Category Archives: Drama

11.26.12
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Life of Pi

My rating:

This Ang Lee film tells about Piscine Molitor “Pi” Patel (Suraj Sharma), a 16-year-old Indian boy who is the only survivor of a sinking Japanese freighter and finds himself on a small life boat with a spotted hyena, a mother orangutan who had lost her children in the shipwreck, a wounded zebra and an adult male Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. Pi must survive with the animals and survive at sea. Eventually, after furious fighting between the animals, only Richard Parker survives, and the 2 survivors form a unique friendship after lots of efforts.

Other cast members include Irrfan Khan as the adult Pi, Tabu as Pi’s mother, Adil Hussain as Pi’s father, Gerard Depardieu as a cook and Rafe Spall as a writer. Directed by Ang Lee, the film is based on Yann Martel’s 2001 novel of the same name. The producers are Ang Lee, Gil Netter and David Womark and the screenwriter is David Magee.

This movie is a story of ingenuity, adventure, courage and faith. It concludes with a message that belief in God is indeed the “better story” (according to Pi). I really enjoyed this film after I saw it with my grandmother on Thursday and I would recommend this film for adults and teenagers, but especially not kids around my age or younger because they would find it too scary or boring. Also, they might not understand the plot of the movie, but  I think adults will really like this movie.

Also, here is the website and the trailer of the movie.

11.22.12
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From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

My rating: ratings1

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler is a 1995 television film based on the novel by E.L. Konigsburg. The story is about a girl named Claudia and her brother, Jamie, who run away from home to live in the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art and discover what they think is a lost treasure. The children are transfixed with the treasure and won’t leave without knowing what its secret is. Lauren Bacall stars in the title role, Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.

The film lacks the narrative of Mrs. Frankweiler present in the book which causes it to lose much of the book’s humor and wisdom. For the majority of the film, the script stays true to the action in the book. However, Claudia’s posing as an adult and Jamie’s cold are not present in the novel.

I hated this movie a lot, especially becuase I didn’t like the actress who was casted as Claudia. I would recommend this movie for kids my age or older, but not for younger kids who might not be interested in it or not understand the plot.

Also, here is the trailer of the movie.

10.28.12
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Chasing Mavericks

My rating: 

I saw Chasing Mavericks with my friend and his family, and it is based on a true story of surfing legend Jay Moriarity (1978-2001), and how he learned to surf the world’s most dangerous wave, the maverick. He was trained by surfing legend Rick “Frosty” Hesson (played by Gerard Butler). In the course of Jay’s training, the 2 surfers form a relationship.

Unfortunately, Jay died in a diving accident in the Indian Ocean, a day before his 23rd birthday. He had a wife named Kim Moriarity, who was his friend since their childhood. Jay is remembered as a “soul surfer”, winning many sportsmanship awards throughout his career. Moriarity deserved a tribute like this film, for he was a really great surfer.

I really enjoyed this movie and I would recommend it for children my age (10) or older. Adults will also really enjoy this movie. I really liked Gerard Butler’s role as Frosty Hesson, although he was hospitalized after being injured during a surfing stunt on December 19, 2011. This is my favorite movie starring Gerard Butler.

The movie was filmed in Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay (the movie also takes place in both locations). I don”t think I’ll ever be able to surf a wave as big as a maverick!

Also, here is the website and the trailer of the movie.

10.09.12
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Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest

My rating:    

This is a 6-minute short film made by Perry Chen, an 11-year-old animator and movie blogger (like me), directed by Kevin Sean Michaels and produced by Bill Plympton. It is a true story about a girl named Ingoushka Petrov (later known as Ingrid Pitt), who survived the Holocaust in 1945, when she was only eight years old. She narrated the film herself and it was her last project before she passed away. Like Anne Frank, it was her childhood dream to become an actress and she eventually lived her dream and was a movie star for over 40 years before her death in late 2010.

This short film describes the Holocaust experience through Ingrid Pitt’s eyes in very simple, hand-drawn animation. I was very impressed by the movie’s ability to express Ingrid Pitt’s fear of being imprisoned in the concentration camp with her mother, constantly fearing for her life, experiencing hunger, diseases and sadness. I really liked how Perry Chen made Ingrid’s bad memories in black and white and her good memory (of the moment she learned the war was over) in color – almost like she was becoming alive again.

As a Jewish boy I was personally moved by this film. It made me feel that I can now better understand what my great grandmother’s family went through in Poland. They, too, were taken to concentration camps and killed in horrific ways (my great grandmother was the only survivor from a big family). She still lives in Israel (she’s 98 years old now) and frequently shares her family stories and pictures with us.

This film will be featured at the Transbay Festival, kicking off this Friday, October 12 in San Francisco.

Also, here is a preview video of the movie.

10.06.12
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Bridge to Terabithia (2007)

My rating:   

I saw this movie last week on Youtube and I thought it was a great movie. It stars Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb, Bailee Madison, Robert Patrick and Zooey Deschanel. It is based on the award-winning novel by Katherine Paterson, which I also read, and it is the story of Jess Aarons (played by Josh Hutcherson)who meets a girl named Leslie Burke (played by AnnaSophia Robb). Together, they create the imaginary land of Terabithia and rule as king and queen. This friendship helps Jess cope with the tragedy that makes him realize what Leslie had taught him. I would recommend this touching film for the whole family.

Also, here is the trailer of the movie.

09.03.12
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Born To Be Wild

My rating: 

Born To Be Wild, which I saw a few days ago, is a nice documentary about orphaned elephants and orangutans being raised by humans and being returned to the wild once they’re ready to, but I think the movie is way too short (it’s only 40 minutes long). The film is narrated by Morgan Freeman, and it features Daphne Sheldrick and Birute Galdikas, the two animal experts who raised the elephants and orangutans. In the movie, the animals act really smart, knowing that the humans are trying to help them and not harm them. I learned that although some people are really cruel to animals (hunters and poachers kill animals for no good reason but greed), if the rest of us care enough, we can help make the world a better place. This film is now on DVD and Blu-ray.

Also, here is the trailer of Born To Be Wild.