Run, do not walk, to see this superb movie from New Zealand. Easily, the best film of the year so far, and in my mind, nothing like it since tRH and CTHD. This is epic story telling folks, and the story is so emotionally compelling, I guarantee you it will make your top 10 list of all time greats. The acting is awesome, especially that of the young heroine, and the cinematography will knock your eyes out.

For me, this movie easily makes it in my top five.

I've heard great things about that movie. I'd watch it if I had the chance, but right now, The Hulk is one on my list.

It doesn't have anything to do with swimming with whales right? From what I've heard, it's about a girl coming of age in a male tribe/community... nothing about whales though.

The story builds to an epic climax that has EVERYTHING to do with whales. :bow: When Roger Ebert was interviewed about this movie, he called it the best film of the year. He confessed he, and a few hardcore film critic colleagues who don't get emotional about anything, were positively weeping at the end of this film.

So was I......

The Tomatoe meter is at 93% on this one. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/WhaleRider-1122892/

Ang Lee does, or I would have gone to see this. I firmly believe one should support things like this when they come along. Somehow I felt so clean after I saw THE ROAD HOME and that feeling is worth waaaay more than the ticket price.

If you’re torn between supporting Ang Lee and seeing a fabulous independent film...THE HULK will be around for a while. Small independents can get steamrolled right out of our conscious lives. Think about that.

It's in limited release this week anyway. I think I remember hearing that it would only be playing at one theater in San Diego this weekend and I don't even know which theater it was.

I've heard a lot of positive buzz about Whale Rider and I do want to see it. Everybody seems to love it. Unfortunately, I don't live in an area where a lot of independent films are shown. But I will rent it if nothing else as soon as it comes out on video.

I would rather see it on the big screen however, and will if at all possible.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/whale_rider.html

Thanks to Virgule for recommending this film here -- otherwise, I would probably not be aware of its existence at this time. Luckily, Whale Rider is being shown as part of the "Filmfest Munich"... I'm going to watch it tomorrow! :bow:

Anyone who likes the storytelling style of tRH will identify with Whale Rider as a very similar treat. It's as if the director SAW tRH as an inspiration in bringing this heart rending, but ultimately triumphant story to the big screen. It's won several film awards already in various film festivals as an audience favorite.

You'll know why when you get a chance to see it. It gets the 2003 Zhao Di Award of Excellence from ZFilms, no doubt about it.

when you all come to newzealand
you have to check out our whales,
they are so cool!

www.new-zealand.com/nzguide/kaikoura.html
www.nz.com/tour/Kaikoura.

Gaz, you should do a documentry on whales
i thought this from watching your interview and then listen to this
http://www.tune.fm/station/radioziyi/zfilms/beauty_of_you.mp3

maybe you could convince Visa to sponser it.

i know if you pull the two sides of your brain together............i am sure zhang ziyi would look pretty in a blue wetsuit orange life jacket and beanie.

"shoop shoop gaz, shoop shoop "

Originally posted by Zhoa di
zhang ziyi would look pretty in a blue wetsuit orange life jacket and beanie.
"

photo's of her frolicking with the dolphins?:clap:
or at least patting them from the rubber boat.

Good call.... she'd be sooo cute like that!

on a serious note though, this movie is incredible!!
It actually had me in tears from the first 10 minutes and throughout, and I'm a big hard rock drummer!!!

Well worth hunting down and watching!

There are images I remember from this film that will stay in my head for quite a while.

There is an astounding scene where the young lass is underwater, riding the whale's back as it dives. She lets go and crosses her heart with her arms. Air bubbles are escaping from her lungs. Her face is pinched for want of oxygen. She says she was not afraid to die. The moment was so beautiful, I lost it, right then and there.

The last time a film sequence hit me like that, Zhao Di was running through the snow, falling.

Like all great art, the images imprinted on the brain through the eyes tend to hang around for a long time, perhaps even permanently unforgettable.

