 
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
|
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
66.161.252.42
In Reply to: Coming from way behind the curve - Whale Rider posted by Victor Khomenko on February 6, 2005 at 06:50:09:
I would agree that I did not find it to be the great film that many consider it to be. But we too often forget the target audience. Some films are not made for everyone to enjoy. Some are made for certain people to enjoy more than other. This is a film made for younger audiences, the target audience being the young teen set, for whom most movies made consist of stupid teens (Olsen twins), or light sex and gross out fests. Another M.P.A.A moronic decision was making this a PG-13.Sometimes you must change your expectations a little to appreciate a film. Watching this film with the same eye you would of a foreign film, you probably would not appreciate "Whale Rider." I watch a fair number of foreign films, which I enjoy very much, but I must admit that they tend to completely ignore the younger market.
Whale Rider succeeds very well in telling a good story to younger viewers, who do not want, nor need, to see extreme emotional sweeps in their films. Wizard of Oz did not have many emotion sweeps beyond happy and sad, yet it is arguably the best film for young (and old) viewers ever made. If a studio takes the risk to make an intelligent, uplifting story for younger audiences, whether it may be a little syrupy, I say, good for them. I'll happily take a little syrup if what is underneath if worth eating.
With respect to the female lead: this was her first acting role. She had to play a somewhat defiant, scared, and ultimately, brave girl. She must literally carry the film, because if she is not likeable, then the film fails. That a twelve year old girl carried this film on her shoulders, I cannot criticize. I assume if we consider the emotions to be sadness, happiness, anger, fear, etc., I think that she succeeded in showing the emotions she needed for the story.
Follow Ups:
We are not disagreeing in substance, only in final conclusion. I didn't say it was bad film, far from it, but the talk about it led me to believe it was of higher absolute level.Ditto for her performance. Absolutely great in her respective category, but best actress? Not quite.
But people are hungry for good films that are wholesome and innofensive, so they are willing to forgive minor faults and rate the works higher than would otherwise be warranted.
Reading reviews from several professional critics, I get the impression that the film was graded on a curve. The film was meant to be inoffensive and uplifting. I guess my point was that when you are making a film for a younger audience, you generally do not want to make the film "offensive", or too esoteric. I cannot blame them for making the movie they did. Too often, the little girl would have been made to be eighteen, and running around trying to hook up with island boys, or the film would have been about who is the first one to score. So, given the target audience which gets precious little quality fare thrown it's way, I give a pass to the tone of the film.Reminds me a little of the wonderful film "October Sky." A film about teenagers actually in a classroom, learning about something, and enjoying the process. Very unusual, when you think of how few films actually show kids in a classroom trying to learn as opposed to making jokes, cheating, or on the make with members of the opposite sex.
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2025, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
