The second film by Little Crew Studios. I have watched their first film The Runner from Ravenshead several times and thoroughly enjoyed it each time. Thus when I learned that Little Crew Studios had made a second film, I was quite excited. Prompt shipping landed the DVD in the mailbox and we sat down to watch the film the day it arrived. Let me say: It did not disappoint! With an all child cast, this film reiterates, via an allegorical story, the importance of staying grounded in "The Book". Follow one-armed Alec as he joins the Defense Agency in what becomes a wild ride as they battle to save New Haven from the menacing and mysterious Raiders. Suspense and emotions run high in a film featuring biblical truth, knee-slapping one-liners, and the cutest kid to ever sport a mustache. (So I think the character Eddie is just adorable.) Moving on to the sets and production values--both are excellent, giving a sense of realism while also keeping within the bounds of childish imagination. Speaking of children, the Steege children are really quite good actors. There is a small amount of dialogue that is a little hard to understand, but that is due primarily to the young age of the speaker(s). Otherwise, the lines are delivered convincingly and in a natural fashion (neither rushed nor laboriously slow). Every single character you see on screen is one of the seven Steege children.
The soundtrack was recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra. I look forward to watching this one again (soon!) and hope that Little Crew Studios will be making more films!!
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This 1974 film has some potential--the story that is. Due to the vintage, the acting and historical accuracy left something to be desired (as well as the script), but the actual story isn't that bad.
The film follows the true story of the Sager family, but most particularly the eldest son, John, as they head out for Oregon from Missouri. John, at the age of 13 or thereabouts, has potential, but he is lazy, mean, and even disrespectful (at least in the film version. I would be interested in reading the book...) After a couple of disasters, John is left, the eldest of seven children, to take care of his siblings. He determines to fulfill his papa's dream and go on to Oregon. The way is frought with danger, difficultly, and disease, but still he presses on, with his six younger siblings, one a babe in arms, to his goal. The story has great potential--particularly when you take into account the fact that Christianity is not entirely absent. But this is where the real disappointment comes in. The Christianity which could have been clear and present is only marginal and not as orthodox as it could have been (there is some clearly unorthodox theology in one particular scene). The growth that John could have shown is lacking--there is character growth implied, but it's not really shown. Instead of seeing a John that learns to be a man and to love his siblings, we only get sundry glimpses of it, to be covered back over by the harsh, bossy John. It's somewhat confusing actually... There is an distinct element of 1970's children portraying 1840's children that just doesn't work. This, among other things, makes me wonder how much of the 1970's twist was put on the story and how different the book is. I would not bother watching this film a second time because it wasn't really that great of a movie, but the story...that I would like to see made again from a distinctly reformed, Christian persepective. This 1942 film is by far one of my favorites. I first saw it as a little girl (one of the myraids of old black and white films set during WWII that we checked out of base libraries) and loved it then. I was quite pleased therefore to find a copy floating around at a Goodwill store. The film follows the lives of the Miniver family during the beginnings of WWII. The Minivers are a typical middle-class English family...the eldest son is enrolled in Oxford and is home on vacation when the war is announced--from the pulpit of the village church. Soon the eldest son, Vin, is in the RAF and Mr. Miniver is part of the home guard. The war comes close to home with bombings, a downed German pilot, and the men of the village being called out in the middle of the night to asisst in the Dunkirk rescue (that is a pretty neat scene). Underlying the main story is the sub-plot of Vin and Carol's romance and the rivarly between Lady Belding and Mr. Ballard's roses--incidently, Mr. Ballard named his prize rose the "Mrs. Miniver". The basic worldview of this film seems to be Christian--the faith of the people is shown as being part of their lives. In fact, the opening music (and threaded throughout the movie) is that of one my favorite hymns "O God, Our Help in Ages Past". That is one of the underlying themes of the movie--evidenced by Mr. Ballard's Scripture quotation (out of Psalms, I believe). (He is a gentle, kindly man.) The Miniver's are a typical middle-class English family, servants and all. They are a close-knit family, from a loving relationship between husband and wife to a friendship amongst siblings. Vin, the eldest, is a student at Oxford when the film opens. Mr. Miniver is the head of his house, the man to whom his wife turns when life gets complicated. They have a few playful moments that lighten some of the mood in the film. The romance between Vin and Carol wasn't as "fast" as I had remembered (I guess 11-year-olds miss a few things). Vin had spent his childhood observing Carol, granddaughter of Lady Belding, so when the two of the get thrown together, it's not really unsual that he soon has feelings for her. Carol is a little more reserved about the idea, wanting to make sure he's serious before taking any definite steps. There is some kissing between them, but (spoiler) it's interesting to note that Vin asks Carol if it'd be 'okay' before he kisses her the first time. Which brings up some observations about Vin's character growth (some of which can only be mentioned in the form of spoilers, so if you don't want that, skip this paragraph). Of all the characters, Vin Miniver has the most character growth. Upon his arrival home from school, he's