Having read John Grisham’s thriller, The Client, I had doubts that any other author could write a Coming-of-Age novel that combines criminal investigation, a mystery and rite-of-passage experiences in such an intriguing and original manner. Then I discovered The Fort by Aric Davis! The reviews I had read praised the book, and I really liked its cover art (to me that is a factor in the decision making process of what to read next). So I started reading with high expectations and, after just the first few pages I knew I had made the right choice.
The Fort: A Book Review
Yarik (2007)
It’s been a while since I had the opportunity to watch and review a Russian movie. Sadly, although disturbing, the 2007 film titled Yarik does not compare well with the Russian Coming-of-Age masterpieces I have seen in the past (i.e., My Name is Ivan, The Return).
Richard Istel: A German Discovery
For me, it’s always fascinating finding new singers, especially when they’re from right here in Germany.
The first thing I noticed about Richard Istel, who turned 14 today (5-Aug-2013) is his impeccable English — an American English — with absolutely no accent!! When I asked Richie how this was possible, he answered it was simply a talent for emulating sounds!
Richard Istel lives in Leipzig with his family and has already been incredibly busy touring Germany and performing in Latvia and Poland. In Konin (Poland), he recently won the 13-18 category at the International Children’s Song and Dance Festival.
But even way before this, in 2009, Richie made his mark in a German talent show called Das Supertalent by being the only child to reach the final round (he placed 5th). Richie has also been on Teenage Rockstar and placed 3rd at the Europop contest, all of which is news to me because I had never heard him sing in the 20 years I‘ve been in Germany. Richie even sang for Nena on TV!
Michael Jackson/Jackson Five I´ll be There Cover by Richard Istel
I’ve found one original song called World‘s Turning, with lyrics by his sister Lisa and co-created with his dad, who seems to be a solo entertainer on the accordion.
What you hear when Richie sings is a harmonic, rich, treble voice capable of holding notes and full of young power. He has a natural, self-confident performing style and is certain of his ability to charm an audience.
His choice of music from the modern Pop genre shows his ability to deliver somber tunes like Stay, Vampire and Hallelujah, as well as romping tunes like Hollywood Hills. There are many more covers worth listening to on his Youtube channel: Skyscraper,Video Games, Angel and a very funny home video of him cracking up trying to sing Ben from a few years back. You can find out more about Richard Istel by visiting his fan-page.
Richard Istel – Hollywood Hills
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVf803IYUm0
In introducing Richard to TheSkykid.com readers, I am still on a journey of discovery myself, Leipzig being a communist part of Germany before reunification. Perhaps I’ll have to travel to see him at the Classic Open in Leipzig on the 10th of August, where Richie will be at the Marktplatz. And then there‘s the Finale Singing Young Stars in Salzburg Austria on the 24th of August! Or maybe I should visit the Piratennächte (Pirates Nights), where Richie will sing in December.
Richard enjoys performing and is comfortable in front of either intimate or large audiences. His musical route seems well managed and I get the feeling this artist will be in the national and international spotlights increasingly as his popularity grows. My best wishes for success and I’ll watch for more inspiring offerings from Richie in the future.
Happy 14th Birthday from rjmendera and everyone at TheSkyKid.com!!
Bamboo People: A Book Review
War. Child soldiers. A boy of fifteen forced against his will to join the army. Bamboo People is a novel by Indian author Mitali Perkins. It offers an intimate peek into the Coming-of-Age experiences of two teenagers who experience the horrors of the civil war in Burma (a small independent state that borders India and Thailand). Ethnic cleansing, child labor, slavery, human trafficking and a lack of freedom of speech are just few of the issues addressed in the story.
Birthday Boy (2006)
Some films can bore you to death with predictable narratives and slow paced action. Yet others manage to keep you in suspense, guessing what will happen next. The 2006 Dutch short film Birthday Boy, directed by Chris W. Mitchell, is doubtlessly of the latter kind.
The film appears to be shot utilizing hand-held cameras to emulate the home video recording of a birthday party for 11-year-old Sjoerd. At first, it appears that this is the typical pre-teen birthday featuring video games and treasure hunts, but soon the games the party guests play will put them into a hazardous situation.
Initially it was the film description on ShortFilmCentral.com that piqued my curiosity. It read: “It’s Sjoerd’s 11th birthday party and he’s got everything a modern boy could wish for. Now he just has to make sure he stays alive to enjoy it.“
With such a teaser, one could assume the film will feature action and surprising twists, but I didn’t as many surprises in the film’s scant seven minutes of screen time.
