Aylmer to Zazzoo and Beyond

Monday, May 20, 2013

33 Postcards - Review

33 Postcards

2011 Australia

(2012 - April - USA)

1 hr. 37 min.

Rated: Not Rated
Grade: B-

Director: Pauline Chan
Writers: Pauline Chan, Philip Dalkin, Martin Edmond
Stars: Guy Pearce, Zhu Lin, Claudia Karvan | See full cast and crew

Mei Mei (Zhu Lin) is a 16 yr old Chinese orphan girl who dreams of nothing more than being part of the 'perfect' family. Dean Randall (Guy Pearce) has sponsored Mei Mei for the past 10 years, allowing her to get an education. When her orphanage is invited to participate in The Australian Choir Festival Mei Mei takes the opportunity to find her Australian sponsor in Sydney. However, the Dean Randall's situation she finds is far from the idyllic life he depicted in his postcards. Initially mismatched and disconnected the two begin a journey in search of belonging, family, redemption, love and acceptance.

33 Postcards utilizes an old formula that dates back, at least on the silver screen, to the days or D. W. Griffith but as a storyline goes back even further than that. It's the "oh-so-innocent waif and big old baddie" odd-couple formula. It presents the opportunity to utilize the elements, among others, of danger, risk, hope, forgiveness, redemption, friendship, loyalty and love.

First released in Australia in 2011, and April 2012 in the US, 33 Postcards was not well received by the critics, said to be sentimental; ' feel-goodery'; 'Sweet to the point of getting a sugar rush'; blah, blah, blah. For example take this quote from the New York Post:

"Were it not for the staccato bursts of violence, this Chinese-Australian co-production about how an adorable orphan brings love into the life of a hardened convict would feel like a film from Hayley Mills' heyday."

The innocence of the Hayley Mills' heyday, of course, is something your children need protection from. Today's critics are in my view very jaded, to be a good film it can't be uplifting any longer, it needs violence, sex, drugs, nudity and antiheroes, it must elevate the sordid underbelly of humanity, show us the sympathetic side of criminals, terrorists, murderers, atheists, perverts, deviants, gangsters and thieves. Anything espousing morality, traditional family, religion, beauty or uplifting values is derided as old fashioned, sappy, goody goody, un-evolved.

33 Postcards is a sweet little film. Not a great film or a classic but an enjoyable film. I felt a bit of an affinity for the story having visited a Chinese orphanage and my ties to Australia. Plus, I have always liked Guy Pearce (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert; L A Confidential; Prometheus, The Hurt Locker, Iron Man 3) as an actor and no, this is not his greatest performance and this is not the best written screenplay and it is not the pinnacle of direction but it is a nice film none the less. I saw it at our local Art House cinema (Art House Cinema 502). If it's not playing in your area you can check it out on Netflix. 33 Postcards is a film you can enjoy with your family although some of the violence will be inappropriate for the wee ones.

The performances are adequate to good, the screenplay is a bit weak but not awful. The Chinese orphanage director, Miss Chen (Elaine Jin), reminded me of an Asian version of Viola Davis in Won't Back Down.

33 Postcards marks the first official Chinese-Australian (New South Wales) film collaboration. At the 2011 Sydney Film Festival, where it had its world premiere, it won the Community Relations Commission Award. At its Chinese premiere, just a couple of weeks later at the Shanghai International Film Festival, its lead actress Zhu Lin won the New Talent Award. The film is directed by Pauline Chan and inspired by real life events.

On the set with director Pauline Chan.

Cast

Guy Pearce Zhu Lin

Dean Randall Mei Mei

Rhys Muldoon Claudia Karvan Lincoln Lewis

Gary Barbara Carl

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Star Trek Into Darkness - Review

Star Trek
Into Darkness
(2013 - May 16)
Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi
2 hr 12 min

Rated: PG-13 Intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence. Read more
Grade: B+

Director: J.J. Abrams
Writers: Roberto Orci (written by), Alex Kurtzman (written by), Damon Lindelof,
(written by), Gene Roddenberry (television series "Star Trek")
Stars: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Benedict Cumberbatch, See full cast and crew

The crew of the Starship Enterprise returns home after an act of terrorism within its own organization destroys most of Starfleet and what it represents, leaving Earth in a state of crisis. With a personal score to settle, Capt. James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) leads his people (Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoë Saldana) on a mission to capture a one-man weapon of mass destruction, thereby propelling all of them into an epic game of life and death.

I reviewed the 3D version, honestly I don't feel it added all that much. There were a few good spots where its utilization was effective but otherwise many times it seemed a distraction. It is obvious that they are using this film to set up a franchise of sequels. I liked the film but I don't think it is as effective as its predecessor.

That said, I do like this franchise incarnation better than any of the others, be it TV original, The William Shatner/Leonard Nimoy or Patrick Stewart film series, or The Next Generation etc., etc. The majority of Trekkies will probably think J.J. Abrams has committed some degree of heresy but the Trekkies were never really the intended audience (loyal as they are their numbers are not enough to fund a blockbuster).

I like the energy that Chris Pine brings to the Capt. Kirk character, and he is a lot easier on the eyes than is either Shatner or Stewart. The entire young cast of the two latest J.J. Abrams films are great fun to watch, they have been cast so well to look like the youthful Shatner cast that they are supposed to be.

I found this film not quite as entertaining as the first one directed by Abrams, but enjoyable it is, and yes there is a cameo appearance from one of the original cast members. Should this franchise continue (and I understand Star Trek 3 is already in the works) I wonder how many more of the originals will be ready and willing to lend their faces and support.

There is one unnecessary scene with Kirk in bed with twin alien girls with tails, thankfully it isn't at all graphic but the whole aspect of his promiscuity is an unwelcome distraction.

There is a lot of action, perhaps a bit too much, it seem that they go from one life threatening scene to another with precious little respite in between. Is anyone's life really packed that full of adventure and excitement. They are constantly on the go.

Star Trek Into Darkness has plenty of violence, they battle Klingons, there's gunfire, fights and people being killed, falling to their deaths or being sucked into space, or shot or blown to bits, Starships shooting at each other and buildings and their inhabitants destroyed, and characters are frequently being placed in life threatening danger.

There is also a little use of profanity but generally not any worse than what you find on TV, I applaud the writers and director's restraint. This is one you can safely take your family to see.