Paka's heartfelt letter to Kahu/Paikea - Whale Rider

Dear Kahu,

Kahu, I hope this letter finds you well. A lot of things have happened since we last spoke, extraordinary things. Things that made me change who I am as a person, the attitude I bring to life, and the perspective I have on life.

I was once blind and you made me see. You made me see the world through your eyes, those two innocent eyes. I now realized I was wrong all along. I should have loved you, respected you, and done everything by justice with you. But I cannot change what happened.

You were, are, and always will be the big chief of our tribe I had been looking for. Sometimes people look for things that are untouchable, unreachable, and unfeasible. They travel miles and miles to find whatever they are looking for, only to realize what they were looking for was so close to them that they couldn’t see. And when they can see, it is all too late.

This is what happened to me and you proved me wrong. You showed your determination to learn the Maori culture. You showed strength, courage, and leadership. You believe in the power of the whales and have a special connection passed down from out ancestor, Paikea. You are the Whale Rider.

Being the close-minded person that I am, I did not realize this until now. I ignored you. You showed signs and indications that you were and are meant to be the big chief and I ignored it. I ignored it for one reason, prejudice. I didn’t believe women can do jobs that men do. I didn’t believe that women can be tribe leaders.

But I now realize that sometimes men can’t even do jobs that men do, that it doesn’t matter what sex the tribe leader is. If the person is meant to be, he/she is meant to be. Kahu, my dear, you are meant to be the tribe leader.

I hope it is not too late. I am awfully sorry for what I did to you, your dad, and your grandmother. As I said, I cannot change things that are in the past. All I can do is strive for a better future. I will change and I will prove it. I will not have any prejudices against anything. I will not judge anything before actually knowing what she/he/it can do.

 I now know the importance of family and will embrace it. I now have a different mindset that I will bring to the world as the current tribe leader of our town. I will learn to forgive and forget and I hope you do too. Wise leader, forgive me for I am just a fledging new to flight.

Love, your Paka

300 movie Review

Rating: 9/10

300 is directed by the new Superman movie director, Zack Snyder. He is known as a visual director and one of the best up-and-coming directors in Hollywood. He has directed such good flicks as Dawn of the Dead, Watchmen, and is now currently filming Man of Steel, the new Superman movie. 300 is the first Zack Snyder film I have watched and it reassured me that he will definitely do a good work with Man of Steel.

300 follows the story of King Leonidas, the king of Sparta as he takes on his 300-man army to fight the God king Xerxes. The film revolves around the battle itself and the story of King Leonidas’ wife as she tries to convince the council to reinforce the Spartan army. The film has a simple concept, although it has a runtime of approximately 2 hours, which I consider to be quite long for an action movie. But it won’t be a problem of course if the film delivers.

300 blew me away. First thing first, the visual of the film, this film has one of the best visuals  I have ever seen. Looking like a graphics novel, I first thought that this aspect of the film was going to annoy me and distract me from the story. It only enhanced it. It made me appreciate the film more, and it certainly entertained me. The battle sequences in this film are much exaggerated. However, it is not a problem. This is the type of film that needs to be exaggerated in order for the audience to enjoy.

It also has one of the coolest camera work and editing I have seen. There are scenes that look exactly the same as the graphics novel and it worked. It has one of the coolest sex scenes and battle scenes I have seen. The cool camera work combined with the artistic lighting and visuals, this film is one of the most creative films I have seen in terms of appearance. I know I say the word “cool” a lot, but that’s what this movie is. It is cool.

Having said the cool aspects of the film, this film wouldn’t be successful without the actual story  of the film. A good story is what any film has to have in order to deliver and 300 definitely passes in this aspect. It might have a simple concept, but the filmmaker explores the concept very well. This film has heart. The film is not just about blood and gore the only men would enjoy. It is moving, inspirational, and touching. It also has a message. That, combined with the action sequences, makes for a really well crafted movie.

It balances well between action sequences and other aspects of the movie. As I mentioned, 300 moves back and forth between the story of the battle and the story of King Leonidas’ wife. I think those two stories relate to each other very well and they balance out the film really well. You could really feel the love of King Leonidas and his wife.

As for performances, I don’t think anyone stands out particularly. Everyone performed well and no one dragged the film down. What the film certainly has is iconic characters. King Leonidas, portrayed by Gerald Butler is the heart of the film. He moves the story forward and he is an iconic character. The uniform of the Spartan army is also the aspect of the film that everyone will remember; the black underwear, helmet, and a six pack.

Another performance that I love is Theron, played by Dominic West. I think his character is just plain evil. He is even more evil than the main villain of the film. Dominic West gave a good cocky performance as the cocky councilman. He is certainly one of the most interesting aspects of the film.

