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Ocean of an Old Man, a review by Danae Cassandra

Ocean of an Old Man
Year of Release: 2008
Directed By: Rajesh Shera
Starring: Tom Alter
Genre: Drama

Overview:
In the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and amid the stunning natural beauty of India's Andaman and Nicobar islands, an elderly British teacher struggles to run a small primary school despite the loss of many of the islands' children to the recent tragedy. Ignoring the overwhelming grief that washes over the islands, he continues to teach his few remaining students until a government official delivers a relocation order to all residents, causing him to embark on a heartbreaking search for his missing students, convinced they must still be alive.

Blending exquisite vistas with the ubiquitous sound of the ocean to convey the precarious balance between human life and the inexorable forces of nature, Rajesh Shera's debut feature quietly unfolds as a delicate meditation on grief and loss.

My Thoughts:
This is a nearly wordless meditation on grief and loss. How does one cope in the aftermath of unimaginable tragedy? How do you go on, seeing the empty spaces once inhabited?

This is the first movie filmed in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, and it's a good thing that the setting is beautiful, because this is a slow, slow film. It held my attention, but I enjoy a story that plays out slowly. Not that there's much of a story here. It's really more of a study of this teacher trying to deal with the loss of his family, his young pupils, his home, as well as the future and an entire way of life.

This is a very low budget film, but it really doesn't need more money. Tom Alter does an excellent job conveying the depth of the teacher's grief and his increasing desperation to find any of his missing pupils. In many ways what The Old Man and the Sea should have been, in that here you see everything instead of it being told by a narrator. Recommended only if you have a background in slow film however.

Bechdel Test: Fail

Overall: 3/5

(From March Around the World 2016 on March 11th, 2016)

Brave, a review by Danae Cassandra

Brave
Year of Release:  2012
Directed By: Brenda Chapman, Mark Andrews
Starring:  Kelly Macdonald, Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly, Julie Walters
Genre:  Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy

Overview:
Pixar Animation Studios, the creator of Toy Story 3, whisks you away on an astonishing adventure to an ancient land full of mystery and tradition.  Bursting with heart, unforgettable characters and Pixar's signature humor, Brave is "a rousing, gorgeously animated good time," raves Peter Travers of Rolling Stone.

Take a heroic journey with Merida, a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus and Queen Elinor.  Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land.  When Merida's actions inadvertently unleash chaos in the kingdom, she must harness all of her skills and resources - including her clever and mischievous triplet brothers - to undo a beastly curse before it's too late, and discover the meaning of true bravery.

My Thoughts:
This is another winner from Pixar.  I've loved every one of their films that I've seen and Brave is no different.  Their animation gets better with every film - the technique, the detail, the movement, everything simply improves in their animation tech each time.  This is also a great fairy tale.  Yes, it's a pretty simple story.  That's what a fairy tale is.  For those critics who accused this film of not being as original as Pixar's other films, I challenge them to find a female-centered children's film that A) isn't about romance and B) has a strong mother figure.  Tough call, ain't it?  Merida is a wonderful, strong character with plenty of flaws to make her believable.  Her mother, Elinor, is the same - a strong, good role model in many ways, but with believable flaws.  Great messages, marvelous animation, lots of fun.  Recommended for anyone.

Also on the disc, a wonderful, sweet little short called La Luna that was really great, and a bonus Brave-related short, The Legend of Mordu.  I'd recommend watching La Luna before the film as it was shown in theatres, and Legend after, since it is a spoiler.  There's lots of extras on the blu, but I didn't feel like pulling my player out so we just watched the DVD.

Bechdel Test:  Pass

Overall:  4/5

(From Brave on November 24th, 2012)

"Big Bang Theory" Marathon, a review by Rick

1. Pilot
Synopsis: The two theoretical scientists Leonard and Sheldon get a new Neighbour: Penny, a waitress in The Cheesecake Factory. And suddenly two galaxies begin to crash into each other.

My Thoughts: The opening 2 minutes alone sets up the show perfectly. Sheldon's idea for a t-shirt is great. I think Penny learns everything she need to know abotu her new friends when they tell her they play Klingon Boggle. HA! Luke Skywalker Conditioning Shampoo.