Many reviewers categorize this film as a children's tale. This film has as much to do with kiddy flicks as Gone With the Wind is a travelogue of Atlanta.

Originally posted by Virgule
. She says she was not afraid to die.

the only way to becoming one with mortality:agree:

Originally posted by vanhulst
. It actually had me in tears from the first 10 minutes and throughout,
:shocked:
your fans are not gonna beleave you.......you know this :laugh:

Originally posted by shannon
photo's of her frolicking with the dolphins?

the dolphins will love her:love: but will her insurance company allow it..........

Originally posted by Zhoa di
Gaz, you should do a documentry on whales

i'd have a whale of a time for sure..... ( i already have - sort of.... )

snailman, markr, shadow, jar jar bc.........did ya's get to see it yet?
( whale rider that is, not me going "and the black and white one is an Orca - they bite - not nice if you are a seal" ) :laugh: :laugh:

Originally posted by Gaz
"and the black and white one is an Orca - they bite - not nice if you are a seal"

you didn't mention

"during world war two, japanese submarineswere reputed to have patrolled this coastline .......that by the way, is a humpback whale"

the best film this year. I thought it would be good, but I was overwhelmed.

I think there’s a flaw in the story...but can’t discuss it here cuz it’s a major spoiler. The person I saw it with doesn’t agree.

Though I think it’s flawed...it’s still the best film I’ve seen this year and last year. That girl is just wonderful.

GO SEE THIS FILM SO THOSE GUYS CAN GET SOME OF THEIR MONEY BACK.

I saw it again as an encore last weekend. You have to be careful with this film. It is so emotionally draining, you can easily dehydrate. This film is the tear-jerker of the century. I can't even remember a film since tRH 2 years ago that is this poignant and gets you so emotionally involved. Whale Rider is what movie making is all about.

real, CGI, trained, or dead? How did they do that?

No idea. I just run with the magic. :grin:

i still haven't seen this movie, yet i know alot of people inviolved in it.
One things they will say, is that it was a magical and spiritual experience.

Whales do that here, they beach themselves, mostly the larger herd species. If you are on hand visiting one of the coastal towns, and this occurs, expect to be recruited to do want you can ( under instruction and guidence ) to keep them alive and get them back out to sea.

This is a truelly amazing experience.
Something a bout them that makes one feel at peace, very emotion generating creatures.

Orca's have an aggressive and some consider playful technique in shepharding seals back into the sea, from the beachs, and excellent tactic which capatilises on the seals instinct to run to the water for safety.
An orca wriggling along from each flank along a beach must be pretty truamatic for seals.

They are not aggressive towards humans,
but cuation is advised when the cute and curious babies are around, mums warnings and defensive tactics, are just "deterants" to predators in the first instance, but dangerous to us in our rubber boats.

Somehow when you see these things up close, no dream in ones world seem impossible, the world is but an ocean of opportunity and freedoms.

i wonder

Introducing Z to the local dolphins sounds a plan?

I hear they get erections when they swim with humans and especially with women. You might warn her.

They’ll probably really get excited swimming with her. Haha.

i think the insurance company will probally put the foot down on that anyway. Besides, i can imagine you guys hunting me down if anything traumatic happened to Z in NZ - not to mention Mom and her broom.

I can imagine Z befriending the Orcas.
they would like her,
I wonder if they understand mandarin?

Originally posted by Gaz
iZ befriending the Orcas.
?

that would be a geat documentry.

maybe you should press with the original idea Gaz of getting Z down to NewZealand to do a full tourist documentry for Asian TV.

Visit the scenes of Whale rider.

Bed and breakfasts in the high country

lord of the rings would be extra easy wouldn't it

Originally posted by shell
lord of the rings would be extra easy wouldn't it

50% is in piggy back distance from my home

have black car shall reach the rest.......

but

The canterbury highlands is a bit harder
with time constraints, a helicopter.

the whale rider scenes would be a full day.

Although I did get choked up watching this wonderful movie, it's not as emotionally draining as say, Schindler's List or Saving Private Ryan. Very powerful films in their own right.