My only problem of the movie is that I think the first of the movie dragged a little bit. It was a little slow and it bored me a little bit. However, the first half of the film sets up the movie well and it clearly explains the story of the movie which makes up for a hecka entertaining second half. I also wish that the main villain of the film, Xerxes, would be a little bit more evil and has a bigger role to play in the film. He’s an interesting character and I’d like to see more of him.

The second half of the film blew me away. I was there with the Spartans the whole time, hoping for them to win and defeat the Persians. The demise of one particular character broke my heart. It came out of nowhere and it affected me as an audience. If you have seen the film, you know it exactly one I’m talking about. You kind of get what those Spartans are going through and the emotions they’re having. You also know that they have a strong merit code that they all obey to until the minute they die.

I’m a sucker for messages in film. I think every film has a message whether internationally or not. 300 sends out a beautiful one. This is one of the reasons that the plot of the film works so well. The filmmakers started exploring this message with the reason Leonidas decided to fight the Persians, the merit code Spartans always talk about, and the ending. The ending of this film is perfect. It left a good impression of the film and left a very inspirational message.

300 is a slow action film. It takes its time to explain the plot, build the story, and build the tension. Do not watch this movie expecting a mindless action movie without a story. I will say this again. The story of this film is a simple one. But they explored the concept of the film really well. The story is moving and by the end of the movie you will be sad and happy at the same time.

I recommend anyone to watch this film. It’s a guy movie but a woman can certainly enjoy the film. It’s a memorable action movie you will enjoy and have fun with that will stick with you for its originality in terms of the visuals. It will also stick with you for the good story and the iconic characters. I love this film and enjoyed it very much. THIS IS SPARTAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!

The damned united movie review

Rating: 8.7

Being the avid football fan that I am, I was excited to see this film. I, however, have never heard of Brian Clough before in my life. Therefore, going into this film, I wish to learn a little bit of football history. I wanted to learn the history of the once great Leeds United, although truths may have been altered to create drama in the film.

I was curious how football is going to be portrayed in the film. I was curious how well the Oscar winning director Tom Hooper have done with this low budget film. I expected good things from this movie.

The Damned United is BASED on the story of Brian Clough, a former English footballer, as he takes on the challenge of managing one of the biggest football clubs at the time, Leeds United, after having successful years at Derby County. He has one objective during his career as a manager, to beat his rivalry, Don Revie.

The film flashes back and forth between the year 1974, as Brian manages Leeds, and the years where he managed Derby County with his long time friend and assistant Pete Taylor. The Damned United depicts the friendship between the two and the fights they had because of Brian Clough’s personality.

I loved The Damned United. It was fascinating in every aspect; the directing, acting, and especially the story and the message/theme of the film. Tom Hooper won an Oscar the following year for directing The King’s Speech, and I have no questions about it. The work he did with The Damned United is spectacular.

The way he constantly flashes back and forth between Brian Clough’s days in Leeds and Derby is just genius. It shows how Brian has changed, how his life has changed, and how people around him have changed. The way he films the football sequences is also fantastic. I feel like I was watching football in the 70’s. The choreography in this film is beautiful. With everyone constantly smoking in every scene, the film gave me realistic sceneries of what it would have been like in those days.

As I mentioned, I am a huge football fan, therefore, it gave me more the reason to love this film. In my opinion, the reason why I loved this film so much is because the story of the film and the message it tries to convey. I love the idea of how one’s egotistic personality can build him and destroy him at the same time. I love the idea of how one’s friend can save him/her from disaster and without him/her, he is nothing.

Brian Clough is nothing without his friend Pete Taylor and Pete is nothing without Brian. They are a pair of shoes. If it’s missing a shoe, it won’t work. This film is just one big example of this theory. It shows when they were together, and the shoes worked perfectly. It shows when they were apart and it didn’t work. It shows when they are reunited, and the shoes worked again.

Another aspect of the film that I can’t ever forget is the performances in the film.  Martin Sheen is perfect as Brian Clough. He brought him to the screen with perfection. He brought the emotions, feelings, and personality of Brian Clough to life. He also resembles the real Brian Clough which is a good thing. He is one of the main reasons why this film works so well. Without his performance, I would not have liked this film as much as I did.

Another performance that was equally great is Timothy Spall as Pete Taylor. He helped Martin Sheen carry this film to perfection. The chemistry between them on screen is just beautiful. When they were apart, you really want them to get back together. And when they got back together, there’s a smile on your face. That’s a sign of a great chemistry on screen.

