Saturday, April 9, 2011

Soul Surfer (MPAA rated PG)

Review:

Soul Surfer is based on the true story of Bethany Hamilton, the young surfer who had her arm bitten off by a tiger shark when she was 13,  just as her professional surfing career was looking to take off.  Instead of letting the accident control her future, she rebounded with amazing strength and grace to work her way back into the pro circuit. 

This movie was just as amazing as the story itself.  Bethany is played with a phenomenal intensity by AnnaSophia Robb, who does a fantastic job portraying a strong young woman doing her best to recover what was taken from her.  Her parents, Tom and Cheri Hamilton, were lovingly played by Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt, who gave us beautiful glimpses into the fun, loving, and faithful Hamilton family dynamic.  Kevin Sorbo takes the role of Holt Blanchard, a family friend who was the man responsible for getting Bethany out of the water after the shark attack, and is credited with being the one to save her life. All of these talents, combined with am inspiring story to tell, and a great screenwriter, came together to create an absolute vision.

The movie begins with following Bethany through her daily life, full of happiness, family, friends, church, and, of course, surfing.  It gives us a good, solid understanding of Bethany before the life-changing accident.  Though there is a little bit of suspense, the director giving us lots of "Jaws" shots from under the water as people float along the surface of the waves,  it doesn't go overboard into the realm of "oops, did I mistakenly step into a horror flick?".  The accident itself isn't overdone,  merely shown how I'd imagine it occurred: quick and shocking. 

After a week in the hospital, all Bethany can think of is getting back into the water, and she works hard to heal and to gain strength in order to accomplish this.  With the help of her family and her friends and her youth group leader Sara (played by Carrie Underwood), she gets back up and into the water, entering a competition less than a month after the attack occurred.  When the competition doesn't go well, a despondant and confused Bethany decides to stop surfing, trying to figure out who she is supposed to be if she can't be who she wants to be.

After joining Sara on a trip to help the 2004 Thailand tsunami victims, and in seeing the suffering there, she learns that sometimes surfing isn't the most important thing. 

The trip gives her the courage to continue on, and fight to be the best person that she can be, no matter how much she may have lost. 

I really can't express how much this movie moved me.    There is such a loving, gentle touch to the writing, the acting, and even the locations.  I haven't walked out of a movie feeling this inspired in many years.  I especially love how they portrayed the amazing faith of the whole Hamilton family, and how important their beliefs were in helping with Bethany's rehabilitation.  The touch on religion was important, but not heavy-handed or overdone.  The entire film had a dignity to it that has been so sadly lacking in many movies nowadays.

I give Soul Surfer a SOLID 5 stars out of 5.....and I wish there were a 6th!
*****(*) 

For the Moms:

The only part of this movie that I would warn about would be the shark attack itself.  It is really fast, and done as gently as possible, but it is pretty striking.  It  may be difficult for smaller kids to watch.  There is no gushing blood, or over-filming of the damage on her arm, but the actors are all vastly talented, and the scene is heart-rending.

Girls will like this movie because it is the ultimate girl-power movie, made even cooler because it is true.  The graceful triumph of Bethany Hamilton through all of her obstacles is absolutely wonderful, and shows us how strong girls can be!

Boys will like this movie because it is VERY cool!  There are multitudes of very good surfing scenes, and the family is funny and playful with one another.  They can also see how awesome girls are!

Topics of Discussion:

In the movie, Bethany makes an effort to make sure that the people around her are okay after she has been bitten.  Why does she do this? How do you think worrying about others may have helped her in her own recovery?

Why does Alana not want to see Bethany right after the accident?  Is she right or wrong to react this way?  How do you think you would react in Alana's place?

While working towards getting back into the water, Bethany's father tells her it isn't going to be easy.  Bethany's response is "I never asked for easy, I'm only asking for possible."  What does this say about Bethany?  How can we use this question in our lives to make them better?

How does Bethanys trip to Thailand help her?  How do you feel when you serve others?  Do you think that service is a good way to make your own life better? If so, how?

When Bethany is attacked, her friends know what to do to help her, and stay calm.  How would being prepared for something like this help you even if this never happens to you?