Still, Whale Rider is a beautiful & poignant film I will see again. Probably on DVD. There may be some good deleted scenes and behind the scenes commentary by the director, and in this case, even more interesting, perhaps comments by the cast. An interview with the very talented & promising young actress would be really good. Again, I highly recommend this movie as possibly the best film since TRH. Well worth your while.

the new york times reader poll.........

puts whale rider as no7, of the the top 10 movies of all time :clap:

I just saw this movie over the weekend and abslolutely loved it! Thanks to Virgule for posting his recommendation on the board. I probably wouldn't have heard about this movie without it...and more than likely would've passed it by even if I did see it on the shelf.

I found this movie to be unforgettable and is easily one of the best films of 2003. The basic story is fairly common: young person fights against tradition and prejudice to stake their claim for their own individuality. However, this movie is so sophisticated in its storytelling and the acting (especially by the lead young girl character) is amazing! And to think this is her first film. I'd be surprised if we don't see her again soon.

I won't spoil the movie by revealing the ending, but I will say it if opted for a less happy, more gut-wrenching ending, it could've been even more powerful. I'm not saying that the ending is at all disappointing, but in my opinion (and in this particular case) a less "Hollywood" ending would've driven the message home even more emotionally.

Absolutely incredible and worth your time. Thanks again, Virgule!

With films like LOTR and Whale Rider coming out of New Zealand, who needs Hollywood!

The young lass has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. Although a long shot, the honor is, I am sure, not lost upon her.

http://www.oscar.com/nominees/nom_33035.html

hope the cute one:love: gets to the oscars
I'd love to see her and Keisha photo together

Originally posted by Gaz
hope the cute one:love: gets to the oscars
I'd love to see her and Keisha photo together
Thats alot of "squeeking" and "wiggling"... :D

two of the most animated personalities in movie star world,
in the same room - same time
it would be a legendary moment for sure:clap:

That would make for a priceless photo.

That would be my wish too.
:agree:

Earlier I got her initials wrong and typed KCC, but you know I meant to say KCH. Anyway, I wish the best for the talented young actress and hope the anticipation till The Moment won't get to her too much. Just have a good time Keisha.

I think both Z and K will be up there several more times. :cool:

I just finished watching the movie. It's SO good :D I enjoyed it very much. My brother told me that this might be related to another movie called "Once We Were Warriors". I bet that's true because it had the very same cast (except for KCH). Keisha is a very good young actress. New Zealand is very beautiful and I do hope to travel there!

Originally posted by BootlegZiyi
"Once We Were Warriors".

that one, plus the sequeal "what becomes of the broken hearted"
very very "kiwi", theres a few people that love your hair - say no more :cool:

Keisha is very cool, she was at the big day out rock concert just hanging out being Crazy little Keisha. Its a strange thing to cop a squirt from her water bottle, then see her next on the red carpet at the oscars waving to the media.

An extremely late post from me, but I recently saw Whale Rider and cried my eyes out. Virgule's right, it is SO emotionally draining. I think when I was done watching it, I just lay there limply, replaying the images in my mind.

My favourite scene is when she's saying her speech, and when she's riding the whale. Gawsh, I bawled my eyes out.

I have a copy of it sitting in my DVD library. I'm scared to play it 'cause I know I'll blow an entire box of Kleenex if I watch it again. :crying:

if you ever visit NewZealand, ya gotta visit Kaikoura.
although its got a bit of the tourisiam thing going on, it still retains an eerrie emotive power..........some would say magical
The cuteones birthday present this year was blessed.........by such

i found these cool pictures while browsing the net......( taken by and due credit to P Thonney and family )

http://people.cornell.edu/pages/pet3/pictures/kaikora/slide6.jpg http://people.cornell.edu/pages/pet3/pictures/kaikora/slide4a.jpg

those cute lil creatures are dusky dolphins - they, like the whales ....give ya an emotional-spiritual awareness like never before....