One minor problem I had with the film is that there are so many factual errors with the film. I believe that they could tell the story just as great with the facts being correct and true. However, the film still told the story it set out to tell and told it perfectly.

I believe that this film is not about football. It’s about friendship and how one’s ambitions can build and break him. Football is just a small aspect of the story. Therefore, I don’t believe that one needs to be a football fan to truly enjoy this film. This film tells a beautiful story that anyone should hear and experience. It will give you a smile on your face and a new perspective on life.

Anyone can enjoy this movie. It’s barely a sports film. Football/soccer should not get in your way of enjoying a well made movie. I recommend anyone to watch this film, football/soccer fan or not. It is not getting the attention it deserves because of the football aspect of the film. Please watch this film, it tells a beautiful story. I can’t express enough how much I’m impressed with this film. It’s completely underrated, please watch it.

Full Metal Jacket movie review

Full Metal Jacket review

Rating: 9.2/10

Let me start off my review by saying that I’m not a big fan of Stanley Kubrick after seeing only one film of his, The Shining. I just didn’t get it at all. It was too vague for me. I don’t mind films that leave a cliffhanger at the end or has room for interpretations. But this is not the case for The Shining, everything is unexplained. For this reason, I can’t tell if the movie is plain genius or just straight out dumb.

Enough of me ranting, this is the review of Full Metal Jacket not The Shining. Full Metal Jacket follows the lives of young men who enlist for the US Marine Corps. The film focuses on how the brutal training and the Vietnam War affect the Marine recruits.

Watching this film gave me a very different experience from watching The Shining. This film feels like it is separated into two parts, the first half of the movie, and the latter. The first half depicts the training the Marine Corps go through. After completing the training, these men go on to be marines, wairriors, men that have purpose in life. But some don’t. Some just mentally don’t change and the training destroys him forever.

In the second half of the film, these men seem to have changed from what they were in that training. They changed the perspective on life, war, and everything else around them and it is fascinating to see the film captures that so well. The transition from the first and the second half is a brilliant one. I’m not going to tell you what it is but it sets out the mood and tone for the rest of the film; the cold atmosphere, the sadness.

This is what I love so much about this film. It tells truths, facts, and events that happened. It captures emotions and feelings that those men had. In this film, Kubrick doesn’t throw some philosophy stuff like he did in the Shining. By the end of the film, you know what he’s trying to say. You know that no one should go through what these men did, that war is bad, fighting is bad. This film was anti-military and I loved that about it.

The only problem I had with the movie is that in the second half of the film, it lost my attention a little bit. Something was missing. It feels like a whole different film with some of the same characters. You are introduced to this whole new world that you are not yet ready for. It lost substance that the first half had. It didn’t have those iconic moments that the first half had. The characters you loved in the first half were either gone or have changed completely.

However, this is just probably 15-20 minutes of the second half of the film. When those boring parts were gone, and the last 40 minutes or so kick in, I loved the film. It depicted great battle sequences and also very realistic ones. It depicted how War could so easily get out of control. But I still loved the first half way more than the second and the first half will remain what anyone remembers when thinking of Full Metal Jacket.

Another reason why this movie works so well is the performances in this film. The performance that, in my opinion, stood out the most was R. Lee Ermey who portrayed Gunnery Sergeant Hartman. I read somewhere that he is a former drill instructor or something along those lines. I think this is why his performance is so convincing. Everything word that comes out of his mouth is what I would imagine a drill instructor would say. Although, sometimes mean spirited and menacing, his character is one of the most memorable characters in this film.

Another character that stood out was Private Pyle played by Vincent D'Onofrio. I love his character. He is the type of person that you would not normally find in the Marine Corps. He comes out as rather childish. This is the reason why his character is so fascinating. He gave a perfect example of why some people can’t handle War, why some people are not born to kill. His performance was memorable, convincing, and a terribly sad one.

I loved loved this film. I think it is one of the best war movies ever although I still haven’t seen the other classic ones but this has got to be one of the top ones. It shows what War can do to some people. It would change people’s lives forever. It saves lives and also destroys lives. Stanley Kubrick achieves this so well without even having to put in brutal scenes in the film. I definitely like this film more than The Shining although they are very different films.

I recommend this movie to everyone. It’s beautifully directed, acted, and written. This is a film that depicts the realism of War. You will certainly have a think about what War could do to people after watching this movie. The film sticks with you. It’s a memorable film that anyone should watch. It’s brilliant.

Rear Window Movie Review

Rating:  9/10

**Please be ware of the spoilers in this review, please skip the spoilers part of this review (I have clearly annotated this in the review) if you haven't seen the movie. I don't want to spoil this classic to anyone.