Birthday Boy features an original situation-driven narrative that really keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. Recommended!
You can watch the film, below, courtesy of producer André Bos who shared it on his Vimeo account:
I Declare War (2012)
Are you ready? Really ready? For a WAR? Because I am and I DECLARE WAR!
Now that I got your attention, I’ll tell you about a film I just saw that’s wickedly cool and creative — its title: I Declare War. Nothing you can read or see can prepare you for the experience of seeing this 2012 film. It is unique! And that is a statement coming from a person who has seen hundreds of Coming-of-Age films.
Directed by Jason Lapeyre and Robert Wilson, I Declare War can be anything you want it to be: a war film, a drama, a romance, sci-fi, an adventure or a Coming-of-Age. And, if you prefer, you don’t even have to choose because it’s all those in one.
Essentially it is a film of a game – a game of war between two rival groups of boys. Think Stand By Me and War of the Buttons, both of which have clearly inspired Jason Lapeyre (who wrote the script in addition to co-directing the film). This tale is told with realism and fantasy mixed together as ingredients. Getting skeptical? Wondering why I would rave about a “childish film that focuses on a game …?”
The answer is – because it’s real! The film features first-class cinematography, which you would expect of an immense war-themed production like Spartacus or Rambo. The boys may be playing with wooden sticks, water balloons, binoculars or flying model planes, but they imagine and believe it’s a real war – so much so that the viewer starts believing too. Can you resist? I didn’t think so!
What makes this film seem so real? Well, to start with, the talent of the young cast and the devotion with which they play their roles. Each team is unique, comprised of unique “soldiers” with distinct personalities, strengths and weaknesses. There’s the Lone Ranger, the altar boy, the clever tactician, the mean enemy, the superhero, the leaders and the followers. During the course of the story you get to know each character by observing the kids who embody them. And just when you think you know them and can predict their actions, they manage to surprise you.
The film features stunning visuals, crisp images and brightly lit scenes. Realistic war audio effects are used throughout in such an effective manner that one feels in the midst of real battlefield action.
The narrative is filled with suspense, action and drama – cleverly scripted in a manner that won’t let you feel bored for the entire screen time of over an hour and a half. If you want to witness how clever direction and cinematic magic can transform an ordinary event into an extraordinary story, I Declare War is the film to see!
As soon as the final credits were rolling, I felt the impulse to get outside to play my own war games. I’m positive that if there were pals around at this hour I would have not hesitated for a minute. That’s how inspiring this film is. It made me recall a series of laser tag games I once played in New England, at which I was very good. My teacher told me that my being from the Balkans explained why I was so good at it (with the reputation soldiers from that region have). Growing up, my friends and I always played war themed games in the hills of the village where I spent my summer vacations – games that felt equally realistic to us then as the film now feels to its viewers….
I Declare War delivers a unique movie experience. Kids will love it – it’s tense enough to excite, yet perfectly suitable for audiences of all ages. I’ve struggled to think of a flaw to mention to balance out this review, but since nothing comes to mind – I will simply declare that I highly recommend it!
I Declare War Official Trailer
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2133239/combined
I Declare War (2012)
Summary
I Declare War delivers a unique movie experience. Kids will love it – it’s tense enough to excite, yet perfectly suitable for audiences of all ages.
5
OUR RATING
Watch it now
Dead End in Norvelt: A Book Review
Lately I have been stumbling upon a lot of Coming-of-Age novels whose stories are set somewhere in the United States. Over time, I feel like I’m getting a better idea of what it must feel like to grow up there as compared to doing so in my own country.
The latest book I’ve just finished is titled Dead End in Norvelt and
Ghetto Kids (2002)
Don’t be fooled by the title – Ghetto Kids. This is not just another crime-themed film glorifying gangsters or a shady way of life. Christian Wagner‘s 2002 flick is something much more – a shocking true-to-life story of immigrant life, of hopes and goodness, of poverty and richness of the heart. The sensationalist approach to cinema is missing, yet the disturbing authenticity of the story won’t leave you indifferent.
RescueMan and Other Cool Vintage RiffTrax Shorts
For some reason I am drawn to films, books and even photographs released years before I was born. With their vintage atmosphere, the retro style has a unique appeal that I find inspiring. Yet besides reviewing classic films and maybe mentioning a music band now and then, I rarely have the opportunity to discuss that passion of mine.
