Pinocchio (2008)

Fairly tales – how wonderful they can be . Pinocchio is a well known story all over the world. If I am to count the numbers of time I have read it – I won`t be able to – having in mind that I love also the Aleksey Tolstoy`s version Buratino’s adventures. Which I happen to like even more. When I first saw the movie I was quite surprised – Pinocchio is the ultimate coming of age story and I was curious to see a new movie based on it. Moreover when I got the movie I did not even know who stars in it and was quite surprised ( pleasantly of course ) to see Thomas Sangster in the credits at the beginning of the film. Unfortunately it turned out that his role is a minor one and he is not the one in the role of Pinoccio – but then I am sure that all of his fans will be delighted to see him acting – and boy has he grown. He is also on the movie poster – which is not surprising as many would choose the story just because he stares in it .

Instead Pinocchio is played by the young Robbie Kay – who was unknown to me, but after watching Pinocchio, I can say for sure that I am going to be following his career. Robbie is very talented and fits perfectly in the role of Pinocchio. His facial expressions, voice and overall acting are sure to make an impression on everyone who sees the film. He has some experience in movies as he starred in “Fugitive Pieces” as the young Adam and in the TV production “My Boy Jack” and if you have seen those, you would remember him from there.

I am still unsure if Bob Hoskins was the best choice for the role of Geppetto. For some reason I can’t associate him with fairy tales and as a matter of fact, I am also not fan of his performance in “Where Eskimos Live”. ( which is the film I saw him in for a very first time ) Overall the casting, with exception of the minor role of Thomas Sangster and Robbie Kay, seemed quite odd to me. Yet that did not stop me from enjoying the movie. In fact I was glued to the screen realising how many, many of the things in the story can be applied directly to real life. ( To my life if you will, or yours ) I doubt that I was really able to understand that at the age of 6 or 7 when I must have read the book for a very first time.

Oh I am not going into details about the story as I am sure you all are familiar with it. May be some of you don`t know much about Buratino, but everyone has heard of Pinocchio. I also did not quite like the way the story was presented. To me the director used rather odd characters and settings – modernistic maybe …now if I wanted a modern improved version of Pinocchio I would just watched “A.I.” starring Haley Joel Osment which to me is the best interpretation of the story ever made. This version is also in English which was fine with me – but quite a few people think that for such a story, Italian with English Subtitles would have been a more appropriate choice. I can`t fully agree with that as it would have been much harder on the actors and would have affected the performance.

The whole movie is over 3 hours long which is typical for made for TV productions. Perhaps you remember the original of Entrusted. ( Starring Thomas Sangster as well ) The movie is quite enjoyable, you just have to ignore a few . . . weird things. Then maybe you would appreciate it more just for their acting. For example I am not fan of the movies produced by Tim Burton, while many other people liked them. So its up to you, but I recommend that you see this movie. No matter how old you are I am sure that you will find something in it of value . . . something special, just for you.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3YYFdt7w60

IMDB

Milan

Milan is a short film produced in Yugoslavia. The action takes place during the 1999 Nato air-raids of the country. Milan, a six year old boy, lives with his older brother and parents in a small village near Belgrad. The two boys play together and life seems trivial as trivial as it can be having daily air strikes at the nearyby capital .Ognjenpromises his little brother that he would play “hide and seek” in the afternoon and Milan gets to the meeting point in the forest on time.

He is completely unaware of the fact that his older brother had an accident and is fighting for his life in the hospital. While Ognjen is struggling to survive, Milan starts looking for him, but instead of finding his brother, he finds someone else: an American pilot hiding in the woods after his plane went down… .

The movie also focuses on the reality of war – a reality which is often blended by the media propaganda. The focus is mainly on the effects of war on innocent civilians.When I was in high school at the US I was surprised that there were people in there who did not know that Serbians were going outside with a target posters – saying that they won`t up to any aggressor . I had my share of arguments with teachers from my school – who of course thought of the military actions in Serbia as liberating – I still fair to understand the whole ” War for peace thing “

The story of the film is well written and developed .It has its fair share of surprising turns which makes the film pleasant to watch for its entire 22 minutes.The actors speaks in Serbian – but one can follow the dialogue with the English subtitles provided.

