger material. Cameos by Jane Lynch, David Koechner, Jeffrey Tambor and even Steven Spielberg himself mainly add icing to an already terrific cast.
All in all, “Paul” is not a bad movie just a pretty average one consider the talents involved. It’s entertaining on the whole and the fun in watching Pegg and Frost poked fun at all the pop-culture i.e. Star Wars, Star Trek and Ripley (Sigourney Weaver in an all-too-short cameo) is priceless. Perhaps Working Title and Universal can rope in Edgar Wright to direct Pegg and Frost instead for their next venture.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
The Evolution of Paul is a 15 minutes feature in which Motolla and his group of animators talk about the development of the CG character, Paul.
Bloopers showcased the amount of fun the cast has during the filming.
Simon's Silly Faces says it all. Pegg should be a darling with kids.
6 different Galleries are featured here including Nick Frost's Road Trip Photos, Simon Pegg's Behind-the-Scenes Photos, Simon Pegg's Rehearsal Photos, Wilson Webb's Behind-the-Scenes Photos, Storyboards and Posters.
Who the Hell is Adam Shadowchild? takes a quick look at Jeffrey Tambor’s character in the movie.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The audio quality is surprisingly loud and active. Dialogue is clear while the video presentation is natural and convincing. There’s hardly any artefact between the CG character and the live-action ones.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by Linus Tee
SYNOPSIS: Get ready to tango with "Rango," a winner with critics and audiences that’s "like nothing you’ve ever seen before" (Peter Travers, "Rolling Stone"). Johnny Depp is spectacular as Rango, a kooky pet chameleon who gets tossed into a wild and raucous town in desperate need of a hero.
MOVIE REVIEW:
After playing the Mad Hatter, a tourist and a pirate for the countless times, Johnny Depp is voicing an animated character officially for the first time. Under the direction of Gore Verbinski, Depp plays Rango, a pet chameleon, which dreams about the theatrics, and one day finds himself lost in the desert after an accident. Alone, lost and thirsty, Rango stumbles upon an old town named Dirt where water is a prized commodity. After being conferred the title of Sheriff, Rango must pacify and lead the villagers of Dirt into finding the truth behind the lack of water reserve. Will he succeed?
Without any doubt, “Rango” is a damn fine piece of CG animated production. Even if the character designs of the desert-dwelling creatures by Mark "Crash" Mccreery aren’t the best-looking or merchandise-friendly enough for the kids. Yet it’s so photo-realistic and endearing. Armadillo, Iguana, Rattlesnake, you named it, “Rango” has it. And of course coming out from George Lucas’s ILM, you don’t expect the animation values to be anything lesser.
Credit must go to John Lango (Gladiator, The Last Samurai) for scribing an oddball wacky western comedy that pays homage to the great old western adventures and the extent of Clint Eastwood. There are plenty of quirky one-liners to look out for such as “I'm going to slice your face off and use it to wipe my unmentionables!” and “I think the metaphor broke my spleen.” Definitely not the usual mainstream animated fares from Disney/Pixar and DreamWorks. Logan and Verbinski keep the pacing moving at a hurried pace except for the first act and unexpectedly throws in a huge aerial battle that have you glue to your seat. Compared to the bloated pirates franchise, the humour and action factor is spot-on and Verbinski proves he is no flash-in-the-pan without Disney.
Johnny Depp himself is a chameleon when it comes to acting. He breathes life to every character he plays and this CG chameleon works because of his witty voicework. Isla Fisher is terrific as the voice of Beans the Iguana who is fighting for her late father’s land from the Mayor (Ned Beatty who also voices the evil Lotso in Toy Story 3). Other notetable cast includes Abigail Breslin, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy, Ray Winstone and Timothy Olyphant who voices the mysterious Spirit of the West.
Once again, the prolific Hans Zimmer contributed the zany, catchy soundtrack and you will love the sarcasm-filled Mexican mariachi band in the flick. It’s hard to nitpick any faults with “Rango”. It’s mostly unpredictable, clever and filled with uncompromising visuals; this CG fare is likely more a hit with adults than kids. One of the highly recommended titles of 2011.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Director Gore Verbinski; Head of Story James Ward Byrkit; Production Designer Mark "Crash" McCreery; Animation Director Hal Hickel; and Visual Effects Supervisor Tim Alexander chips in this Audio Commentary that touches almost every aspect of making Rango.
There are 9 Deleted Scenes here but it’s the Never-Before-Seen-Ending which is an absolute blast.