A few days ago, I stumbled upon a great short film, which was actually a combination of an American public service announcement and a funny commentary recorded by a team of comedians (Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy — and with Bill Corbett heckling). It was for a website called RiffTrax.
The short film with the intriguing title Rescueman was originally intended to educate youth on safety procedures while riding on school buses. Or, in other words, what kids should do if an emergency should arise while they are riding the bus. To make things easier for the kids to grasp, the story is told from the view point of a young boy – Scotty – who is obsessed with a superhero named Rescueman. Such a lesson could be useful and interesting and, with the audio commentary added, it’s transformed into a hilarious clip. The older readers of this article may recall the original public broadcast from their school years and kids nowadays will enjoy it immensely; I know I did (thanks to the retro aesthetics plus the creativity of the narrative).
See what I mean for yourself in this short clip:
http://youtu.be/eLAiXsVOyS8
A quick exploration of the RiffTrax website resulted in many titles shot with young actors such as: When Should Grown-ups Stop Fights?, The Other Fellow’s Feelings, Ghost Rider, Safety with Animals, Say No to Strangers, Sailing a Toy Boat…to name but a few. Such public announcements were frequently shown at schools in the past and, while that is rarely the case nowadays, RiffTrax short films breathe a new life into them.
While viewers of these shorts may have a good laugh at the commentary, it’s almost guaranteed that some of the undoubtedly helpful messages embedded in the films would reach young and older audiences alike. All short films featured on the RIffTrax website come with a teaser and cost less than a dollar to buy and own.
Promising RiffTrax shorts :
Milo (2012)
With its beautiful score and atmospheric opening credits, one might expect a lot from the 2012 Dutch film Milo. But unfortunately its Coming-of-Age narrative, focusing on the experiences of a 10-year-old boy whose life is religiously controlled by his father, fails to keep the attention of the viewer.
The Song (2009)
These days dysfunctional families are more of a norm than the exception, which is probably the reason why so many Coming-of-Age films feature narratives that focus on the effect that family troubles have on youths. Such is the case with the 2009 short film from Denmark – The Song (Sangen).
In only fifteen minutes, Director Daniel Kragh-Jacobsen manages to explore issues such as forgotten feelings, father-son relationships and bullying
Old Yeller (1957)
While looking for good Coming-of-Age novels to read, Fred Gipson‘s book Old Yeller was recommended. I read it over the course of two days – and although it did not turn to be as sappy as I was warned it may be – it inspired me to seek out the 1957 Disney film based on the novel. Having seen it, I decided to review the movie instead of the book as, for some reason, I found it much more moving than the book – something of a rare occurrence in my experience. Additionally, while the film adaptation generally followed the story related in the book closely, unlike the novel, it did not include the spoilers that give away the ending.
The story of Old Yeller is set in 1869 on a farm in a remote settlement in Texas. A family of four is making a living in the harsh conditions of the American frontier thanks to a lot of hard work. When Jim Coates (Fess Parker) has to leave his family to go on a cattle drive that could take months, his 14-year-old son Travis (Tommy Kirk) takes care of the family in his absence. One day, a stray yellow dog evokes havoc on the farm and later steals some meat that had been hung up to dry. Travis is outraged, but his younger brother Arliss (Kevin Corcoran) falls in love with the mischievous dog and claims it over his brother’s protests. The dog, however, turns out to be a great pal and protector for the family and soon proves his loyalty by saving the lives of both brothers on different occasions.
Essentially Old Yeller is a classic example of a Disney family-oriented animal adventure story, with the potential to appeal to young and adult audiences alike. While more Coming-of-Age value lies within the pages of the book (thanks to its first-person narrative told from Travis’s viewpoint), it’s not absent from the film — especially in the final scenes that feature a touching conversation between father and son.
The best actors in the movie are undoubtedly the animals led by a dog as the title character, making the film a real treat for young viewers. The story is fast-paced and exciting enough to hold the attention of its audiences. If I have any complaint, it would be directed at the musical score, which features way too many non-diegetic sounds intended to boost the dramatic effect of the film’s events and scenes. If you enjoy the movie, you may be singing its theme song as the final credits roll, but if you don’t, it’s likely to be a bit of an annoyance due to its somewhat hackneyed sound. On the positive side, the dialogue between the characters is charming, thanks to their old-fashioned accents.
Spiritual relationships and the reliance between boy and dog is one of the prominent motifs of the story. Still, the author also empathizes with the journey towards manhood of the teenaged Travis, who accepts adult responsibilities and learns to deal with the destitution of the hard frontier life.
Old Yeller Theme Song