IMDB

Cold Light

User Rating:5.8/10 IMDB
Director:Friðrik Þór Friðriksson
Writers:Friðrik Þór Friðriksson (writer)
Einar Kárason (writer)
Release Date:14 February 1987 (Iceland)

Scandinavian movies have always been a bit weird . Yet Cold Light is the first Scandinavian movie I saw that really made sense to me and I truly enjoyed my time in front of the screen. The movie focuses on the life of a man called Grimur – who tries to find his place in life . We see him in parallel as a sensitive young boy and a grown way and the director does a good job in making us thing how much the experiences we had in our childhood influences our personality as adults . I could say that in that sense the movie is a coming of age drama that emphasis on the human psychology .

Cold Light is an Icelandic film – and as such portrays the nature , traditions and lifestyle in this country in two different epocas. The film has an overall melancholic feeling from the opening scene ( which by the way is the most beautiful opening scene of a movie I have seen in a while ) to the final credits. First we are introduced to the adult Grimur – an artist who is attending courses to improve his drawing technique – but draws things as he sees them – not as he is expected to. Soon we see him as a boy growing up in a remote village in Iceland .

He is a sensitive boy with rich imagination and a special talent – he can see things in the future and is afraid of that ability of his . He express his visions in drawings – and becomes an artist at an early age. An old woman who he initially took for witch helps him to understand better himself saying that he does not have to fear things he is not familiar with. However he is remains frightened all his life…

The movie builds up tension gradually until one day Grimur has to face his fear and learn to deal with his past if he is about to have a future

The acting of the movie was exceptional – especially the one of Áslákur Ingvarsson as the young Grimor .

IMDB

Marcel Pietruch

A German friend of mine showed me an amazing performance of Marcel Pietruch – done for the the show Das Super Talent.Das Super Talent is the German version of America’s Got Talent and Britain’s Got Talent; remarkably successful show programs.Marcel is a hip – hop dancer and is good at that he does. His dance may look like an easy thing at first – but I can assure you that achieving such a perfection is a matter of hard training and above all requires serious dedication. One has to be really into music – to dance the way Marcel does – and he is only ten years old :

Marcel sets an example for someone who has a real talent and is confident enough to go on stage and show it ( many others do that – but lack either the talent or the confidence ). RTL which holds the rights for Das Super Talent show recently aired a back stage clip featuring interview of him, his mom and schoolmates . The dancing of Marcel reminds of the brake-dance team from Russia who participated in their local version of the show ” Minute Fame ” – Udi Junior …

Ratcatcher (1999)

ratcatcher

I saw the movie yesterday despite the fact that it was in my collection for over a year. I really liked it – even if I have to admit that I somehow missed the ending. Ratcatcher is a movie produced and filmed in Scotland and I do have an affection to such – especially to the accents of the actors and their general appearance . The movie has quite a few uncomfortable scenes – but at the same time they do not get as far as to call it disturbing .

The story is based in the 70`s when a nine week strike of the garbage collectors leaves Glasgow covered with trash . Its everywhere and so are the rats – but those things only set the place or the overall atmosphere of what the viewer is to witness .

The main character is the 12 years old James . Strangely enough we are introduced to it quite slowly – as observes trough the eyes of another boy who watches him playing nearby the dirty waters channel . This filming technique is used quite a lot during the movie and somehow it contributed to the impact of the scenes as we saw them trough the eyes of different characters .

We don`t really know anything about James – so when he causes something terrible to happen our opinion about him is definitely not that positive. James is hunted by gilt but decides to keep silent probably afraid of the possible consequences of his actions . As the movie revolves we are getting more and more familiar with the environment in which James lives and about him. I like these kinds of movies as watching them almost feels like you are fitting together a puzzle. To be more precise the movie offers some excellent character development combined with first class acting.

The movie is packed with an excellent actors from all ages – but the real focus is on the young cast especially the excellent representation of the lead character, which would never turn out so well without the perfect acting performance presented by William Eadie. It is his acting that makes the Ratcatcher a powerful coming of age drama that I highly recommend .

The camera work is first class as well and speaking for cinematography the fact that the movie`s director used to be a photographer herself . The compositions in the movie is excellent and in fact some screen shots of it would have made an excellent documentary photo exhibition about life , boyhood and poverty.

***

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG5amE6TRwc

Similar movies : My Life As a Dog

Ratcather IMDB page

Pete (2003)

Pete is a very disturbing and difficult to watch. The movie was produced by Stormforce pictures. Despite the fact that it was probably made of a very tight budget it got recognized as the Best Drama at the 2004 New York Independent Film and Video Festival.