How important is faith to Bethany?  How did their faith give the family the strength to move forward after the accident?  Do you have faith in something that gives you that strength?  How does the faith help you in your life?

Friday, April 1, 2011

Jane Eyre (MPAA rated PG-13)

Review

 Jane Eyre is rated PG-13 for "some thematic elements including a nude image and brief violent content."  I think that the MPAA needs to reconfigure their rating scales....there is no WAY that "Sucker Punch" and "Jane Eyre" should have the same rating!  I'm just sayin!

OK on to the actual review:  Jane Eyre is a classic story about a young woman who grows through adversity, leading herself to happiness which is then wrenched from her.   It has been done countless times on screen, and this is one of the better incarcations.  Not the BEST, but pretty good. 

Mia Wasikowska plays Jane, a plain young woman with no connections who takes a job as governess for the young ward of the mysterious Mr. Rochester (played by Michael Fassbender). Hired by the housekeeper, Mr.' Fairfax (as portrayed by the ever-amazing Dame Judi Dench),  she meets her employer only after spooking his horse on a lonely lane, landing him with a sprained ankle and an interest in the ethereal sprite who he finds in his employ. 

First I must make a special mention about the casting of this version.  It is absolutely gorgeous!  Mia Wasikowska does a splendid job of creating a quiet strength in the character of Jane that is simple, honest, and true to the spirit of the book.  Likewise Michael Fassbender, thank heavens, is NOT handsome, but is highly charismatic and strong,  guiding his version of Mr. Rochester just as honestly alongside Jane.    Dame Judi Dench...well, she's Judi Dench.....there's nothing more to say! 

As for the screenplay, I am a bad person to ask about that.  They sacrificed many of my favorite parts of the book in order to fit the movie into its 2 hour slot, but they did stay true to the feel of the story.  This rendition starts in an odd place, backtracking through both short and extensive flashbacks to catch up with itself,  which is both interesting and slightly annoying.  It also ends far too abruptly, and I have to wonder how much of the movie is lying sadly on a cutting room floor somewhere.  It feels slightly lacking in places; but again, I don't know if that is because I know the book backwards and forwards, or because it is actually lacking....you will have to decide that for yourselves!

The costuming is also lovely.  BBC always does a fantastic job with creating realistic period costuming, and they did a beautiful job with it once again! 

All in all, this is a beautiful telling of a beautiful story, portrayed beautifully by talented actors in a beautiful location!  I wished fervently for more, and walked out of the theater feeling serenely happy.  I give the movie 5 stars.  I wished for more, and wouldn't have minded sitting there for another hour to see some of the cut scenes...I am praying for a director's cut version when it comes to DVD!  I am also planning on showing this version to my daughters and hoping that they become interested in the story because of it and finally read the book!

* * * * *
For the Moms
Language:  Thanks to the writers sticking pretty close to the book, there is no serious language in this movie.  References are made to Hell, and that is about as bad as the language gets.

Nudity: Part of the PG-13 rating is due to the image of a painting of a naked woman (I'm not an art person, aside from just liking it, but think of Michaelangelo paintings....those kinds of nudes).  Other than the painting, the likes of which are in many museums aroun the world, there is nothing.

Violence:  there is a crazy woman in the movie who sets the house on fire twice, and Mr. Rochester attacks another character in a moment of passion. There are also  brief images of children being caned during school, and fighting amongst one another.

Boys will like this movie because Mr. Rochester is a man's man; strong, confident and very in charge. 

Girls will like this movie because it has a wonderfully romantic storyline, headed by a strong, solid woman who possesses grace and poise. 

Topics for Discussion
In the movie, Jane does not turn out to be a bad person at all, despite her difficult upbringing and all of the losses which she endures as a child.  Why do you think that she became a kind, good person instead of letting the abuse turn her into a mean person?  What did she rely on when the people around her let her down?

Mr. Rochester wants Jane to go against a social tradition and marry him.  Instead of agreeing, she leaves.  Why did she do this?  What was more important to her than Mr. Rochester's happiness?  Was she strong to make the decision that she made?

How much can the actions of others affect who we let ourselves turn into?  What can we draw strength from when the people around us behave badly?

How is society the same, and how is it different from the world of Charlotte Bronte?  Do you think that it is better or worse now?  Why?