Recently, I had a chance to watch the highly recommended classic “Rear Window”, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, the master of suspense. I am a huge fan of Alfred Hitchcock’s movies. They are suspenseful, creepy, and always keep you at the edge of your seat. I had high expectations going into this film after hearing a lot of praise about the movie.

It has a high IMDB rating, it is directed by Alfred Hitchcock, what I’m afraid of going into this movie is that I might not like it or I might not love it. I expect to not once feel bored while watching this movie and that by the end of the film, the film will surprise me with its twist or ending like other famous Hitchcock movies. I expect a masterpiece.

Rear Window is about a photographer, Jeff, who is stuck in a wheelchair in his apartment with nothing to do except spying on his neighbors. He becomes convinced that one of his neighbors murdered his own wife and starts investigating the incident from his rear window. It’s a very basic plot, and also a perfect one for a suspenseful movie.

The film starts out nice and slow, explaining the plot and introducing the characters. It was even at times too slow for me but I knew that the film would get more intense as the story progresses. And it did exactly that. The climax and falling action of this film are the most suspenseful parts of the movie. I was at the edge of my seat, rooting for the characters, and always curious how the film is going to turn out. This is exactly what I want in a Hitchcock film.

The music was also great in this movie. Thrilling scenes in movies these days need scary music to intensify the suspense of the scene. But not Hitchcock, Hitchcock has the ability to make a scene with acoustic or soft music and make the scene really suspenseful. The acting and direction alone are suspenseful enough and it only made the scene more gripping and thrilling with the piano song playing.  It was genius.

(SPOILERS START)

I was, however, a little bit disappointed with the ending of the film. I think the director could have explored the idea of messing with other people’s privacy at the end of the film. They talked about this matter once in this movie and not mentioned it ever again. I mean is it really ethical or moral to spy on other people’s lives? Like Jeff said, if someone is watching a man with binoculars spying on another man, it wouldn’t be ethical.

I get that by the end of the movie, Jeff had nothing to be sorry for. He was right, Mr. Thowald killed his own wife. But when it wasn’t really obvious that Mr. Thowald killed his wife, Jeff was just as convinced as he was at the end of the film. He had no evidence yet he was so sure. I think Hitchcock could have toyed with that idea about morality a little more in the film.

He didn’t have to throw a big explanation, but a conversation or two during the movie or at the end would be nice. When Jeff acted a little cocky to his friend Doyle at the end of the film, I didn’t buy it and it had no impact whatsoever on me.

Following the idea I mentioned above, the film would have had a much more impact on me if Mr. Thowald didn’t really kill his wife and Jeff is just interpreting things the way he wants it to be interpreted. The ending would have a much more impact on me. The characters in the film would change. But in this ending, none of the characters changed. For this reason, when the credits started rolling, it just gave me a MEH feeling.

Another problem I have with the film is that towards the end of the film, when Jeff and Thowald finally met for the first time, it wasn’t as suspenseful as it could have been. Thowald walking slowly and stopping every time Jeff flashes his camera, I didn’t really but that. Jeff screamed out for help and Thowald started attacking Jeff. And the police arrived in time just to save Jeff. I expect a little more from Alfred Hitchcock.

(SPOILERS END)

Don’t get me wrong, I still thing this film is really well made. It was well acted, directed, written, and choreographed. Hitchcock directed the heck out of this movie. The climax was really suspenseful, the fade ins and outs during the film were nice. And as I was watching the movie, I felt claustrophobic. The direction/choreograph of the film was perfect that I felt like I’m stuck with Jeff in his tiny apartment.

As for performances in this film, everyone was perfect. No one held the movie down. They all helped carry the film to perfection. James Stewart was great as Jeff. Grace Kelly was great as Lisa. And Thelma Ritter was great as Stella. The neighbors in the movie were a nice touch too. We never really got to know them, but by the end of the movie, you feel like you already know and met 

them.

The direction was great, the story was great, the acting was great. But I didn’t like this film as much as I thought I would. It left no impact on me. The first half of the film was a little too slow for me and the ending was a tad disappointing. The fact still stands, however. This movie is really well made. It is a masterfully crafted film. The plot is genius and the acting is phenomenal.

Does it deserve to be called a classic? Yes, definitely. The film is as close as good cinema you going to get. It didn’t need special effects to drive the film, it got the acting and plot to do that. I just wish I could like this film a little more than I do right now. Maybe it will improve upon a second viewing. I recommend this film to anyone who has passion and love for cinema. It’s a masterfully crafted film from a legendary director, Alfred Hitchcock. This movie is a classic and a masterpiece, please check this film out if you haven’t already.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World Movie Review

Rating: 8.5

Scott Pilgrim vs. The world tells the story of Scott, a teenager dating a Chinese high schooler, Knives Chau, who still hasn’t recovered after his former girlfriend cheated on him. One day, Scott falls in love with Ramona Flowers. He must break up with Knives and defeat Ramona’s evil exes in order to win her heart.