The director utilizes flashback techniques to introduce the memories of the nine years old Pete. The movie is shot in black and white and this only emphasizes its overall darkish atmosphere. The plot is portraying a rather typical story in which the parents willingly blame their kids for anything without even considering that the problem could be themselves – their attitude and behavior towards the world and the kids themselves. Some of the scenes show Pete witnessing the scandals between his parents and the desperation they cause on him. By the fifth minute the movie becomes really hard to watch as director does not spare anything from the abuse Pete gets from the hands of his own mother. By the ninth minute the movie becomes extremely disturbing – featuring a murder scene and then a very powerful and symbolic ending.

The camerawork is decent as you will notice that since the focus is one Pete , the majority of scenes are filmed at his level. Meaning the camera has been lowered – as to present the scenes the way he seem them.Its almost like if the movie is supposed to appear as though we’re watching surveillance footage

The cast had notable British accent – and the acting was pretty well.

Zucht (2007)

Zucht - A 12-year-old boy who is yet to feel the first trembles of love.

Name: Sigh
Original name: Zucht
Year:2007
country of origin: The Netherlands
Director: Margien Rogaar
Genre: Short film
Duration: 10 mins
Starring:Yannick de Waal, Moo Miero, Roeland Fernhout

http://youtu.be/2dbMiMLfcZQ

Zucht is one of those movies you have to watch several times to fully get its meaning. At first, the movie did not seem very promising or meaningful. One may even say that Zucht is quite a confusing film. However, if you see it a few times through the eyes of the different characters (imagining it really) it’s quite possible that it will give you different very impressions about the film and the life around you.

Camerawork

The camera work in this film was pretty decent for a short film. The actors were all very good-looking and had very expressive faces and postures. The camera work was pretty adequate for this. Taking pictures in water that are still and steady are quite difficult without a lot of investment. Skin and face close-ups were frequent and that made the atmosphere of the movie seem more personal and intimate. That fact alone brings kudos to the film and it’s makers.The timing and pacing were also quite smooth and flowing.

The Plot

The main character was a 13-year-old boy who is yet to feel the first trembles of love. He seems pretty shy to me smiling when a girl called him for a bike ride and then at the beach it become clear that he is a bit embarrassed by his body, as he struggled behind the towel to change into his swimming suit. When it comes to nudity I found his behavior quite weird but that’s me. I am used to hanging out at nude beaches where I have to admit it’s quite odd when you see someone acting the way that boy did. On a side note it was obvious that the girl liked him a lot it’s just that I could not figure out if man that went riding with them was her father, a brother or another of their friends.

That in itself could turn the meaning of the movie at 180 degrees.

Below you will see the various and diverse interpretations of the movies meaning.

One reviewer wrote:

12-year-old Erik goes to the beach with his friend Sofie and her dad.Sofie seems to be in love with Erik, but Erik seems to be a lot more interested in her dad!

And another wrote:

In this movie, Erik awakening to the joys of sexuality, the stirrings of love and the pleasures of the human skin. I think the message is one of freedom and innocence, at a time when coming of age facing a life-changing experience – is that magic happy time in our lives .

And still another:

The previous relationship which he obviously had with the other boy who was a friend the way only two boys can be, form and the symbolic separation on the bicycle ride to the beach. From the open “shedding of the skin”

symbolic of aging to the final kiss. Once at the beach the previous relationship which was consensual and mutual, probably from an early age became tentative. He was obviously still aroused by the sight of his friend becoming naked and hid his forming erection behind the towel then rushed to the water. He was evolving. The young girl who was very pretty obviously had eyes for him and he for her. But he was still torn between what was and what he wanted now. She delivered and invitation in a kiss. He had to decide now.

He rushed to his friend now in the water to say a final goodbye delivering his message with the tag of continued love signaled that although he was changing from a boy to a young man that he would always have love for his childhood mate.

He returned to the young girl with the last vestiges of his boyhood washed away, he accepted her invitation.

As you can see, how you identify the older male role in this movie can change your perception of it’s meaning dramatically.