Favorite line: Sheldon to Leonard at the end: "I don't know what your odd are in the whole world but as far as this car goes you're a veritable Mac Daddy"

Great start. All of the characters are set up nicely. Looking forward to the rest of the series.


2. The Big Bran Hypothesis
Synopsis: After he's seen the chaos that is Penny's appartment, Sheldon cleans it (and Leonard helps him) during the night while Penny's sleeping. Naturally she freaks out when she realizes what they've done.

My Thoughts: Leonard comes out at night after hearing what seems to be a noise with his light saber. It's really funny cause he seems to honestly think it would help him if someone was there.  Penny begins to define her relationships with all of the guys and how they interact through out the show. It's good to see what they set up now continues true to form throughout the rest of the season (and hopefully into S2. I also like the way she messes with them as a group (something else they continue). When they are redesigning the TV stand and she says
Favorite lines:
Howard in the hallway "[Speaking Russian]"
Penny: "I'm Sorry?"
Howard: "Haven't you ever been told how beautiful you are in flawless Russian?"
Penny: "No, I haven't"
Howard quickly replies: "Get used to it"
Penny a bit creeped out replies: "Yea... I probably wont" 


3. The Fuzzy Boots Corollary
Synopsis: After having no luck with Leslie, Leonard tries to ask Penny out to a date. But she totally misinterprets the invitation, thus not considering it a date.

My Thoughts: Another great beginning to an episode (The four of them playing an online game on their laptops). The openings to each episode are entertaining enough!

The exchange between Leonard & Sarah Gilbert (Leslie) discussing a date was really funny. How they break it down to it's pure fundamental elements and then reach a conclusion was perfect.

Favorite Line: Sheldon to Leonard as Leonard came in from giving Penny her mail: "Penny for your thoughts"


The Luminous Fish Effect
Synopsis: Sheldon gets canned after he's insulted his new boss in his very own - and typical - way. But he uses his time off to invent new things the world was waiting for, e.g. a luminous fish as a night light.

My Thoughts: Not my favorite episode but still very funny. The egg experiement was great, especially the conclusion   Laurie Metcalf's character is good but for me it is hard to believe someone so deeply rooted in logic and science as Sheldon is could have such a religious upbringing.

Favorite Lines: Sheldon to Penny after his failed egg experiment:
Penny: "Hey, I'm running out to the market, do you guys need anything?"
Sheldon: "Oh... this would be one of the circumstances that people who aren't familiar with the law of large numbers would call a coincedence"


5. The Hamburger Postulate
Synopsis: After they been practicing with their classical instruments, Leonard sleeps with Leslie and is now torn between his fantasy about Penny and the prospect of having a real relationship with Leslie.

My Thoughts: Re: Opening where they are reenacting the civil war with the aid of Orcs, Godzilla, Superman and apparently a pair of Hindu Gods - Could these guys be any more geeky? 

Leslie is a great character. Flash freezing a banana for her cereal cause she didn't have a knife. Great stuff.

Sheldon and Penny together absolutely crack me up and once again they have my favorite line in the show.
Sheldon: "I need your opinion on a matter of semiotics
Penny: "I'm Sorry?" (a line she uses a lot!)
Sheldon: "Semiotics - the study of signs and symbols. It's a branch of philosophy related to linguistics"
Penny [speaking slowly]: "Okay, sweetie, I know you think you're explaining yourself but you're really not"


6. The Middle Earth Paradigm
Synopsis: Penny invites the four - Leonard, Sheldon, Howard and Raj - over to a Halloween party and Leonard hopes that he can present himself in another light during that party.

My Thoughts:6. I have to admit, the fisrt time I saw this episode I was just about to have an asthma attack when they all came in with their costumes. Reachin for the puffer... tryin to get my breath back 

Sheldon studying the group of party goers and comparing it to Jane Goodall studying apes, and explaining his costume all night.. LOL funny. He really plays his character great. These guys just don't know how to fit in with the average person and they know it, Except Howard that is  He thinkgs he is quite the ladies man.

Leonard taking on Penny's old boyfriend with the help of his "wingman" was a great scene too. The classic brains against brawn.

Favorite lines (Couldnt' pick one this time):
Sheldon: "[giving his audio clue to help people figure out his costume, the doppler effect]"

Leonard: "That's how we roll in the shire"



On to disc 2 

(From "Big Bang Theory" Marathon on September 28th, 2008)