Whale Rider (no spoilers)

[Walter Mitty]

all I can say is....WOW! what a movie. The story is timeless, the cinematography amazing, and the acting (especially the young girl and her grandfather) is seriously Oscar caliber.

Who else has seen it?

[Jucas]

Sounds great! I read about it and have been trying to go see it for the last few weeks, maybe I can get it tomorrow... Me and my girl have wanted to see it, but we've been a little... "distracted"

Such is New Love....

-J

[Krug]

I agree. It's amazing.

[Walter Mitty]

Guess everyone is going to see T3 and not this one!

:lol:

[The Zizz]

I saw T3 last night, but I'm going to see this with my girlfriend tomorrow for the 4th...so glad she doesn't want to see legally blonde. :)

[MrN]

Saw a few days ago and I guess its worth seeing. My big complaint is that the preview covered too much of the film and so I had to wait a long time for something to happen.

6/10

[Walter Mitty]

Originally posted by MrN
Saw a few days ago and I guess its worth seeing. My big complaint is that the preview covered too much of the film and so I had to wait a long time for something to happen.

6/10

Fortunately i didn't see any previews and had no idea what the story was about. i just heard it was worth seeing....

[Daytripper]

Originally posted by Walter Mitty
all I can say is....WOW! what a movie. The story is timeless, the cinematography amazing, and the acting (especially the young girl and her grandfather) is seriously Oscar caliber.

Who else has seen it?

Couldn't agree more. What an amazing AMAZING film experience. I also agree with everything the DVDTalk critic said as well:

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=6742

[berserker37]

Another vote here for "Whale Rider"; excellent movie. The only problem was that my wife, who is pregnant (and due in less than a month), found the last half hour a bit more emotional than she would have liked. With her hormones going crazy, she'd rather not watch an ending where a child almost dies.

I have to admit, I was getting a bit teary-eyed myself, especially during her speech.

Great movie, and a wonderful performance by Keisha Castle-Hughes. I also think I recognized several folks from "Once Were Warriors", another great (but different) New Zealand film.

[Stoolie]

I went with high expectations and they were met. A perfect counterpoint to PoTC and LXG. Keisha Castle-Hughes was amazing. Her subtle facial expressions were utterly convincing. The rest of the cast was good too, but she really shined.

[Variable697]

This movie sounds wonderful. I half to check out the art houses for this one. The multiplex is useless, why can't they dedicate at least one screen to a non-hollywood studio movie?

[Sierra Disc]

We saw this yesterday and loved it. My wife is from New Zealand and her family all still live there so we had a good background on the Maori culture featured in it so prominently. I really enjoyed what the movie had to say about modern vs. ancient traditions and the Maori elements included such as the "haka" (war dance) were done very well, without creating that tired "noble savage" stereotype. Amazing performances from the girl and her grandfather. So far, it's one of the best movies I've seen this year.

[Phuzbox]

Just got back from seeing this movie tonite. I was completely blown away, what a beautiful movie. Keisha Castle-Hughes was amazing, give that girl an Oscar. :)

[Corvin]

Originally posted by Phuzbox
Just got back from seeing this movie tonite. I was completely blown away, what a beautiful movie. Keisha Castle-Hughes was amazing, give that girl an Oscar. :)

I agree. I can't think of a female performance this year that even rivals Hughes'.

[theneobez]

Absolutely the best movie of the year thus far. Just incredible, words can't express how I felt about the movie.

[Cosmic Bus]

I was surprised to see that the locally-owned theater picked this up recently, so I saw it a couple of days ago and loved it. Incredible, moving... just a flat out wonderful film. I want a DVD now. :)

[theneobez]

Originally posted by Cosmic Bus
I want a DVD now. :)

I hear you man, I really want this on DVD.

[caipirina]

Just watched it today here in Fiji ... and while it is sure one of the way better movies this year I have seen ... I cannot really see myself sit through that one again ... but then again, I guess I have become shallow with age :)

BUT ... i think movies like this are the best way to introduce a different culture to people ... If i had seen that when I was 15 I would have gone crazy to now find out everything there is about the Maori culture .. more than school could have ever make me to read about it ..

Great movie, thumbs up .. and yes, the girl was great

[Frank TJ Mackey]

I guess I was expecting to see more whales....so I was
disappointed by the movie.

It just didn't do it for me.

But with all these people saying how amazing they think it
is, I wouldn't discourage people from seeing it.

I will probably rent it to give it a second look.

[Pants]

I was indifferent. Some of the perfomances were excellent and the scenery was great (even if the photography was poor), but this film follows too closely the structure of Dryer's film Ordet. It had the big score and I cried at all the emotional moments, but I found myself quickly forgeting the film afterward.

Rating: Two Stars
Rewatch Factor: None

[Daytripper]

To anyone who enjoyed the performance of the little girl in "Whale Rider", I beg you to rent the movie "Ponette". It's filled with the best performances by children I've ever seen. The lead won the French Academy for Best Actress at the age of FOUR!!!

[lembas]

worst movie I've seen this year.

[badger1997]

I liked it, i just wasn't as carried away as some people seem to have been. I went in knowing nothing about the movie and while I enjoyed some of the performances and thought it had some good parts, it just didn't click entirely for me.

Now, by no means am I bashing this movie. I enjoyed it and it was worth the $4.50 I spent on a matinee showing, but it just didn't come across as anything special for me.