Soundtrack and Audio

At its very begging the movie had quite modern techno music – which could make you wonder what kind of film it would be. There was very little dialogue in the place which made the plot a bit harder to get adding to the initial confusion the movie caused . However it could be argued that the acting compensated for the limited dialog as much had to be said with the eyes, body language and the directors clues. Finally it should be noted that the dialogue is in Dutch – and probably the limitations of the dialogue would actually do you a favor if you are not familiar with this language.

the English translation “Sigh” means “1. A deep and prolonged audible inspiration or respiration of air, as when fatigued or grieved; the act of sighing.[so i found it quite interesting that none of the characters really do “sigh’ audibly at all, but that the “sighing” is all done in the imagery and what i saw throughout the movie

To summarize

A very symbolic and moving piece done in a very short film. Symbolic films are very difficult because different cultures have different value bases. Your understanding and definition what love is could change. It demonstrated the dilemma of sexual choice in the adolescent male. Such a simple movie it really makes you think about things so much. ‘Zucht’ could have an awakening effect on you.

– now I get it: close friendship is a form of love!

Note : What you just read is the first result of the SkyKid.org’s joint movie review forum. The review above is based on the opinions of SkyKid, Joe11,Bestpi,´KID combined and blended in a joint review . To see the separate opinions or if you want to leave your own visit the disscusion thread or leave a comment to this post.

Alexey Goloborodko

I stumbled upon one of the videos of Alexey at you tube accidentally – and am go glad that I did. He is a 14 years old dancing contortionist from Tula, Russia and is apparently famous worldwide thanks to his participation in the Russian show ” Minute of Glory”. To this day I have not seen anyone as flexible as he is – I would permanently damage myself even if I try the most simplest thing he does. Abundant with talent Alexey also have to work a lot in the gym and everyday he spends there 3 to 45 hours . In fact one of the rooms in the flat he lives at is transformed into a gym for practicing in his “free time”. His trainer calls his directions “rubber Dance” – symbiotic dance, sport, circus art.According to hm, Allexey is a extraordinarily hard-working boy who always follows his direction and is determined to improve his skills. Enjoy his amazing performance

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIVqFjLH8Ok

Note ! You will be able to find many others clips of his art on youtube

SkyKids

SkyKids – I am so excited to start writing this movie review. A movie with a cool title, suitable for a film, blog, forum. :-D. It is known either as “SkyKids” or “The FlyBoys”, which may cause some initial confusion for those of you who first look for it online. The IMDB entry is after the title “The FlyBoys”, but on August 23rd the movie was internationally released as “SkyKids”. For the purpose of this review I will use “SkyKids” as I like this title more …

I would start by saying that “SkyKids” has a similar atmosphere to another recently released title, “The Son of Rambow”. It differs however in the focus, which is on the action ( including amazing aerial scenes ) instead of its comedy aspects. Which is not to say that “The Son of Rambow” doesn’t have any action in it. The action in the film is really intense, which assures a long run at the box office.

I really love the fact that SkyKids is not like those dumb movies which flood the cinemas lately / you know the kind – with dozens of computer generated effects and no real meaning . In SkyKids all stunts are real performed by very talented pilots .

If feels like the movie has several different plots. Starting with what may be your average story about a troubled kid who befriends a rather shy boy from his new school. A coming-of-age action film is probably the most accurate description of “SkyKids”.

The cast of the movie is really good. I loved the acting, especially one of the young actors. Reiley Mc Clendon was very convincing as Kyle. In fact Reiley Mc Clendon, who is currently eighteen years old, has unique aspects to his facial characteristic or something in his natural charisma, which really contributes to his role as Kyle. The movie seems to have been made at least five or six years ago and I am really curious as to why they waited so long to release it.

The movie is very entertaining and its guaranteed to keep you glued to the screen for its entire 144 minute length. I loved it and highly recommend that you head to the nearest DVD store to get a copy of it.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFA3u5o3Xto

CrissCross (1992)

If I had known that CrissCross was such a wonderful and powerful movie, I would have seen it long ago instead of having it in my collection for ages unseen. Lately, I’ve discovered several captivating movies that share a strikingly similar theme, and I truly believe they’re worth exploring. Amongst them, King of the Hill and The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things. CrissCross is a compelling Coming-of-Age film, and it also weaves a touching and sensitive drama that resonates deeply with its audience. It is a combination that often produces powerful and touching masterpieces, and this one is no exception.

Based on Scott Sommer’s novel, the movie deals with the special relationship between a young single mother and her twelve-year-old son. Goldie Hawn portrays a woman abandoned by her husband and strives to secure a better future for her son. She works as a waitress in a small motel in Key West and serves drinks in a strip club. Soon, however, the lack of money forces her to become a stripper herself. From that moment forward, the narrative unfolds reminiscent of Metallica’s powerful video for Turn the Page.