cocky, somewhat self-important (though still a nice kid), and rather opinionated--he is rather ungracious in his declaration of certain ideas. His temper is both stoked and softened (in that order) by the kindly challenge given him to put his ideas into practice by Carol. [If I may mount a soap-box momentarily...this particular instance shows how girls can gently encourage young men to follow their vision rather than just have grand ideas in the relm of the intellect.] Vin apologies later for losing his temper, though not redacting his ideas (which is fine). By the end of the film, Vin has become a man--gentle, strong, and compassionate. We see him put aside his own grief, great as it is, to show love to a similarly grieving person. In his grief, Vin does not go off on some hair-brain sucidal mission (which is probably what one would see in a modern film), instead, we see him with his family, in church, listening to words of comfort and encouragement...and then singing "Onward Christian Soldiers". The homes of many of us have been destroyed, and the lives of young and old have been taken. There is scarcely a household that hasn't been struck to the heart. And why? Surely you must have asked yourself this question. Why in all conscience should these be the ones to suffer? Children, old people, a young girl at the height of her loveliness. Why these? Are these our soldiers? Are these our fighters? Why should they be sacrificed? I shall tell you why. Because this is not only a war of soldiers in uniform. It is a war of the people, of all the people, and it must be fought not only on the battlefield, but in the cities and in the villages, in the factories and on the farms, in the home, and in the heart of every man, woman, and child who loves freedom! Well, we have buried our dead, but we shall not forget them. Instead they will inspire us with an unbreakable determination to free ourselves and those who come after us from the tyranny and terror that threaten to strike us down. This is the people's war! It is our war! We are the fighters! Fight it then! Fight it with all that is in us, and may God defend the right. I have included the words of the Vicar's closing speech in the bombed church--for these words are stirring and remind us not only of another battle we as Christians must daily fight, but that this was the reality for the people of the British Isles during WWII. Their civilians were bombed--old men, women, and children were killed. These people had an evil regime breathing down their throats and life was hard...and they held up bravely under it.
May God defend the right! My reaction to this film: Outstanding Take Shakespere and put it with great actors, stupendeous music, and fine cinematography, and you have a great film. While I honestly think one would have a better grasp of what is going on had they read the play previous to watching the film (which I have done, only it was several years ago), the film is fairly easy to follow. The story mainly follows England's King Henry the Fifth as he goes forth to conquor France. Along the way, we meet and follow some commoners who were friends of the king when he was still a prince. (Christain Bale plays a lad amongst these--and a fine one.) Harry meets danger from within and without with justice, mercy, and a trust in God that is quite wonderful to see protrayed on the screen. He metes out justice when it is called for--even though it be an old friend whom he must see to death. He is merciful to his enemies. In triumph and in sorrow, he praises God and trusts Him for the outcome of the battle. The main battle scene is very well choreographed and shot--it's almost like being there yourself. The seriousness and confusion, as well as the horror of war are very well protrayed. There are moments of humor as well...probably the funniest being France's princess attempting to learn some English. That scene was amusing and light-hearted. As is the scene where Henry goes about his wooing of said princess. One of the aspects of the film that was the most appealing to me was the humbleness of the king and his love for his people. He understood that he, like them, was just a man and in that they did not differ. And yet, he was king, and therefore was responsible for them and he loved them. He was responsible for upholding justice--and he did; but tempered with mercy when mercy was permissible. In other words, this portrayal of Henry shows him a man; a godly man--a man to be emulated.
If you don't own this one--add it to your collection. Note: some of the violence is fairly gruesome, but it isn't dwelt upon heavily. You might not want to show this film to young children. The Search is a 1948 movie set at the close of WWII. It is about a little Polish boy who has been in a concentration camp for most of his life. He remembers very little. His mother has survived the war and she is looking for him. Meanwhile, he escapes from the UN people who are trying to locate kid's parents and vice versa. An American soldier (Steve) finds him...to say more would give the story away. The music is really quite good, particulalry since this isn't a dialouge heavy film. One of the interesting features to the movie is that there is a female narrator (rather unusual I find, particularly for that era). The cinematography was really good (I thought). I found The Search a very interesting, and thought provoking film. I had never considered before the number of orphaned, frightened, broken children there must have been after the war. Or the heartbreak of the parents who lost children and never did find them among the masses of ragged little ones coming out of concentration camps. Another interesting feature of the movie is that it was filmed (at least partly) in Germany and therefore the viewer gets to see some of the distruction left by the bombing...it's pretty sobering. I definitely would watch this one again.
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RachealA Reformed Presbyterian girl who enjoys a good movie or a good book any ol' time. Archives
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Note: All images picked up online. No copyright infringment intended.
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