I didn’t expect very much going in to see Scott Pilgrim vs. the world. I expected a good fun time move that I would forget in 2 hours. But I got a lot more than that. This is the film that stands out than any other films out there. It is different. It is unique. And it is original.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the world is an excellent film for what it needed to be. It was a fun time where I never had to look at my watch during the entire course of the movie. Edgar Wright, the acclaimed director of Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the dead, did a magnificent job directing this movie. The visuals look great. The comedy was hilarious. The battle scenes were epic. The storyline was great. And the performances in this film were phenomenal.

With an ensemble cast of such up and coming actors as Michael Cera, Anna Kendrick, Chris Evans, and Brandon Routh, Scott Pilgrim is a film full of great performances. Everyone portrayed their respective roles very well especially Michael Cera, who portrayed the main character Scott in this film. He carried the film from the beginning to end, and portrayed Scott to perfection.

However, the main character is nothing without his/her supporting actors. Supporting actors including Johnny Simmons, Ellen Wong, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aubrey Plaza, Kieran Culkin, and Alison Pill, who helped Michael Cera carry the film. They all did great in their parts. A lot of them helped with the comedy aspect of the film. A special mention must go to Mary Elizabeth Winstead who was both good in both comedic and dramatic scenes.

The only complain I have for this film is that I hoped the battle scenes would get more epic as the film goes on. But it didn’t. They are all equally epic, which is not actually a bad thing at all, except the last battle scene with Gideon which is the most epic battle in the film.

The action scenes in this film are shot perfectly. They aren’t intense, real, action scenes you would normally see in an action movie. They are shot in a kinda cartoon-ish way. The visuals look like some video game we played as a kid which is all fun to watch. The film flows very well with all the gimmicky sequences, songs, and battle sequences the director put in.

All in all, Scott Pilgrim vs. the world is not a masterpiece by any means. It was just a well directed, acted, and written film. I recommend it to anyone who wants to escape reality and have fun for a couple of hours. The film is very well made, please see it if you haven’t already.

Whale Rider Dramatic Monologue - Kahu, Pai

I am about to perform the last act of the show , the most important one, the one I have been practicing for weeks, and he is not here. My Paka is not here. Can’t I be the most important thing in his life just for one night, this one night? Why can’t I matter just for this one night? I wish he would love me the way I love him.

My name is Kahu. I am named after the great Kahutia Te Rangi, the golden master, the original whale rider, who led our tribe to the land of Aotearoa ions ago. I am a proud descendent of Koro Apirana, whom I call Paka, the big chief of our tribe and town, Whangara.

I am a girl longing to be loved by my grandfather. The leaders of our tribe, since the time of my ancestor Paikea, have always been males. I understand that it is a sacred tradition for a grandfather to pass on his knowledge to his grandson; teach him how to fight, how to guide, and how to lead his tribe.

But it wasn’t my fault that I was born a girl. I didn’t have a choice. I am here now and I can’t change that. Why can’t I be the chief of our tribe like my Paka? Because I am a girl? I have the determination to learn the Maori culture and I have more leadership than the local boys. I have the courage, the strength, and the determination. What else does one need to become the big chief?

I love and respect my tribe and would do anything to save it, even if it costs my life. I believe in the power of the whales. I have a special connection to them passed down by my ancestor, Paikea. So what if I am a girl? If it is meant to be, it is meant to be. It was my born right to become the leader of our tribe. There is no changing that.

Women can do anything these days.  But according to Koro Apirana, it is not the Maori way. Women can’t do jobs that men do. Women can’t be tribe leaders. All we can do is cooking and gardening. But why? We can handle the pressure. We can handle the responsibilities.  We can do anything.

I understand that it is against the Maori culture for a female to become a tribe leader. But this is not the old days anymore. This is the present. Things change, people change, and rules change as well. We have to adapt the Maori culture to fit the modern society, not the other way around. It is the time for equality, justice, and fairness.

It doesn’t matter what I think or what any women think we can do. Men still think we are not capable of doing hard work. We have to show them what we can do and prove them wrong. So I’m not going to argue with Paka or any of the boys and prove that I am meant to be the tribe leader. I am going to do it. I’m going to learn all about the Maori culture. I’m going to work hard and learn about Maori leadership and the traditions passed down from our ancestor, even if Paka tries to stop me. Let it be done.