However, the story in the movie is told from the viewpoint of her son, the 12-year-old Criss (played by David Arnott). He is a vulnerable boy, affected by his father, who tries to support his mom financially by taking on various side jobs. One involves delivering fish regularly from a ship at sea to the hotel cook. One day, he discovers that he is being used as a mule by the cook who secretly deals cocaine. He feels betrayed, but at the same time, he sees a chance to help his mom quit her stripping job by making enough money for both of them by selling drugs.

In the review written by Chris Hicks, Davit Arnott is said to “ensemble River Phoenix at this age.” which is an odd fact, considering the many reviews in which one of the actors in Son of Rambow, Will Poulter, is said to resemble River Phoenix as well. It makes me wonder if that’s purpose or purely coincidental.

Davit is entering the spotlight in CrissCross, a dazzling showcase where young talents deliver unforgettable performances! He mostly narrates the movie’s story, and I could not help but notice the unique sound of his voice. Adding to this is his burgeoning sense of identity, complemented by his striking looks (for someone his age) and the fact that he appears in nearly every scene. With a noticeable focus on his youthful, sweat-drenched presence, the camera emphasizes his physicality. It’s no wonder David Arnott left a strong and lasting impression on everyone who watched the film. It is a shame that he did not pursue an acting career.

The film’s theme song plays several times and always enhances the emotional impact of the scenes it accompanies. The score(just like the product design ) is extremely fitting for the period in which the story is set, as it features some amazing ’60s tunes like Albatross by Fleetwood Mac.

Some people consider this movie a bit slow-paced, but this is not true. Moreover, the director skillfully immerses the audience in the atmosphere of the late ’60s, complete with hippies wandering the streets and iconic rock-and-roll tracks playing in the background. The film also features several humorous moments, most of which stem from Criss’s coming-of-age journey and his youthful naivety.

Ultimately, CrissCross stands as a poignant and beautifully crafted Coming-of-Age drama, skillfully blending emotional depth, powerful performances, and an evocative portrayal of the late ’60s—a timeless gem that deserves to be rediscovered.

CrissCross Trailer

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104027/reference

Late Summer (2001)

Today I am going to review another short movie called “Late Summer.” Directed by David Rittenhouse, the movie is a good choice for anyone interested in photography or likes the coming of age genre. The plotline follows the experiences of a young teenager who is sent to spend some time with his aunt and uncle after his father’s death. Once there, he is befriended by his older cousin, who tries to teach his young sibling the meaning of life, giving him insights about sexuality, self-confidence etc.

The young teenager has an interest in photography and is encouraged by his cousin to explore it more. Then it all changes and the first photograph by the boy captures that moment of change. That`s just about as much I can say about the movie without including any spoilers. The acting was good, especially Erol Zeybekoglu in the role of Adam, the twelve-year-old, as a curious coming of age boy. The twenty-five minutes of this movie is sure to make you think about the meaning in the photographs you or your friends have. Every photo has a story …

” David Otterhouse captured a time and innocence of being 17-18 years old as seen through the eyes of a 12-year-old. A beautiful representation of real true love with no sexual innuendo. Magnificent.”

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0312269/combined

Bloody Birthday (1981)

Bloody Birthday is a horror movie from 1981. It’s often regarded as a slasher film. Only the killers in it are three adorable little kids. Debbie (Elizabeth Hoy), Curtis (Billy Jacoby), and Steven (Andy Freeman) are born in 1970 during a solar eclipse. The odd timing of their birth seemed to affect the kids’ personalities ( note the similarities with the Omen), as when they are just about to turn ten, they become violent.

The acting is average, and to me, only the three young actors deserve some credits for their efforts. Especially Billy Jayne in Curtis’s role, who managed to present his character as a very creepy little dude!

The movie is entertaining and will make good use of your late Friday night hours. It is a slasher horror movie made for entertaining instead of scaring you. To me, it was good at achieving that goal. While some other reviewers pointed out that the movie is a bit lame, I suggest that you see it and decide for yourself.

[imdb]http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082084/[/imdb]

TheSkyKid.com

TheSKyKid.com

Pinocchio (2008)

Milan

Cold Light

Marcel Pietruch

Ratcatcher (1999)

Pete (2003)

Zucht (2007)

Alexey Goloborodko

SkyKids

CrissCross (1992)

Late Summer (2001)

Bloody Birthday (1981)