Change Your Image
ovm_
Reviews
Take Home Pay (2019)
An acquired taste, but one I like (mostly)
When I first saw this film on my own at a cinema, I had an overall positive impression and messaged my sisters that it was flawed but had enough redeeming qualities to make it worth a watch. I couldn't quite pinpoint what I disliked about the movie, but knew I definitely hadn't liked all of it....
Two years later, I decided to look it up again to see if I could stream it for a second viewing, and maybe see if I could finally put my thumb on why I didn't like it unreservedly. I found it on Amazon Prime, and rather than rent it for $5, decided to buy it for $20. Before re-watching it though, I thought I'd check out some reviews and came across a 2-star IMDB review. The author, (tylerallan-29252, 28 October 2019), hated the movie and made notes as to why.
After reading tylerallan's review I actually gave it a thumbs up...! While I still liked the movie, several factors were in my favour:
- I'm Samoan, (born and raised in New Zealand and now live overseas)
- I speak the language with a modicum of fluency
- I was raised by 2 Samoan immigrants, so understand the slapstick humour that is so loved by the folks back home
- I also get the supremacy-via-singing trope (church, everyone!)
- Also, the all-pervasive fascination with everything martial arts that I'm sure is true across the Pacific Islands - where all Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan movies were box office smashes (subtitles or no) - is something I grew up experiencing first-hand
- The pathetic sobbing of a traveller before leaving home is also a common theme at all Samoan farewells/celebrations, so what would seem to be a random scene to the uninitiated is actually an authentic representation of what one might witness (for reals...!)
- The monetary and food gifts from strangers also needs to be understood as an aspect of Samoan culture that would otherwise seem to be a random scene (faafafines might also need to be explained in order for that scene to be fully appreciated)
Without that background and going in cold to watch this movie, I can see how it would seem a confusing mess. For that reason, I marked tylerallan's review as helpful, since it gave an insight into the mind of a non-Samoan viewer, who needed more help with understanding the culture of Samoa, perhaps, to appreciate the references.
My notes, then, on what made the movie enjoyable for me, and worth buying for repeat viewings:
- hearing Samoan spoken in all its iterations - the staccato speed of the Samoan spoken by the old folk on the island (Alama + Popo's dad); the fluency of the island youths using their idioms and abbreviations (Alama + Popo + and the nosey neighbour character); the slower cadence of Samoan spoken fluently by immigrants who had moved to NZL years previously (Bob's mum + relatives); the accented fluency of the NZL-Samoans, who may have left in their youth and retained the language, but for whom English was now the main spoken tongue (Alfriston's mum); the surprising fluency of Samoans whom you'd never guess were Samoan let alone could speak it (pub sing-off character); the accented non-fluency of the NZL-born Samoans (Bob) ... all of it was a joy to hear, albeit somewhat confusing since my brain understood what I was hearing instinctively, yet my eyes weren't able to read the subtitles fast enough to compare(!)
- seeing regular, non-glamorous scenes of island life depicted (I remember similar scenes from visiting relatives in my youth)
- seeing ie lavalava (sarongs) being worn with see kosokoso (flip-flops) normally by men
- I also enjoyed the cameos with some of NZL's preeminent acting/sports stars
Cons:
- I think the movie could have benefited from tighter editing - some of the chase scenes dragged on a bit
- Some character development would have helped viewers with no Samoan cultural background/understanding enjoy the movie more
- Some more explanation of the martial art theme of the movie would have helped a lot overall (one mention of Lima Tau during the training montage 2/3 of the way through the movie was way too little, too late)
I like the movie on a gut level, but some technical aspects and plot points need improving if they're planning a sequel as rumoured. I'm sure it'll appeal to a wider, less-niche audience as a result (but please don't cut back on any of the spoken Samoan - that's my fav!!!!!!!!!)
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Left me cold
Someone artistic recommended this movie to me after I said I'd never seen it because the shorts hadn't appealed way back when, and the cast wasn't a drawcard for me either.
"Watch it, you'll love it." So I did, and I didn't... should have listened to my gut (meh)
Barrage of colours and sound, felt under attack for a solid 2hrs. Found the tired tropes did not hold my interest or endear any of the characters to me.
Ultimately, just not my idea of a good time.
Finally, after we're told she has consumption, (TB, highly contagious from coughing, etc.), I was cringing at all the close talking and kissing between the pair of lovers. Or that could be my COVID-tinted view now....
Terrace House: Aloha State (2016)
So refreshing!
While browsing on Netflix yesterday, I came across the recently added episodes of Terrace House and randomly clicked it, not really knowing what to expect. 7hrs later(!), I realised that I was starving and had completely missed taking my dog for her walk! Feeling bad for my dog, I quickly set the laptop down, got out of bed (ahem), and got ready for the day. Luckily it was Sunday, so the fact that the day had disappeared while I was immersed in the daily lives of these perfect strangers didn't have too drastic an impact. What compelled me to keep watching hour after hour, you might well ask ... I think it was that, unlike other reality shows where people live together, they actually get to leave the house and carry on with their lives, striving towards their career goals and working to realise their dreams. The participants are so civil/real/polite/respectful towards one another too, which is a HUGE departure from other reality shows; super refreshing, that! (",) It isn't a competition either, which probably helps in that regard, in that the participants aren't rivals for a prize. It really feels unscripted too, which is a claim that most reality shows make, but fail to live up to. Did I mention that it's all in Japanese?! I love that - not that I speak it (does studying it haphazardly in high school count?) - but I really enjoyed seeing that even non-Japanese people who studied the language were included. The diversity of participants is fantastic to see and fascinating to watch (7hrs later, after all!). There's a panel of commentators whose reactions to the show are shown intermittently throughout each episode. Honestly, I think they were the reason I kept watching for so long!! Their reactions and comments were solid gold and added to my interest in the participants. Very much looking forward to seeing more, but I'll plan more carefully - maybe limit myself to only viewing it on the weekends, just in case I get sucked in again for umpteen hours, heh.