Real Creatures of Dirt is a 22 minutes educational segment that talks about the various real creatures residing in the desert.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
Dialogue is clear while the sound effects are tremendously well-done with gunfire oozing past the soundstage and ambient effects are solid as well. Images are detailed and colours are perfect in every sense on this DVD but hey I’m looking forward to watching this again on Blu-ray.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by Linus Tee
Genre: Drama
Director: Justin Chadwick
Cast: Naomie Harris, Oliver Litondo, Tony Kgoroge, Oliver Litondo, Vusi Kunene, Israel Makoe
RunTime: 1 hr 43 mins
Released By: Shaw
Rating: PG (Some Violence)
Official Website: http://www.thefirstgrader-themovie.com/
Opening Day: 1 September 2011
Synopsis: In a small, remote mountain top primary school in the Kenyan bush, hundreds of children are jostling for a chance for the free education newly promised by the Kenyan government. One new applicant causes astonishment when he knocks on the door of the school. He is Maruge (Litondo), an old Mau Mau veteran in his eighties, who is desperate to learn to read at this late stage of his life. He fought for the liberation of his country and now feels he must have the chance of an education so long denied―even if it means sitting in a classroom alongside six-year-olds. Moved by his passionate plea, head teacher Jane Obinchu (Harris), supports his struggle to gain admission and together they face fierce opposition from parents and officials who don't want to waste a precious school place on such an old man. Full of vitality and humour, the film explores the remarkable relationships Maruge builds with his classmates some eighty years his junior. Through Maruge's journey, we are taken back to the shocking untold story of British colonial rule 50 years earlier where Maruge fought for the freedom of his country, eventually ending up in the extreme and harsh conditions of the British detention camps. Directed by Justin Chadwick (THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL, BLEAK HOUSE) from a script by Emmy-winner Ann Peacock (THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, NIGHTS IN RODANTHE, KIT KITTRIDGE), THE FIRST GRADER is a heart warming and inspiring true story of one man's fight for what he believes is his right in order to overcome the burdens of his past. It is a triumphant testimony to the transforming force of education .
Movie Review:
How do you know that filmmakers aren’t bulls***ing you when an incredibly motivating story unfolds before your eyes? How do you know that an inspiring tale of courage and determination can happen in real life? How do you know that there is some good in this increasingly cynical world we live in?
You just need to check whether these words appear on the movie’s promotional poster: Based on a true story.
And more often than not, such productions have a stirring screenplay which arouses the senses of its target audiences to achieve more in life. This Justin Chadwick directed film tells the true story of Kimani Maruge, an 84 year old Kenyan villager who fights for his right to go to school for the first time to get the education he could never afford. Not uplifting enough, our protagonist is also an ex freedom fighter who has seen the country’s colonial past and is determined to seize his last chance to learn to read and write.
If education is a topic you are passionate about, then this film is a must see. It weaves in timeless and universal messages about the importance of education in society, and has the veteran protagonist illustrate this poignant point. We have heard how one is never too old to learn, but with this film, you can experience and relive the liberation and exuberance of going to school.
It is especially interesting to see Oliver Litondo’s Maruge sitting side by side with six year olds in the dilapidated classroom (by Singapore’s standards, that is), in touch with books and pencils for the first time. With a back story of how he was part of the older generation that helped free Kenya from British colony, audiences will appreciate the dramatic arc writer Ann Peacock (Nights in Rodanthe) has created for the film. Besides, how can anyone not fall in love with Maruge, an old man in a school uniform, ever so earnest to learn?
The other star of the film is Naomie Harris’ Jane Obinchu, a teacher who not only fights for the rural school’s survival, but also faces off the fierce resistance that threatens to hinder education. Harris (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Miami Vice) is wonderful as the passionate teacher who we wish we had. Her on screen pairing with Litondo (the actor is a familiar face at home, where he was an anchorman for Voice of Kenya and Kenya Television Network) is heartfelt and honest, and that easily makes this 2010 production one of the best films we’ve seen.
Chadwick (The Other Boleyn Girl) has an eye to engage his viewers emotionally. The rural and urban landscapes are captured beautifully on film, and complemented by an affecting story that informs audiences of the country’s history, the result is an heartwarming movie that will speak universally to its viewers.
Producers Sam Feuer and Richard Harris had previously released the documentary short The First Grader: The True Story of Kimani N’ganga Maruge in 2006, and with this feature film, one can fully experience the incredible true story of a man’s journey to seek education, and the passion that an educator is willing to dedicate to make sure that he gets it.
Movie Rating:
(A highly recommended film which boasts of an emotionally inspiring tale )
Review by John Li
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Advance Ticket Sales for GLEE THE 3D CONCERT MOVIE starts Friday, August 12Posted on 11 Aug 2011 |
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