The Great Movie Review: The Chorus

Wow, what a film. This is a truely inspirational story about a teacher and his students. And dudes, who are turned off by the word inspiration, I don't mean sappy and emotional; I do mean spurring and motivating.

Monsieur Mathieu arrives as a new prefect at a boarding school for troubled boys located in the French countryside. Although he does find the boys an unruly lot, Mathieu does not believe in the tactics of the strict headmaster. Mathieu tries to reach his boys and build trust and true order through music.

This film is excellent. With great storytelling and interesting characters, this film really captures its viewer into wanting to fight for these kids. Most of them are punks struggling to conceal their true reasons for being punks. And the rest just have no hope. Each one has their own issues, and the main character comes alongside each one and confronts them in love. What a perfect picture of a mentor!

And its pretty too! It feels like the film literally gets more colorful as time progresses. And come on; It's France. Who doesn't love the French countryside?

For me personally, this movie sticks out. I really identify with the character Mathieu. His desire to be excellent and to upset the status quo when necessary match my own. He looks at each of his students with love and individuality and desires the best out of them. Yes!

While this film did not win an Oscar, It was nominated for a couple. So do yourself a favor and check this one out.

Thank you to Jenny for picking this one! I feel that I am better for having seen it!

This will begin our theme of Foreign Language Films.

The Chorus (2004)

Group Rating (out of 5):

Stevox: 5
Kyle: 4
Jenny: 5

Averages to 4.66 making this the third highest ranked movie to date below Rear Window and Harvey.

This trailer makes it look really sappy. But I assure you it's awesomeness demolishes any sappiness.

The Great Movie Review: The Neverending Story

So in case you forgot in our Holiday Hiatus, the current theme is Movies Based on Books. Val brought Treasure Planet (Treasure Island) and I brought the Neverending Story (Die unendliche Geschichte). It's based on a German fantasy novel published in 1979. Which put the movie being made in a five year turn around.

This movie is ridiculous. We start with this kid named Bastion. Which is a terrible name for a child. It's no wonder that he's getting picked on and thrown into dumpsters. Secondly, he's a thief. Sure he leaves a note, but he clearly steals the book containing the Neverending Story. He then skips school to read this book even though he knows for a fact that he has a math test. He then decides to STAY AT SCHOOL to continue reading this book he stole, while his Dad goes insane and calls the police and such. All of these qualities make him a hero. Because nothing says Valor like theft, playing hooky and worrying your parents (parent, his Mom is dead. Had she been alive she might have died from embarrassment.)

Now lets get to what i actually want to talk about, and that is the pedophile flying dog they are trying to pass off as a Dragon.




Seriously? This is what you came up with! Instead of this:

This:

or This:
At least Mushu can breathe fire! This is the type of dragon who would get his underwear run up the flagpole in high school and then in college, and then probably at work after he graduated.

Valerie said she kept thinking of this the whole movie:



And in a bit of acting that rivals sad Keanu, "It's so far away." (Start at 3:30)



So in short ... we don't recommend this movie. Unless you just really want to.

The Neverending Story (1984)

Group Rating (out of 5):

Stevox: 2
Valerie: 2
Kyle: 2
Jenny: 2
Micah: 2

Averages to 2 creepy dog dragons out of 5.

Shares this rating with Arsenic and Old Lace and The French Connection.

In a fight Arsenic and Old Lace: Atreyu would sick his Luck Dragon on the Police, and then sit down for tea, and be dead before dessert.